Building the future of cyber: MISI's summer 2022 virtual internship.
By MISI staff
Our nation relies on a diverse and skilled workforce to maintain its competitive and national security posture. Demographics in America are shifting towards a more diverse workforce. The MISI academy aims to reach a diverse group of students from all walks of life. The MISI Academy puts emphasis into the recruiting of young women and minorities that are underrepresented in the fields of STEM and cybersecurity.
Continuing their mission in building the future of cyber, MISI is excited to announce its summer virtual internship experience for rising high school juniors and seniors. The 6-week program will run daily from July 11 through August 19th. Applications are due by June 10th 2022. U.S. citizenship is required for participation.
This summer’s program is designed to be an introduction into the world of cybersecurity and is perfect for those interested in exploring new topics, learning about possible careers, and gaining their first experiences with tools and techniques needed to solve technical challenges. Interns will also gain the opportunity to speak with cyber leaders across industry, government and academia. Learn more and apply.
Welcome back, world!
By Gina Johnson, The CyberWire
Spring has sprung once again, friends, but this year feels different. This year for me started off in a new home, in a new state, which certainly shakes things up a bit, but this is something else. As so many have stated, the last couple of years have turned every season into what felt like one long nothing. I have read countless stories from people who can scarcely remember what they did last week, let alone last summer. Suffice it to say, the pandemic has taken its toll. Now, Spring 2022 is upon us, and with it comes some hope of a new normal. We at the CyberWire have continued to persevere, and we just celebrated our 6th anniversary!
While a lot of events are still happening virtually, many are starting to take place in person again, which is great! People are starting to feel a bit more comfortable networking in person, getting out from behind the screens, because let’s face it: working in cyber in general can be kind of lonely and “thousand-yard-stare” inducing, especially if you’re doing it alone in your home office. I imagine talking to someone other than your dogs or cat every once in a while would be nice (not speaking from experience AT ALL). As we all cautiously hope that some of the changes we are seeing are for the better, at the same time we know that there is anguish because the world has changed in a very big way. For now, I will keep looking forward, hoping that these baby steps that we are all taking toward in-person activities will bring about the sense of community and camaraderie that we all miss so dearly. I, for one, can’t wait. As a matter of fact, my first big event will be to join some of my favorite people back home next week to celebrate the CyberWire’s Big 6. Cheers to brighter days and a hopeful future.
Keep your friends closer.
By Eliana White, The CyberWire
It’s still surreal that we’ve been living in a pandemic for the past couple years. Everyone I know refers to past events as either before Covid or after Covid. (BC & AC, if you will).
We all have those people in our lives that can barely work their smartphone, let alone a computer; those are the ones that really suffered during the pandemic. Zoom, Teams, and all the other countless video conferencing software that manifested themselves during all of this became a skill requirement for everyone, no matter what field you were in. I didn’t even know so many video apps existed before the pandemic, so I can imagine how someone that isn’t as technologically inclined would feel.
As anyone in our industry would have guessed, cybercriminals ran rampant during the pandemic. Why? Because all of those individuals who weren’t used to relying on their smartphones and laptops in their everyday lives, were now some of the most vulnerable prey for cyberattacks.
Pandemic or not, it’s important for those of us that are informed and aware of all the cyber threats that are out there, keep the people around us informed as well. You may see scams or phishing attempts and think “no one would fall for that,” but people do, everyday.
Heard around the studio.
By The CyberWire team
Since our last issue, the CyberWire Network has grown by a new podcast. Devo debuted their new podcast, Cyber CEOs Decoded, on Thursday, April 28, 2022. We thought you might find them interesting and may want to check it out.
Marc van Zadelhoff, CEO of Devo, hosts CEO-to-CEO conversations with leaders from established security giants, to up and coming disruptors, getting the inside track on what makes cyber CEOs tick. Marc and his guests will share lessons learned from building cyber companies, delivering value to customers, creating enduring cultures, and sharing stories of success and failure in an ever-evolving technology landscape. The podcast is monthly, so keep an eye out for it the third Thursday of each month.
Join us as an ally.
By Jennifer Eiben, The CyberWire
Calling all allies. What exactly is an ally? How is it that one becomes an ally? According to Merriam-Webster, an ally (noun) is "a person, group, or nation associated or united with another in a common purpose." An ally to women in technology, as an example, would work to make our industry more diverse and inclusive while supporting women within our ranks, and those interested in joining the cybersecurity field.
Becoming such an ally for women in cybersecurity is not hard. You do not have to be a woman. In fact, some of the strongest allies of women in technology are men. You just need to feel responsibility for an inclusive workplace and industry as a whole. There is a great list shared by LeanIn.org that lays it out nicely for anyone interested in learning how to be a stronger ally of women in the workplace. LeanIn.org actually describes it as a list for women to support other women, but I think that it works for anyone looking to support women and fits in well with our industry.
This year, the CyberWire is again a finalist of Media AYA 2022 award as part of the Ally of the Year Awards (AYA) 2022. These awards recognize those who work to advance equality and make a substantive difference for women in technology in eleven categories. The CyberWire was a finalist in the Media AYA category in 2020, and our team was honored and thrilled to be named the winner in 2021. Thank you for your allyship, and stay tuned for 2022 results.
Want to inspire others to pursue cybersecurity?
By The CyberWire team
Do you have an interesting origin story that you would like to share with others thinking of following a path to cybersecurity? Did you face obstacles as you pursued your passion? Why not share your career story on the CyberWire's Career Notes podcast. Career Notes is a short-form podcast that allows the audience to step inside the diverse and fascinating worlds of cybersecurity professionals around the globe and hear their personal stories in their own words. Every other week, we feature an interview with someone who identifies as a woman on the podcast. Contact us if you'd like to share yours.
