Last week, some team members went to a local high school for a full-day event called CyberSlam. According to the website, “this one day event will provide students the opportunity to learn more about cybersecurity and the careers in cybersecurity.” There were cybersecurity interactives and panel discussions with colleges, military personnel, and industry leaders throughout the day. Our team embers specifically had the opportunity to share what we were passionate about, our career paths, why we enjoy cyber, and internships at SNC. It was a long day filled with many questions, but it was worth it to inspire people to go into cybersecurity one day.
One of the main reasons this event happened was to combat the growing cyber workforce problem. According to Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), “the number of cybersecurity-related jobs already outpaces the number of people qualified to fill them, and that demand is growing rapidly.” Training the current people in the field is not enough to fill these positions. This problem will only increase, and security will be at risk unless more people consider going into this field. A study published by (ISC)2 estimates that “nearly 70% feel their organization does not have enough cybersecurity staff to be effective.” Not only is our community at risk, but the places we work at are as well. These stats may seem scary, especially with questions like how do we fix this problem? How do we make sure our communities stay safe? We can solve this growing problem by inspiring the next generation to go into cyber. We cannot fix this problem overnight because it requires training, education, awareness, and an investment in the next generation. By doing this, we are filling the gap in the workforce, increasing diversity in the field, and promoting a rewarding career that directly impacts society and the community. As cliché as it is, the younger generation is the future of cybersecurity, and CyberSlam is only the beginning.
At CyberSlam, we did a demo and participated in the panel. The demo started as a hobby project, but it became a visual representation of our BA+C3D technology, a collaboration between SNC and INL. We wanted to show the students with the demo that rulesets in place for cybersecurity directly impact what the outsider/insider can manipulate. These movements may seem small, but if this thinking is applied to a larger piece of technology – like lights, water, or power – then these rulesets are in place to protect from outsiders who want to turn off the lights (metaphorically and figuratively). Before the demo, we discussed collaboration’s role in the technology sphere, IT vs. OT, and how BA+C3D works. More importantly, after learning about HOW the robot at the tech works, the students had an opportunity to drive the robot around a room. The students could see how the messages they were actively sending on the screen impacted the robot’s movement.
CyberSlam was a great day where we could connect with local high school students and show some behind-the-scenes cybersecurity work. We love giving back and inspiring the next generation, and we hope to work with these amazing students one day!
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