Safety is the top priority for employees in the American workplace, and one of the issues they worry about most is cyber threats. With COVID-19 still fresh on everyone’s mind, only public health emergencies rated higher than cyberattacks in a newly published report. According to the State of Employee Safety report by AlertMedia, a provider of emergency communication software, the top three threats weighing on U.S. workers are public health emergencies (79%), cyberattacks (65%) and severe weather (65%). Crime, which has been on the rise in the past two years, rated fourth, at 62%. Employers should take note of the concern about cyberattacks, as well as the other threats that workers cited. Workers expect their employers to keep them safe:

Flexible work conditions can help decrease the cybersecurity workforce gap by creating more inclusive environments. Practices like work from home and flexible office hours allow companies to widen their recruitment pool. The increase of work from home has been on the move for years, but was escalated in 2020 with the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Those with transportation challenges, physical limitations, family obligations, or other situations that made the traditional nine-to-five feel previously difficult are now finding themselves able to thrive with more flexible work conditions.  In the latest (ISC)² Workforce Study, respondents were asked “How can cybersecurity diversify?” The second-highest response, 29% suggested providing more flexible working conditions. This response was topped only by providing mentorships and support at

Last year’s Celebrating International Women’s Day: Carving a Cybersecurity Career Path webinar featured a panel of accomplished women in cybersecurity for a discussion that captured the female perspective in the field. The group came together to discuss the data surrounding the demographics that make up the workforce and how they are shifting. They also shared their journeys in the profession that led them to the leadership positions they now hold, including the challenges encountered and strategies they employed to succeed. The conversation took a look ahead to the evolution of diverse cybersecurity teams and the principles that inform how they are assembled. Join us for this year’s webinar Tackling Gender Bias - The Young Women's Perspectives on Monday, March 7

The (ISC)² Scholarship Program is part of an effort to bridge the cybersecurity workforce gap—which stands at 2.72 million needed professionals—by providing future cybersecurity professionals across the globe with scholarships to prepare them for a rewarding career in this important field. At the same time, the industry urgently needs more diverse perspectives and fresh talent to tackle the challenges of today and tomorrow. With the scholarships, (ISC)² wants to create more opportunities for historically underrepresented individuals and inspire more young people to pursue a career in cybersecurity. In 2021, Weijia Yan was awarded an (ISC)² Undergraduate Scholarship which supported her as she finished her senior year at Texas A&M University. Weijia graduated Magna Cum Laude in December 2021, earning a bachelor’s degree in

The Need for Entry-level Cybersecurity Education Is Critical As any employer who has tried to fill a vacant cybersecurity position knows, finding qualified candidates is anything but easy. The cybersecurity workforce would have to expand by 65% to meet global demand, according to (ISC)²'s 2021 Cybersecurity Workforce Study. Employers, therefore, need to keep an open mind when filling those positions by considering candidates with less experience. Once on board, however, new hires can be brought up to speed through education and certification. Even with sparse experience, a cybersecurity professional should be able to demonstrate an acceptable level of proficiency in the field. This is especially important for service providers, such as MSSPs, whose technicians have interactions with end customers. A