Understanding the cybersecurity skills gap and how education can solve it.
By Ingrid Toppelberg, CPO Cybint Solutions
There is an urgent need for cybersecurity professionals worldwide, and there is no time like the present for women to diversify the IT playing field at scale. Careers in cybersecurity are a lucrative and future-proof path, and unfilled cyber positions stand at over 4.07 million globally. I wrote this article to encourage decision-makers in educational facilities to collaborate with third-party vendors that offer bootcamp-as-a-service, so women can get on the fast track to success in cybersecurity. If women enroll in intensive cybersecurity bootcamps, they can qualify for entry-level positions in the space in as little as three months. Read the full article.
Leading and building effective international cyber diplomacy.
By Kathryn Fitrell, Senior Policy Advisor in the Office of the Coordinator for Cyber Issues, United States Department of State
As a diplomat, I have spent my career advocating for and implementing U.S. policies. My latest State Department assignment, however, provided an opportunity to work on issues where policies are still coalescing and a new paradigm of diplomacy, cyber diplomacy, is paramount. My colleagues in S/CCI integrate diplomatic efforts across the full range of international cyber policy issues that affect U.S. foreign policy. Gender balance is a rarity in the cyber -- and cyber policy -- community so it’s worth noting the office is 60 percent women, including its top two leaders. I’m proud of how we represent the United States' commitment to inclusion as we promote the U.S. vision of an open, interoperable, secure, and reliable Internet and a stable cyberspace. Read Kathryn's article on U.S. cyber diplomacy efforts in State Magazine.
The five things you need to know in order to create a very successful tech company.
By Jeri Morgan, Code Blue
Colorado IT Expert, Broomfield Chamber of Commerce’s Board Chair for 2021, and Bestselling Author, Jeri Morgan shares her experience, success and the five most important things one should know in order to create a very successful tech company. Jeri Morgan is the CEO of Code Blue Computing, a Security First I.T. Support organization headquartered in Denver, Colorado. Jeri has a knack for meeting business owners exactly where they are to help them build the best business practices related to operations, security, and utilizing technology to improve their bottom line.
Would you like to be featured in a future issue of the Creating Connections newsletter? We are currently accepting submissions for pieces written by women, about women, and information on women in cyber related events. Simply email us with your ideas.
She’s not strategic.
By Kelsea Bond, The CyberWire
Spring is usually my time to refresh. Along with spring cleaning, getting back into a good workout routine, and continuously searching for easy healthy family recipes (five mouths to feed here ya’ll, anyone have any good ones?), this is also a great time for a fresh perspective to encourage career growth.
Here is a piece that suggests a different way of looking at the cause for the wage and leadership gap among women in tech, and inspires actions to take from either side of the room. Jess Iandiorio, CMO of Starburst Data explains her viewpoint on The Real Reason Women Aren’t Getting Ahead in Tech: “She’s Not Strategic”.
This article tackles the issue from different angles. On one end, she describes spotting a woman (honestly, this could go for anyone) on your team who you believe is not strategic, and lays out some points that should be evaluated before completely writing them off. Here are three recommended questions to ask yourself about this individual:
- Has she been able to recruit & retain a high-performance team?
- Has she brought new ideas to the table that had a positive impact on the business?
- Does she understand all functions in the business?
On the other end, she addresses those who suffer from being considered “not strategic enough,” or those who are certain that they deserve a promotion, but are being passed over. For these folks, she offers some advice:
- Make sure your strategic contributions are clear.
- Contribute to the overall health of the business.
- Up-level your presentations
- Understand the difference between management and leadership.
- Build your visibility — up.
- Always participate in company-sponsored activities.
- Spot problems, suggest solutions
- Ask smart questions in front of large audiences.
Check out the article for a full breakdown on all the points above, plus additional advice on how to do all of this remotely in COVID times. I’d also check out more of Jess’s work, she has a fun writing style and great insights on building an excellent company culture.
Spring cleaning isn’t just for scrubbing floors.
By Gina Johnson, The CyberWire
For me, spring is the time of year when I thrive. Earlier in the year, I mentioned that I am not one who believes in the tradition of making New Year’s resolutions; I, like many people, have learned that starting the new year off with a huge goal does nothing but set one up for failure. Spring, however, is a signal of renewal, a time of year when growth and change are a natural progression. That being said, I take this time to take inventory of not only my physical clutter (there's so much, especially this year!), but also the mental clutter that tends to build up over the previous several months thanks to the holidays, end-of-year work crunch, chaos that comes with being a working mom who has to put some things on “pause” to get other things done. Part of my spring decluttering ritual is making sure that my home is as safe as it can be, which means tackling home projects to make sure that safety hazards like window and door locks are secure, loose tiles are carpet are fixed, and so on. I also like to make sure that my family’s internet access and devices are secure as well, especially since last year, since COVID has brought more devices into the home. I run password checks, clear out email inboxes, backup data onto an external hard drive, and wipe unused devices for donation or disposal. Spring is a great time to make sure that your house is in order, and spring cleaning is a tradition for many people, but most tend to focus on the things that everyone can see. It is equally important to keep in mind that the things that only you can see need sprucing up as well, so don’t forget to clean up your “cyber house”, too.
If you are considering donating unused electronic devices, visit the EPA website, the National Cristina Foundation website, the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, or any charitable foundation in your locality. Donated devices can improve the lives of those in underserved communities, or assist those in need due to other circumstances such as the pandemic.
