(ISC)² Blog

(ISC)² and Others Commit to Closing the Cybersecurity Workforce Gap While at the White House

On July 19, National Cyber Director Chris Inglis hosted the National Cyber Workforce and Education Summit at the White House. The event focused on “improving skills-based pathways to cyber jobs, educating Americans” and finding solutions for bridging the cyber workforce gap. (ISC)² CEO Clar Rosso attended the summit and introduced the new (ISC)² initiative to pledge one million Certified in Cybersecurity as our global commitment to close the workforce gap and expand diversity in cyber. Attendees of the summit included government officials such as Ambassador Susan E. Rice, White House Domestic Policy Advisor; Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo; Secretary... Read more →

(ISC)² Pledges 1 Million Certified in Cybersecurity

At (ISC)² we are committed to positively impacting the cybersecurity industry in a big way. The board of directors and (ISC)² leadership is pleased to announce that we will provide free entry-level cybersecurity certification exams and self-paced educational program courses to one million new professionals starting a career in cybersecurity. The One Million Certified in Cybersecurity pledge is our global commitment that expands on the (ISC)² ‘100K in the UK’ initiative, which promised 100,000 free exams and course enrollments for U.K. residents earlier this year. (ISC)² CEO Clar Rosso attended the Cyber Workforce and Education Summit at the White House... Read more →

How Long Does it Take to Train Entry-Level Cybersecurity Team Members?

When hiring managers onboard new cybersecurity staff, there is typically an expectation that some learning on the job will be necessary. This is certainly the case when new hires are entry- and junior-level practitioners. But when can you expect those less-experienced new hires to perform their tasks independently? Depending on experience levels, they can be ready to contribute on their own in as little as six months, according to new research by (ISC)². The findings, published in the (ISC)² Cybersecurity Hiring Managers Guide, reveal that more than a third of hiring managers (37%) believe entry- and junior-level hires are ready... Read more →

Hiring Managers Lead on Entry-Level Cybersecurity Job Descriptions

Cybersecurity recruitment has long been a challenge, and companies often exacerbate the situation by setting unrealistic expectations, especially for entry- and junior-level roles. A common misstep is to require qualifications and years of experience that few junior jobseekers have. In an industry with a workforce gap of 2.7 million worldwide, cybersecurity teams remain understaffed, potentially putting their organizations at risk. So, it pays to have a more realistic view of what to expect when devising a strategy to attract candidates for all cybersecurity roles. Changing Expectations Hiring managers are starting to grasp the wisdom of moderating their expectations when seeking... Read more →

How can you find and retain new cybersecurity talent?

In the latest (ISC)² Think Tank webinar “How to Hire and Develop Entry- and Junior-Level Cybersecurity Practitioners” three hiring managers tackled the question of how to fill the workforce gap by sharing their insights and firsthand experiences. Jon France, (ISC)² CISO, Becky Goza, Senior Manager of Information Security for Love’s Travel Stops and Saju Thomas Paul, Head of Threat Hunting Service for Atos were guided through an engaging conversation following the recent release of the (ISC)² Cybersecurity Hiring Managers Guide by moderator Brandon Dunlap. Hiring from Within In the first live poll, panelists were surprised to see attendees report that... Read more →

Infosecurity Europe: A show so secure a train strike couldn’t break it!

Infosecurity Europe is unquestionably the biggest and most significant cybersecurity conference and event on the European calendar, a mainstay that is enjoyed by the entire industry and that serves as an important opportunity for members to meet each other and engage with the (ISC)² team on our stand. Like so many key industry events, Infosecurity Europe has been operating as a virtual event for the last two years due to the pandemic but made a triumphant return to physical being this year along with a move to a brand new venue. 2022 saw the show move from London’s Olympia Exhibition... Read more →

Unconscious Bias: How to Understand, Identify and Manage It

We all have unconscious bias. In fact, our ability to use pattern recognition and informed judgement can be a benefit in many professions, especially cybersecurity. However, unconscious biases in areas of hiring, mentoring, promoting or developing staff could hamper efforts to build the cybersecurity workforce and to diversify the individuals who make up this group. (ISC)² has partnered with Cyversity, an organization whose mission is to achieve consistent representation of women and underrepresented minorities in the cybersecurity profession, to offer a series of free webinars addressing unconscious bias. The first webinar in this series – Understanding Unconscious Bias – will... Read more →

