(ISC)² Partners With Women In Cybersecurity to Help Close Cybersecurity Skills Gap
In an effort to bring greater diversity to the cybersecurity world, nonprofit association (ISC)² is partnering with Women in Cybersecurity (WiCyS) to help underrepresented people gain accessibility to educational resources and certifications.
The partnership includes a new program, “Certified in Cybersecurity Certification Winter Camp,” to help 250 women enter the cybersecurity field, (ISC)2 said in a prepared statement.
The Winter Camp provides entry-level certification to IT professionals, career changers, students and recent graduates, (ISC)2 said. The program encompasses:
- Security principles
- Business continuity
- Disaster recovery and incident response concepts
- Access controls concepts
- Network security
- Security operations
- Technical mentoring
- Certification
- Scholarships
Cybersecurity’s Diversity Imperative
Dwan Jones, director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at (ISC)2, explained the intended impact of the partnership with the WiCyS network:
“Right now, we are facing a workforce gap that is at an all-time high, with 3.4 million more cyber professionals needed in the field. We won’t make inroads into closing the workforce gap until we increase the access for new voices to enter the field. Specifically, we need to embrace greater diversity and work to add additional women to the profession. Community is at our core at (ISC)², and we are thrilled to broaden our community to the WiCyS network. This partnership will enable and amplify stronger efforts to recruit, retain and advance women in the cybersecurity workforce.”
WiCyS Executive Director Lynn Dohm celebrated the partnership with (ISC)²:
“Creating an inclusive space and entry point for women interested in cybersecurity is one of many areas we focus on. Bringing the enthusiasm of the WiCyS community together to learn and grow in a certification program is the key to successful outcomes. We are excited to partner with (ISC)² to provide this winter camp to 250 outstanding women as they launch themselves into their cybersecurity career journeys.”
Free Training and Exams
The WiCyS community will also have access to (ISC)²’s recent initiative, One Million Certified in Cybersecurity. The initiative allows individuals to access the free Certified in Cybersecurity (CC) Online Self-Paced Training and exams. WiCyS members can prepare for entry- and junior-level cybersecurity roles — strengthening the workforce by building stronger and more resilient teams across all experience levels.
This program is available to 250 WiCyS members, international members and those committed to completing the certification requirement. To enroll in the program, individuals do not need prerequisites, previous cybersecurity work experience or formal cybersecurity education. The applications are open now until December 1, and the program will launch mid-December.
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