Where Are the Cybersecurity Professionals?

The demand for cybersecurity professionals is increasing rapidly, both in the public and private sectors worldwide. The rise of cyber threats and attacks necessitates strong defenses, managed by skilled cyber professionals who have significant responsibilities throughout the day.

Society is increasingly embracing technologies like the Internet of Things (IoT) in various aspects of life, leading to convenience but also raising concerns about privacy violations and financial asset theft. To address the shortage of cyber resources, a long-term commitment is required to build a robust pipeline of professionals from K-12 schools to graduate programs.

Generating interest in the cybersecurity profession starts with a message emphasizing the desire to serve and protect. Efforts should be made to educate school counselors and students about the value and need for cyber professionals, potentially redirecting interest from computer science to cybersecurity. Creating career pathways in K-12 schools can help nurture future cyber experts, and enthusiastic teachers and professors are essential to inspire students to pursue cybersecurity as a noble cause.

There are multiple paths to become a cybersecurity professional. Technical colleges offer two-year degrees or certificates for those seeking a career change, acknowledging the abundance of job prospects and the critical need for cyber defenses. While a four-year degree is the traditional route, some states have waived this requirement due to the shortage of qualified cyber professionals.

Graduate programs focus on technical education, preparing candidates for teaching positions or higher-level roles like Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs), who engage in risk management discussions and report to CEOs.

Furthermore, expanding the applicant pool to include diverse candidates as well as providing educational opportunities to the less fortunate could be a more holistic approach to recruiting cyber professionals. Also, Wisconsin has a portal to provide steppingstones for anyone interested in exploring cyber opportunities.

To address the urgent demand, organizations have started offering cyber courses to the public and their employees, aiming to develop entry-level skills. Various opportunities exist within the cybersecurity field, ranging from log monitoring to CISOs, as well as roles in forensics, cyber law, and sales and marketing for solution providers, including cloud data centers. There are also discussions about creating a new branch of the military exclusively for cyber professionals to defend against cyber warfare.

The global demand for cyber professionals is expected to rise further with the continued deployment of technological solutions. As technology continues to evolve, cyber professionals will play a pivotal role in safeguarding our interconnected world. With the potential to become the guardians of our digital galaxy, these experts will become increasingly crucial in securing our digital future.

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David Cagigal is currently serving as a Board Member of the Wisconsin Cyber Threat Response Alliance (WICTRA) and as a CXO Advisor for Zscaler as well as an Executive Member to the State CIO Council for Ridge-Lane LP.

David Cagigal was appointed CIO for the State of Wisconsin in November 2012. As the CIO, he also serves as Division Administrator for the Division of Enterprise Technology (DET). DET manages the state’s IT assets and provides technology to state agencies such as computer services, voice-data-video telecommunications, and print and mail services. David retired June 2020. While as the State CIO, he collaborated with more than 30 Agency CIOs to implement an enterprise ERP (Oracle – Peoplesoft), consolidate all agency data centers into a single enterprise data center as well as improve broadband connectivity throughout the state to more than 760 state offices, local government, 425 K-12 School Districts, 350 libraries and influencing providers to connect the citizens of Wisconsin. David was also instrumental in improving cyber defenses in state and local government. He worked extensively with the Wisconsin National Guard, National Governor’s Association (NGA) and the Department of Homeland Security – CISA to protect 16 Critical Infrastructure/Key Resource Sectors. He also initiated the formation of Wisconsin’s Cyber Response Teams to address cyber threats and attacks. David was also the Chief Information Officer for Alliant Energy from 2004 to 2011 serving electric and gas customers in Wisconsin and Iowa. David has held executive IT positions at DeVry University, DePaul University, Maytag and Amoco.