The Biden administration is accelerating efforts to fill nearly 600,000 vacant cybersecurity positions in the public and private sectors bogging down efforts to protect digital infrastructure.
Why it matters: Following a deluge of ransomware attacks targeting critical government and corporate infrastructure this year, clogs in the talent pipeline are leaving federal, cash-strapped local governments and Big Business even more susceptible to hacking.
What we're watching: Private companies like GuidePoint Security are trying one way to fill the void: training veterans leaving the military for careers in cybersecurity.
Government, nonprofit and private entities also are partnering with community colleges and historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) to cast a wider net across a range of socioeconomic and academic backgrounds.
Driving the news: A job-tracking database funded by the Commerce Department shows there are nearly 600,000 U.S. cyber job openings nationwide.
Be smart: Historically, local and federal government entities have struggled to compete with private sector companies, where bidding wars for talent are commonplace.
What they're saying: "We're playing a game of chicken," said Petrella, the CyberVista chief.
