According to Cyberseek.org, there are currently 700,000+ cybersecurity position vacancies in the US. AccessCyber reports reviewing 10,584 cybersecurity job postings and states “Cybersecurity Hiring is Broken” and employers seeking “unicorn” candidates is identified as one cause of the problem. In reviewing position vacancies, half of the vacancies are within the NICE Oversee and Govern (OS&G) category. OS&G requires cybersecurity knowledge and skills, as well as strong business acumen. Many of the OS&G positions including cyber policy and strategy, curriculum developer, program manager, and legal advisor are in Governance, Risk and Compliance (GRC) departments. GRC executives job requirements include cybersecurity foundations, critical thinking and problem solving, risk management, compliance and legal, communications, and a passion for continuous learning. Universities designated as NSA Centers of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense (CAE-CD) can provide remedies for the broken cybersecurity hiring process. First, utilizing an advisory board in developing cybersecurity course programs and job descriptions followed by an alignment of job descriptions to job skills could reduce vacancies and positions filled by CAE-CD students or alumni. In an interview with the Wall Street Journal, Dr. Sandra Blanke from the University of Dallas noted position descriptions typically list more job skills than are actually needed. Managers know the candidate they hire will have only some of the skills requested. Employers could consider candidates with many of the job skills and the passion for continuous learning. Hiring managers and school career services should be encouraged to work together to write job descriptions for the required knowledge areas only, not looking for “unicorn” candidates. Universities can use student and alumni “spotlights” to show hiring managers their students’ qualifications and successes. Finally, the inexperienced cybersecurity candidate should apply for positions if they meet a number of the skills listed on the job description.
Sandra Blanke
Thursday Block I
01:00 pm ~ 01:10 pm
Designation Track
Duration
10