“THERE ARE NOW VERY FEW AREAS THAT DO NOT TOUCH CYBERSECURITY IN SOME WAY . THAT ’ S A LITTLE SCARY , BUT IT ’ S ALSO A TERRIFIC OPPORTUNITY ." |
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ILLUSTRATION BY ADAM MCCAULEY |
an individual may not have in-depth cybersecurity-specific knowledge , other capabilities may prove more important — knowledge of a given enterprise environment , experience in a complementary field , or creativity in strategic vision and long-term planning .
Diversity in any field is a strength , and cybersecurity is no exception . Since the core goal of cybersecurity is to anticipate and combat a broad field of remote attackers , complementary diversity in the field itself is not only a benefit , but a requirement .
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HP is sponsoring efforts with HBCUs ( historically Black colleges and universities ), organizations such as Black Girls Code and Boys & Girls Clubs of America , and minority-owned suppliers in order to create more opportunity for diverse talent and also to get the word out about current needs . HP ’ s Cybersecurity organization is proud to sponsor annual scholarships for cybersecurity students at Prairie View A & M University and the University of Queensland , Australia , in order to open more doors across the industry . |
HP is , however , an outlier . Less than half of companies participating in the ISACA 2020 Cybersecurity Study said they have diversity and retention programs to recruit women and racial minorities into cybersecurity roles .
Diversity in experience , skill sets , and identity is not only a moral imperative , but will ensure that the reality of a cybersecurity career grows to be more expansive . The only non-negotiable requirement is a passion for making the world safer — no hoodie required .
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HP / INNOVATION / SPRING 2021 9 |