Name: Mark A. SingerTitle: Principal Software EngineerEmployer: DoD Sub-ContractorLocation: Indianapolis, INEducation: Business ManagementYears in IT: 19Years in cybersecurity: 12Cybersecurity certifications: CISSP   How did you decide upon a career in cybersecurity? Evolution. I stumbled into computers when I served in the U.S. Navy from 1985 to 1989 when PCs with 8086 processors were common. When I got out of the service, I was able to get a job working for Naval Avionics in Indianapolis and was placed in a role where I was doing local computer support on tempest computers (386, 486, & 486DX processors). When Naval Avionics was identified on the Base Closure list, I accepted a position in the Security Department as ISSM in 1997 with Hughes which

Gartner recently released its global information security spending forecast and concluded that security products and services investment will reach $83.4 billion by the end of 2017 (a 7% increase over 2016). The firm also is predicting spending to reach $93 billion in 2018, a 12% increase over this year’s record investment. According to Gartner: “Security services will continue to be the fastest growing segment, especially IT outsourcing, consulting and implementation services… hardware support services will see growth slowing, due to the adoption of virtual appliances, public cloud and software as a service (SaaS) editions of security solutions, which reduces the need for attached hardware support overall.” Gartner cites “rising awareness among CEOs and boards of directors about the business impact

Name: Rob Turner Title: Senior Cyber Network Defense AnalystEmployer: DXC Technology (formerly Hewlett-Packard Enterprise)Title: Computer Technology Program CoordinatorEmployer: Ball State UniversityLocation: Indiana, U.S.A.Education: BS in Computer Technology, Graduate Certificate in Information System Security Management, MS in Information and Communication SciencesYears in IT: 10Years in Cybersecurity: 7Cybersecurity certifications: CISSP-ISSAP, CISSP, CCNA-Security, CEH, CHFI, ECSA   How did you decide upon a career in cybersecurity? Cybersecurity had always been an aspect of my career as a systems analyst/administrator. The more proactive I became at securing systems and networks, the more research and interest I developed in the field of IT security – until the point where it became a primary responsibility. Why did you get your CISSP®? The CISSP was sought in

Name: Ronald Ricohermoso Title: IS Security Operations AnalystEmployer: Ingram MicroLocation: Philippines Degree: BS in Computer ScienceYears in IT: 6Years in information security: 4Cybersecurity certifications: SSCP, Security+, CEH, ITIL Foundation   How did you decide upon a career in cybersecurity? I started working as a service desk, but decided to leave and specialize in other fields of IT (ex. networking or infrastructure). It started when I got a job at Ingram Micro as a security administrator and learned about the importance of information security and the challenges it offers due to the changing threat landscape. I learned that there is never a dull moment in infosec and it seemed to be an exciting field. I decided to then move forward with

Insights from the 2017 Global Information Security Workforce Study show that the IT players in your organization may be the key to filling the looming cybersecurity workforce gap. The survey was taken by 10,584 cyber and information security professionals in North America, and showed a projected 265,000 industry jobs will be left unfilled in 2022. Practitioners back up that data, with 68 percent indicating their organizations had too few security professionals. Filling a gap of that size with qualified professionals is daunting, but the help may already be in your organization in the information technology department. In North America, 87 percent of survey respondents indicated that cybersecurity was not their first career – and of those professionals, 70 percent were