The global cybersecurity workforce gap has increased by 26.2% compared to 2021, with 3.4 million more workers needed to secure assets effectively. There is arguably no other sector in need of top cybersecurity talent than the Department of Defense (DoD). To help boost recruitment and narrow the workforce gap, the DoD is urging defense contractors to consider hiring professionals without a formal college education and establishing apprenticeships.
DoD CIO John Sherman and William LaPlante (undersecretary of defense for acquisition and sustainment) issued a memo urging defense contractors to consider alternative paths for hiring.
Indeed, the cybersecurity field is full of professionals across the private sector who may lack a standard degree, but have established careers through mentorships, industry certifications, and apprenticeship programs. The DoD now is trying to emulate this private sector approach to strengthen its workforce, too.
“Removing formal education-rooted barriers, combined with the use of apprenticeship programs, provides a faster pipeline to acquire talent, increases talent pool, and enhances diversity by allowing applicants to enter the workforce through nontraditional pathways,” the memo states.
Elimination of educational degree requirements also increases diversity and representation amongst underserved communities.
The (ISC)2 2022 Cybersecurity Workforce Study also urged similar approaches to cybersecurity hiring. (ISC)2 CEO Clar Rosso told Infosecurity earlier this month, “Significant inroads into reducing the cybersecurity skills gap can be made through government and industry initiatives to widen the talent pool and bring greater diversity and accessibility to cybersecurity jobs.”
The DoD has traditionally struggled to hire and retain cybersecurity talent due to issues such as extensive background investigations required for security clearances, competitive wages (vs. private sector), and growth opportunities. Indeed, each of these issues was also highlighted by the (ISC)2 study.
The Biden administration concluded a Cybersecurity Apprenticeship Sprint at the White House earlier this month. Its goals are to create 194 cyber apprenticeship programs, and hire more than 7,000 individuals within a 120-day sprint.
The DoD also runs one of the United States’ largest cybersecurity apprenticeship programs, the United Services Military Apprenticeship Program.
