It's been estimated that there will be 1.8 million unfilled cybersecurity jobs by 2022, even as the number of high-profile attacks and hacks continues to mount and billions of IoT (Internet of things) devices come online. IBM is betting it can help avert this trend by promoting new ways to train the next generation of cybersecurity professionals.
Here's how IBM describes the approach, which it dubs "new collar":
IBM Security is investing in several initiatives including:
New collaboration with the Hacker Highschool project, an open cybersecurity training program for teens and young adults.
Continued investment in skills-based education, training & recruitment, including vocational training, coding camps, professional certification programs and innovative public/private education models like P-TECH (which IBM pioneered in 2011).
Cybersecurity hiring practices in many cases are decades out of date and need to change to reflect the new landscape, IBM says. Moreover, many important cybersecurity roles don't need a traditional four-year degree, as military veterans' programs, vocational schools and coding camps are other good sources for cybersecurity candidates that often get overlooked, Big Blue adds. For its part, IBM says that 20 percent of its new cybersecurity hires over the since 2015 came in as "new collar" candidates.
Analysis: A Welcome, Albeit Not Altruistic Move
IBM will be working with nonprofit Institute for Security and Open Methodologies (ISECOM), which backs Hacker Highschool, a program that designs cybersecurity courses geared for teenagers. They will create a new lesson focused on providing the skills required for entry-level SOC (security operation center) analysts.
As with any education program IBM gets something in return, namely the use of its security tools in the course. Students who finish the class will also be able to get hands-on with IBM's QRadar security analytics software, which is used in many SOCs for attack monitoring.
There's no telling whether students would automatically pursue a career as an IBM security professional, of course, but that's an overarching intent behind IBM's investment—and in fairness, the same applies to all vendor-sponsored educational programs. One difference here is the dire need for many more cybersecurity professionals in the near term. It's a problem with global implications, and Big Blue's investment in cybersecurity education programs is therefore a welcome move.
IBM's "new collar" theme—which was coined by CEO Ginny Rometty last year—is also worth CIOs' and CISOs' consideration when it comes to hiring practices. A Big Blue whitepaper, available here, goes into further depth on the concept.
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