CISA aims to promote diversity in the current and future cyber workforce

POSTED ON Oct 17, 2023

In October, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) observes Cybersecurity Awareness Month.

This provides an opportunity to educate the public, businesses, and organizations on essential cybersecurity tips. CISA offers information, tools, public engagement opportunities, and more for audiences of all levels.

Throughout the year, CISA aims to promote diversity in the current and future cyber workforce.

They encourage young people to pursue careers in cybersecurity and address the gender gap in cybersecurity and tech by partnering with organizations like Girl Scouts of the USA, Girls Who Code, and Women in CyberSecurity (WiCyS).

In July 2023, the Biden-Harris Administration introduced the National Cyber Workforce and Education Strategy (NCWES).

This strategy emphasizes the urgent need to fill numerous vacant cyber jobs and empowers all Americans who wish to participate in the digital ecosystem.

According to the NCWES, many communities currently underrepresented in the cyber workforce must see themselves in cyber jobs or are unaware of the tremendous opportunity to join this growing workforce.

Federal agencies and nonprofit organizations are taking steps to support the National Cyber Workforce and Education Strategy:

SANS and the National Cyber Scholarship Foundation (NCSF) have expanded their partnership for CyberStart America and Cyber FastTrack programs to inspire high school and college students across the U.S. to develop foundational cyber skills.

In CyberStart, students use a transformative cyber education platform to solve challenges related to real-world scenarios and build their core skills and knowledge, inspiring a passion for cybersecurity.

SANS and NCSF plan to engage over 50,000 students in gamified learning for 2023-24, with up to 5,000 receiving training and certification scholarships.

In addition, SANS plans to broaden, diversify, and strengthen the national cyber workforce through reskilling programs for career changers in collaboration with its nonprofit, government, and private sector partners.

These reskilling programs will provide over $9.2 million in training and certification scholarships to 500+ individuals, driving increased diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility in cybersecurity nationwide.

Dakota State University (DSU) in Sioux Falls, SD, offers high school students in South Dakota an opportunity to earn up to 30 credits of college-level computer science coursework as dual credit through the Governor’s Cyber Academy program.

Due to the rural population in South Dakota, the courses will be available online and at high schools across the state to serve students at public, private, and tribal schools and those who are homeschooled.

DSU expects 40 students to enroll in the Academy this autumn, with the goal of 250 students every year by 2027.

Trellix plans to hire 300 interns over the next two years. The company will also use the career growth platform Gotara to advance the careers of 50 high-performing women and is committed to offering roles to 12 employees via the Hispanic Alliance for Career Enhancement (HACE).

Girl Security will unveil a new portfolio called All Secure, which includes the first comprehensive national security curriculum designed for dual enrollment for high schools and community colleges.

Over the next three years, the organization will expand current programming and implement programs to activate 1,500 new mentees, 1,200 workforce fellows, and 10 million U.S. learners through a targeted engagement strategy with more than 20,000 dual-enrollment high schools and 935 community colleges nationwide.

Mastercard has been working for a long time to build the cyber workforce and ensure security for the digital world. In line with this goal, Mastercard will align its cybersecurity roles with the NICE Career Navigation structure.

This will help simplify career growth and develop a more robust skillset across multiple cybersecurity domains. The company will also create upskilling pathways for junior professionals mapped to the same NICE structure, to support talent development by 2024.

Additionally, Mastercard will continue its support for American girls to acquire foundational cyber skills through its flagship STEM education program, Girls4Tech.

The company will also provide free cybersecurity education, training, and resources for up to 10 million micro, small, and medium-sized businesses by 2025.

MassBay Community College is planning to increase cybersecurity professors, which will lead to an expected rise in MassBay cybersecurity enrollment by more than 40 students.

By adding a cyber range, the school will strengthen its cybersecurity program. Annually, 45 students from a consortium of colleges, 60 high school students, and 135 employees from businesses, municipalities, school systems, and nonprofit organizations from the Greater Boston region will be enrolled.

An NSF grant will help the school increase the diversity of the cybersecurity workforce. The school is also applying for funding to build a Cybersecurity Center, including the range, a Security Operations Center, and ample space where college and high school students and employees from businesses, municipalities, school systems, and nonprofit groups from the Greater Boston Region can improve their cybersecurity skills.

Omidyar Network, a philanthropic investment firm that includes a foundation and an impact investment firm, has committed $5 million to support and expand the cybersecurity and open-source security ecosystems.

The company will work to ensure that the next generation is informed and activated to engage with these technologies.

NPower, a workforce development nonprofit, is committed to embedding cyber skills in all its courses, primarily reaching young adults and military-affiliated individuals.

NPower’s curriculum routinely includes digital literacy to advance cloud computing, cybersecurity, software development, and network infrastructure skills.

NPower also commits to training over 6,000 individuals during the next three years and offering multiple on- and off-ramps to continued learning and full-time employment, including through apprenticeships.

As we wrap up week 2 of #CybersecurityAwarenessMonth, we're excited to team up with international partners to create a global cybersecurity movement. Next stop, Singapore International Cyber Week!🛫 #SICW2023

Discover more ➡️ https://t.co/2MiKX9WeKL pic.twitter.com/PXRmQDBvc1

— Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (@CISAgov) October 13, 2023

Happy Cybersecurity Awareness Month! 🔒🌐In partnership with Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (@CISAgov,) we’re featuring some amazing women making waves in the #Cybersecurity field. pic.twitter.com/Th5636IUQt

— Girls Who Code (@GirlsWhoCode) October 3, 2023