SECURE North America | Users Aren’t the Weakest Link, They’re Your Allies

Security teams should stop treating users as the weakest link in security and, instead, turn them into allies in building a strong security culture. This was the message from Shelly Epps, HCISPP, Director of Security Program Management at Duke Health, who delivered a presentation this week at the (ISC)² SECURE North America virtual event. “If you are relying upon users for your security, you’ve effectively already failed,” she said. Instead, organizations need to develop comprehensive, multidimensional programs that keep users engaged. Traditionally, Epps said, organizations have built security programs around compliance obligations and PowerPoint-based lists. Programs tended to be punitive,... Read more →

How can your organization find and develop the next generation of cybersecurity?

Last week (ISC)² released the (ISC)² Cybersecurity Hiring Managers Guide: Best Practices for Hiring and Developing Junior Talent built on the latest research to help organizations grow their teams and retain top talent. The report highlighted the top technical skills, non-technical skills and personality attributes hiring managers seek and how organizations can benefit from unique recruiting and professional development strategies. In a recent volunteer survey, we asked members with hiring experience what trends they are seeing in the industry. Many mentioned technological shifts expedited by the pandemic including remote work, virtual interviews and hybrid work environments. They also noted a... Read more →

ENTRY-LEVEL CYBERSECURITY JOBS KEY TO SOLVING WORKFORCE GAP

Facing an acute shortage of qualified cybersecurity professionals, hiring managers are recruiting entry- and junior-level practitioners to their teams. The latest (ISC)² research captured in our Cybersecurity Hiring Managers Guide reveals this practice enables organizations to build stronger and more resilient cybersecurity teams. The findings come from a poll of 1,250 hiring cybersecurity managers who hire entry- and junior-level practitioners for small, mid-size and large organizations in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom and India. The cybersecurity skills gap currently stands at 2.7 million worldwide, forcing hiring managers to deprioritize experience when choosing candidates who show promise. Managers are less... Read more →

How can mentorship help the cybersecurity workforce gap?

The 2021 (ISC)² Cybersecurity Workforce Study suggested that the global cybersecurity workforce needs to grow 65% to effectively defend organizations’ critical assets. To protect their systems, employees and data organizations need creative solutions for recruitment, training and retention to maintain safe operations. “Many organizations continue to repeat the mistakes of focusing their time and energy on hunting down and competing for a select few cybersecurity “All Stars” instead of strategically developing their teams at all skill levels to create a sustainable, long-term investment in their security personnel.” (2021 (ISC)² Cybersecurity Pursuers Study) The 2021 (ISC)² Cybersecurity Pursuers Study found that... Read more →

Update on (ISC)² Entry-Level Cybersecurity Certification Pilot

More than 1,400 individuals have taken the new (ISC)² entry-level cybersecurity certification exam during the pilot phase which began in January 2022. Scheduling for the pilot is currently available through August 26 and anyone interested in sitting for the “no experience required” exam may do so through an authorized Pearson VUE test center. Before a certification exam becomes fully operational, the pilot tests undergo a rigorous process of exploration, research, and validation necessary to ensure the qualification meets its intended purpose. All exams administered during the pilot phase thus far are currently undergoing this review and analysis. When the pilot... Read more →

Journey Into Cybersecurity – Conversations with Cyber Newcomers, Part 2

In the second portion of this blog series, we are sharing member stories from those with four to six years of experience in cybersecurity. We asked members about their entry into cyber from their first positions to today and what advice they have for newcomers. Do you have advice for incoming cyber professionals? Weigh in on the (ISC)² Community conversation “How to start a career in cybersecurity?” Brian Bresnahan, CISSP, Senior Security Analyst | United States Prior to migrating to a security role, I programmed voice and video systems for 15+ years. I also had extensive data center experience with... Read more →

