The new wave of teaching infosec

Attracting talent: More chic than geek

Reaching students at an early age – and then providing them with the economic means to continue their education – are two key components to bolstering the cyber security workforce.

Not coincidentally, those are the two primary goals of the (ISC)² Foundation, the charitable arm of the nonprofit security certification provider.

As part of the Safe and Secure Online program, (ISC)² members are encouraged to deliver the program's presentation within their community, either at home or in the classroom. Then, there is the scholarship program, which not only helps to fund the educations of graduate and post-graduate students but also some undergraduates, such as the winners of the US Cyber Challenge.

Julie Peeler, director of the foundation, says the Safe and Secure program initially began as an attempt to teach children ages 7 to 14 how to navigate safely across the web, but quickly turned into an initiative to cultivate the next generation of security professionals.

“What ended up happening just organically is that the volunteers were asked over and over again about their profession,” she says, adding that part of the work involves dissolving the myth for kids that IT security is, pardon the phrase, a dorky job.

 “I think we need to dispel the ‘geek' notion,” Peeler says. “I can say that as long as I've been working in this industry, I don't think I've ever met a geek.”