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June 26, 2024 at 10:09AM
The Diverse Cybersecurity Workforce Act aims to improve cybersecurity by promoting diversity and inclusion in the workforce. It emphasizes the need for varied perspectives and skill sets and suggests strategies to attract, train, and retain diverse talent. Addressing barriers to inclusion and building a supportive environment are essential for long-term success in cybersecurity.
From the meeting notes, it is clear that the focus is on the importance of diversity in the cybersecurity workforce and the proposed Diverse Cybersecurity Workforce Act. The Act seeks to address the lack of diversity in the cybersecurity industry and offers a comprehensive approach to building a pipeline of diverse skills, providing funding, and addressing barriers to retention. The Act aims to create inclusive spaces for cybersecurity training, offer services for mentorship and career placement, and provide accessibility programs and opportunities for disadvantaged communities.
The proposed timeline emphasizes the urgency of adding new talent to the cybersecurity workforce, with an emphasis on creating intentional programming to uplift individuals and bridge the workforce gap. The Act’s $20 million per year budget is cited as an amount that can make a significant impact, as demonstrated by the success of Women in Cybersecurity (WiCyS) in investing $1.8 million to enable women to explore cybersecurity careers and achieve advanced certifications.
In addition to recruiting diverse talent, the Act recognizes the importance of retention and the need to address barriers that underrepresented individuals face in the cybersecurity industry. The focus on inclusion is highlighted as vital for building and retaining a diverse workforce and addressing evolving cybersecurity risks.
Overall, the meeting notes underscore the critical need to diversify the cybersecurity workforce and the proposed Act’s potential to create pathways for underrepresented communities to enter and thrive in the industry. The Act’s emphasis on building a diverse talent pipeline, providing funding, and addressing barriers to retention aligns with the broader goal of achieving greater diversity across sectors within the cybersecurity workforce.