Journey Into Cybersecurity – Conversations with Cyber Newcomers, Part 1

We recently asked our members who volunteer to engage with the (ISC)² blog about their entry into cyber and what advice they have for those interested in joining the field. These stories help us see a few unique career trajectories and how they are navigating entry and gaining experience in the cybersecurity industry. In part one of this blog, we are sharing members with three years or less of experience in cybersecurity. Do you have advice for incoming cyber professionals? Weigh in on the (ISC)² Community conversation “How to start a career in cybersecurity?” Rishipal Yadav, Senior Cybersecurity Specialist |... Read more →

(ISC)² Entry-Level Cybersecurity Certification Pilot Exam Reaches 1,000 Exam Milestone

We are excited to announce that more than 1,000 cybersecurity career hopefuls have taken their first step toward launching their careers by taking the (ISC)² entry-level cybersecurity certification pilot exam. Once they earn the certification, they will demonstrate to employers they have the foundational knowledge, skills and abilities to succeed in entry- and junior-level roles. Since the program’s inception earlier this year, more than 1,000 people around the world have taken the exam and many have registered for the (ISC)² entry-level cybersecurity certification course with their exam still to come. With the global cybersecurity workforce needing to grow by 65%... Read more →

How to Prevent Burnout Among Cybersecurity Professionals Before, During and After a Breach

By Diana-Lynn Contesti (Chief Architect, CISSP-ISSAP, ISSMP, CSSLP, SSCP), John Martin (Senior Security Architect, CISSP-ISSAP, CISM, Open Group Certified Architect Master) and Richard Nealon (Senior Security Consultant, CISSP-ISSMP, SSCP, SABSA SCF) Cybersecurity professionals are often faced with making difficult decisions under intense pressure with the potential of long-term effects on the business. Over time, this stress can weigh on cybersecurity pros and potentially cause “burnout” among employees as well as long-term psychological effects. What can be done to prevent burnout among employees and how can we support our fellow colleagues? These questions are becoming more prevalent in the industry as... Read more →

(ISC)² Advocates for Membership – Shares Opinions on Proposed UK Standards and Pathway

In 2018, the UK’s Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) funded the creation of the UK Cyber Security Council, which launched in March 2021. The UK government will look to the council as the authority on the cyber profession as it works to implement and enforce consistent standards for the industry. In January 2022, DCMS issued a public consultation on proposals to develop the cybersecurity profession in the UK. The proposal looks to provide clarity to the industry by looking at similar established fields such as accounting, law, and engineering that already have professional standards and pathways in... Read more →

Report: Cybersecurity Skills Gap Creates Vulnerabilities

Finding qualified cybersecurity personnel is never easy. Recruitment has become an even bigger challenge in the last two years as workforce shortages intensified and corporate networks expanded into employees’ homes. Worldwide, 60% of organizations say they are struggling to recruit cybersecurity talent, while 52% struggle to retain qualified people, according to a new report by Fortinet. The report is based on a survey of 1,223 IT and cybersecurity decision-makers across the globe. The struggle has a cost: 67% of respondents say the cybersecurity talent shortage creates additional risks for their organizations. Already, 80% of organizations have suffered at least one... Read more →

WINNING TACTICS FOR SECURITY AWARENESS INNOVATIONS via EXPERIENCE (1 of 2)

By Samuel Rugi, an MSc Information technology (Security), Certified Information Security Professional (CISSP), Certified Information Security Management (CISM), Cybersecurity Mentor at the Cyversity Organization and a Co-Chair Leadership LaunchPad at Technology Association of Oregon. Security awareness is becoming a hot potato for most of us in the cybersecurity sector, within our organizations, local and global communities. I have spent considerable time studying and working on this technical area as part of my duties while securing and championing best practices and behavioral change within various organizations. While this is not to claim that I am a distinguished industry expert in communication... Read more →

Summary of March Inside (ISC)2 Webinar: Stay Vigilant

As the war in Ukraine rages on, (ISC)² leaders took the opportunity to remind cybersecurity practitioners in the most recent Inside (ISC)² webinar of a simple but essential message: Be vigilant. As the hostilities continue, it is possible the war will spill over into the cyber realm, said Jon France, who joined (ISC)² in January as the organization’s first CISO. Cyber is the “fourth plain after land, sea and air” in the Ukraine war, he said. France joined CEO Clar Rosso and Board of Directors Chairperson Zachary Tudor for the quarterly webinar, during which they provided updates on the organization’s... Read more →