Picking up on the theme of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) that (ISC)² CEO Clar Rosso says is critical to solving the cybersecurity skills gap, a panel discussion on Monday addressed the challenges that get in the way of successful DEI implementations. Several themes emerged during the late-afternoon panel session, which was part of (ISC)2 Security Congress 2021, taking place virtually this week: Don’t expect change to occur immediately Diversity, equity and inclusion requires a step-by-step approach Keep talking about the issue so it stays at the forefront Measure success by looking at numbers within the organization The session, moderated by Tara Wisniewski, executive vice president of Advocacy, Global Markets and Member Engagement at (ISC)², kicked off with a quick

The number of connected devices will continue to increase in the next five years, widening the attack surface for cyber adversaries. If we hope to have a fighting chance against them, we need a shift in thinking about defenses as well as increased cooperation between the private sector and government. That was the message delivered by Chris Krebs in the opening keynote of (ISC)2 Security Congress 2021, taking place virtually today through Wednesday. His keynote was the first of about 130 sessions scheduled for the three-day event. Krebs is the former director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), which is part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. He served in the role from November 2018 to November

(ISC)² CEO Clar Rosso kicked off Security Congress 2021 this morning and wasted no time addressing two of the industry’s most pressing topics – the workforce gap and the need for diversity in cybersecurity. This year’s Congress, taking place today through Wednesday, is once again virtual as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. In welcoming attendees to the yearly event, Rosso had some praise for the cybersecurity community. “You’ve proven yourself ready for any challenge,” she said. “For almost two years, in the midst of an ongoing pandemic and unrelenting threats, you continue onward, defending our critical assets and keeping us safe.” She then wasted no time pivoting to the challenges the industry faces on a daily basis, starting with

In an effort to introduce more talent into the cybersecurity workforce, make cybersecurity a more accessible, inclusive and diverse profession, and close the cybersecurity skills gap, (ISC)² will pilot a new entry-level cybersecurity certification exam as part of its portfolio of industry qualifications. The entry-level certification will provide students, new entrants and career changers with clear and attainable professional development and career pathways from day one. In addition, it will give employers the confidence that new entrants into the sector have a solid grasp of the right technical, ethical and operational practices on which to build and learn. As a foundational certification, it will play a role in helping employers, educators, and governments close the cybersecurity workforce shortage by narrowing

The (ISC)² Diversity Award honors individuals who have made significant contributions to building a more diverse workforce in the cybersecurity community. Asia-Pacific Region (ISC)² Diversity Award Honoree Neha Malhotra, CISSP, CCSP is the Vice President, Tech & Cybersecurity Operational Risk Manager at JP Morgan Chase, and was earlier working within Cyber Security Attack Surface Management at Credit Suisse. Neha is an information & cybersecurity professional based in Singapore, with more than 15 years of IT and leadership experience within the BFSI, consulting and manufacturing sectors. Neha was nominated for her advocacy work mentoring and serving as a career advisor for women in cybersecurity. She serves on the board of (ISC)² Singapore Chapter and is a cyber champion driving security awareness. She is