Parents and teachers can help kids prepare for future lifelong careers in cybersecurity

On March 21st, 2018 Carmen Marsh of Inteligenca and I hosted the #includecybersecuritychat on Twitter. These chats are a public conversation on how individuals and organizations can increase inclusion and encourage diversity in cybersecurity. Cybersecurity jobs now affect the public safety of every developed nation. Our questions started with a quick look back before we focused our discussion on the future.

Q1. What does your career path look like? Did you study computer science or did you move into cybersecurity from a different field?

Participants in our chat came from non-traditional backgrounds. Job applications for cybersecurity roles frequently cite four-year degrees and various industry certifications besides prior experience, but our participants showed that these are nice-to-haves, and rarely mandatory to break into cybersecurity jobs.

My path was unusual. I broke a lot of stuff as a kid. Paid for it in whoopings. But I was always interested in the 'process' of fixing. The digital world came to me easy. Called to me, really. I just answered. #includecybersecuritychat

— Joyous (@_Joyous_) March 21, 2018

A1: I did Econ under a liberal arts institution. While logically, it adds a different view / problem solving method to programming....employers don’t always see it this way #includecybersecuritychat

— Rudy Sanchez (@UberRadRudy) March 21, 2018

English lit major who went to law school over here. Hated law school, started compliance company in banking, did BSA audit work, and fell into compliance writing in infosec space. #includecybersecuritychat

— GeekMom K (@kvonhard) March 21, 2018

And ALWAYS trying to break it. See, of CS was looked at like a sport, more people would do it. Breaking it isn't the success. Building, that's the meat and potatoes. Creating reconstructive processes that are efficient and effective. #includecybersecuritychat

— Joyous (@_Joyous_) March 21, 2018

In a strict sense, I did change from programmer to sysadmin to network engineer to security engineer then security consulting, security manager director at a security startup and now a security architect but I see that as a continuing arc of development. #includecybersecuritychat

— Ben Strother (@InfoSecBen) March 21, 2018

Q2. Do you think you will remain in #cybersecurity until you retire or will you try something else?

Responses to this question were insightful. The common advice is that college-age adults will change careers multiple times over the course of their working life. Although the types of cybersecurity work are still evolving, all participants planned on remaining in this exciting field until retirement at the earliest.

At this point in my career, yes. One thing I love about the industry is that it IS constantly evolving. New technologies are coming up all the time to deal with what's happening in the world. Plus it intersects with nearly everything. #includecybersecuritychat https://t.co/K9cAC0PhZI

— Jessica Marie (@thoughtcosm) March 21, 2018

I think I’ll remain in the field until 💀- always changing, always more to learn, almost always interesting and challenging. What’s not to love? #includecybersecuritychat

— Joanna (@joanna2go) March 21, 2018

Exactly. Having a competitive spirit is how you get people thinking. Red team, blue team; white hat, black hat. The win is in the challenge, and the pride is in the win. This is how we keep CS fresh. Provide new challenges and recycle/enhance the pride. #includecybersecuritychat

— Joyous (@_Joyous_) March 21, 2018

2: I dont work directly with it but it is an important part of developing, so I deff dont see myself not working to understand it more. #includecybersecuritychat

— Rudy Sanchez (@UberRadRudy) March 21, 2018

#includecybersecuritychat A2 I think the scope of information security will continue to grow forever. It's basically Defense Against the Dark Arts in a world full of wannabe Grindelwalds and Voldemorts.

— Ketan Raturi (@Iconomancer) March 21, 2018

Q3. What can parents, teachers & orgs do to grow interest in cybersecurity jobs & prepare people to fill these roles?

The future generation of cybersecurity protectors are in elementary schools across the world. We need to move past 11% representation by women in cybersecurity roles and increase diversity in cybersecurity. Participants suggested encouraging teachers and parents to talk about and teach cybersecurity, and that individuals should give back to their community.

Inclusion is key. That is progressive. In the next few years, everything from shoes to cereal pouring machines will have net addr. If we do not find ways to integrate & include various careers and people we as a community will fail to progress. #includecybersecuritychat

— Joyous (@_Joyous_) March 21, 2018

My fingers were too slow. Parents need to learn about #infosec - especially in light of the Facebook/Cambridge news. What applications are kids accessing? How are they using it? #includecybersecuritychat

— GeekMom K (@kvonhard) March 21, 2018

Start the indoctrination young! But seriously...start having the conversation in classrooms, in the home, etc. I don't believe kids understand the depth of cybersecurity and all the fascinating things that come along with it. #includecybersecuritychat

— Jessica Marie (@thoughtcosm) March 21, 2018

A3: I think that encouraging an analytical mindset with an interest in figuring out how things work and where they break. Get down to root causes and think of other ways you need to reinforce things to make them trustworthy and reliable #includecybersecuritychat

— Ben Strother (@InfoSecBen) March 21, 2018

How? Too easy. Representation. Humans are more likely to do things if they know someone who shares characteristcs: looks like them, sound like them, think like them. The representation is out there. We have to take the time to recruit from outreach. #includecybersecuritychat

— Joyous (@_Joyous_) March 21, 2018

Talk about it, encourage kids to try it, provide resources, grow with their students/kids. I’ve taught coding to 2nd graders and spoken about cyber to high schoolers - they’re ready to listen if we talk! #includecybersecuritychat

— Joanna (@joanna2go) March 21, 2018

Start the cyber education from the base itself. Sessions, classes or even a subject. About parents talk it out the kids which is very important #includecybersecuritychat

— Vandana Verma (@InfosecVandana) March 21, 2018

Q4. What can businesses do to promote cybersecurity in their communities?

Our final question from the chat considered what steps current employers can take to help build the next workforce for cybersecurity. There are between 1.8m and 5.5m cybersecurity jobs predicted to be unfilled by 2021, and participants suggested how businesses and organizations could help shrink that gap.

A4: Consider offering summer internships in Cyberseurity. Offer tuition support for continued education in the field. #includecybersecuritychat

— Ron Scheese (@RScheese) March 21, 2018

#includecybersecuritychat A3: Check out @GirlsWhoCode and the camps they are organizing. Also #cyberpatriots high school program, Cyber program at Kennedy Space Center coming this summer @cyberspacecamp, #cybergirlz... we need much more. Also @MOJOMaker4WIT is coming soon!

— karenworstell (@karenworstell) March 21, 2018

A4 Engage with local schools. Organise small events with practical exercises envolving kids, teachers, other schools professionals and parents
#includecybersecuritychat. pic.twitter.com/YWa6xa0uUm

— Antonio Vieira Santos 💙 (@akwyz) March 21, 2018

A4: Connect with local colleges. Offer to present / speak at schools or Rotary to promote the field & raise awareness. Stay engaged & networked with local professional orgs.#includecybersecuritychat

— Ron Scheese (@RScheese) March 21, 2018

Because of that, we are restricted to networking amongst are own.

WE know the problem is there. The rest of the world needs to know too.

Host events, sponsor a team or tech school...

Buinessess need to GET ENVOLVED.#includecybersecuritychat

— Joyous (@_Joyous_) March 21, 2018

Thanks to all everyone who took part in our engaging and insightful public debate.