Plaintext: Solving the Hiring Problem
On Dark Reading and in past Plaintext issues, we've talked about hiring challenges, both for the ones looking to hire and those looking for a job. In this issue of Dark Reading in Plaintext, we look at apprenticeship programs and how they can help create a bigger pool of skilled infosec professionals. Enjoying this newsletter? Share with a friend!
Summit at the White House
The White House hosted a National Cyber Workforce and Education Summit to tackle the cybersecurity workforce shortage today. Led by National Cyber Director Chris Inglis, the summit brought together government officials and private sector executives to brainstorm solutions and educational initiatives to fill open cybersecurity positions across the country.
“With approximately 700,000 cybersecurity positions open, America faces a national security challenge that must be tackled aggressively,” the White House said in the press release ?announcing the summit.
Analysis from (ISC)2 last fall found that the global workforce still must grow by 65 percent in order to effectively defend critical assets and data.
Time for an Apprenticeship Program. As part of the summit, the Department of Labor and Department of Commerce unveiled a?120-day Cybersecurity Apprenticeship Sprint to promote the Registered Apprenticeship model as a way to develop and train the cybersecurity workforce.?The Registered Apprenticeship model is "an industry-driven, high-quality career pathway where employers can develop and prepare their future workforce, and individuals can obtain paid work experience with a mentor, classroom instruction and a portable, nationally recognized credential," according to a Department of Labor press release .
There are currently 714 registered apprenticeship programs and 42,260 apprentices in cybersecurity-related occupations, according to the Labor Department. The goal of the 120-day sprint is to recruit employers, industry associations, labor unions, educational providers, community-based organizations and others to establish more.
Security professionals have been talking about expanding the talent pool via apprenticeships for the past few years. "One way to address the ongoing problem is to expand and reevaluate our own requirements when it comes to hiring and implementing apprenticeship programs and training for individuals who haven't been on a traditional technology career path," Verizon's Nasrin Rezai wrote in a Dark Reading column last year .
"Young up-and-coming cyber defenders, working alongside seasoned veterans, can bring a fresh perspective while getting valuable on-the-job training as they launch their careers." -Nasrin Rezai, Verizon
Job hunters should be looking for apprenticeships , especially if they are new to the field or are junior professionals looking to move to the next stage of their careers. "Apprenticeships are a great opportunity for cyberskills training because they provide practical experience and the opportunity to learn from someone else,” says Demi Ben-Ari, CTO and co-founder of security and risk management company Panorays.
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On-the-job Training is Key. Many programs offer training on specific tools or skills, and program participants are then encouraged to apply for jobs in hopes that the training they received align with the needs of the organization, says Larry Whiteside, Jr. , co-founder and president of Cyversity. "The basis of an apprenticeship is on-the-job training ...the training and skills that the person acquires directly relates to the organization that needs the skills."
Hire Entry-Level, Not Senior-Level. One thing the apprenticeship sprint may do is to encourage organizations to focus on nurturing promising entry-level candidates and creating a pipeline of talented individuals, rather than constantly trying to poach security professionals from other organizations with promises of larger paychecks. A recent (ISC)2 survey found that many organizations are not hiring for entry-level roles .
Just 26% of security teams are composed of entry-level employees, compared with 38% who have four or more years of experience and 36% with one to three years of experience, according to an (ISC)2 study.
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On That Note
We are really enjoying the creative and funny captions for?the July cartoon , so keep them coming! The winner of the most cunning caption will win a Amazon gift card.?Comment and show us your best puns and wordplay .