Learn about all the cybersecurity resources available today and how digital transformation is opening cybersecurity careers to a wider field of candidates.
As part of Cybersecurity Awareness Month, we published a special blog post earlier this week featuring real-world experiences shared by cybersecurity professionals: people with diverse backgrounds in law, academia, software development, and other seemingly unrelated fields. This topic is near and dear to my heart because I truly believe that diversity—people with diverse skills, backgrounds, cultures, and life experiences—is the key element for making the next generation of cybersecurity professionals even more effective. Today’s world is connected in ways we could only imagine 20 years ago. Digital transformation means the workplace, classrooms, retail outlets, and more are now easily accessed from your car, a backyard hammock, or a jet cruising at 30,000 feet. And with expanding connectivity and the potential for cybercrime to do physical harm, there’s a growing need for people with the skills and drive to keep us safe. As we near the end of this important month, I want to share a little more about how Microsoft is helping to cultivate the next generation of cyber defenders, and talk about some of the work we’re doing to make cybersecurity more inclusive—so that we’re truly creating security for all. There’s a widening gap between the need for secure connectivity and the number of security professionals who can help make it happen. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, cybersecurity job opportunities will grow 33 percent from 2020 to 2030—more than six times the national average (with an average salary of USD 104,000).1 However, the number of people entering the field isn’t keeping pace. According to the 2020 (ISC)² Cybersecurity Workforce Study, there’s a global talent shortfall between 1.5 million and 3.5 million.2 As the threat landscape continues to evolve with more sophisticated ransomware attacks,3 the world is calling out for a new breed of cybersecurity professionals—defenders who will help make the world secure for everyone.
