• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • About
    • Secure360
    • UMSA
    • Get Involved
  • Events
    • Secure360 2021
    • Student360
    • Past Events
      • 2020 Secure360 Twin Cities
      • 2020 Student360
      • 2019 Secure360 Twin Cities
      • 2019 Student360
      • 2018 Secure360 Twin Cities
      • 2018 Secure360 Wisconsin
      • 2018 Student360
      • 2017 Secure360 Twin Cities
      • 2017 Student360
      • 2016 TC Secure360 Conference
      • 2015 Secure360 Conference
      • 2014 Secure360 Conference
      • 2013 Secure360 Conference
        • 2013 Secure360 Conference Speaker Presentations
      • 2012 Secure360 Conference
  • For Sponsors
    • Secure360 Twin Cities
    • Student360 Sponsors
  • For Speakers
    • Secure360 Speaker Details
    • Student360 Speaker Details
  • Blog
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Facebook
    • LinkedIn
    • Twitter
    • Vimeo

Secure360

The generation gap in cybersecurity

December 17, 2015 by Secure360 and UMSA

generation gap in cyber security

Copryright: 123rf/Nicolas Menijes Crego

There are several gaps in the workforce around cybersecurity. The number of women in the field remains static at 10% worldwide over the past two years. Additionally, younger employees are not interested in cybersecurity either—a recent survey by Raytheon and the National Cyber Security Alliance (NCSA) found that 18- to 26-year-olds worldwide are not pursuing careers in the field.

And if you combine the two? Millennial women are event less interested: 52% of Millennial women say cybersecurity programs and activities aren’t available to them in school, while only 39% of Millennial men said the same. On top of that, only about half of Millennial men are aware of what cybersecurity jobs entail, while just 33% of women are.

So what gives in this generation gap?

Conversations are not taking place

For a world in which we are constantly hearing and preparing for the next data breach or digital attacks, the survey mentioned above proves evidence that there are a lot of conversations not taking place. Security professionals are not talking to young people about their jobs, leaving them with preconceived notions about jobs within the industry. Think about this:

  • 21% of respondents reported that they believe these careers are extremely stressful.
  • 18% believe these careers are boring.
  • 15% think cybersecurity professionals are underpaid.
  • 21% think that fighting inevitable cyber attacks is futile.

Another major issue noted in the report is a lack of exposure to cybersecurity as a career pathway for young people in high school and college, especially for women. Even if students have a natural interest or are able to learn the material quickly, it does not matter because the option is never presented. Sixty-nine percent of young adults entered college and the workforce believing their high school or secondary school had not offered them the classes or skills necessary for a cyber-related career.

This is frustrating for the industry as there is little businesses and organizations can do to get young adults involved with, and interested in, cybersecurity at such a young age. This problem could continue to affect the generational gap for years to come unless educational institutions place more emphasis on this subject.

The good news

Fortunately, the survey also found nearly 40% of young professionals want more information about cybersecurity careers, likely pursuing a cybersecurity career if they are aware of what the job entails. Another 38% young adults in the study said they have competed in cybersecurity contests or looked for internships, scholarships, and mentoring programs in cyber security.

If educators are willing to focus on developing new courses and providing information about career opportunities, as well as current professionals being open to mentoring and job shadowing programs, then young adults may be more interested in cyber security professions and be better prepared to take on those roles. With online attacks hitting major organizations every day, organizations cannot afford to miss out on potential employees, and creating conversations about the industry and Increasing awareness is a step in the right direction.

What are you doing to engage the next generation of cybersecurity professionals?

Filed Under: Cybersecurity, Professional Development

About Secure360 and UMSA

The Secure360 and UMSA team is made up of professionals in the security and risk management industries. Topics of expertise range from physical security, IT, risk management, cybersecurity, cloud, information security and records management.

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Categories

  • Uncategorized
  • Guest Posts
  • Business Continuity Management
  • News and Events
  • Physical Security
  • Cybersecurity
  • Professional Development
  • Risk and Compliance

latest tweets

  1. Secure360 Conference
    Secure360 Conference: We are honored to be listed on the Top 20 Cyber Conferences for 2021 -> https://t.co/MnrQ3E5ifw
    about 1 day ago

  2. Secure360 Conference
    Secure360 Conference: Fascinating stuff about the shift from brick & mortar to e-commerce, from Diamond Sponsor @cisco! https://t.co/4GaYGQKZ1a
    about 3 days ago

  3. Secure360 Conference
    Secure360 Conference: Seize the opportunity in the post-covid world to create a DevSecOps culture. Read how in a blog post by #Sec360 Gol… https://t.co/Hk5HrDRtcP
    about 3 days ago

Footer

Contact

For more information about UMSA events, contact: Marie Strawser

Email List Signup

Join our email list for monthly Secure360 news and updates!




Join our tradeshow email list for updates on sponsorship opportunities and upcoming exhibitor deadlines.

Sponsored by:
© 2021 Secure360. All rights reserved.