I’ve been around in this industry long enough to observe plenty of interesting trends. And one of the most important trends of this decade if not earlier has been how cybersecurity has gone mainstream. As well as regularly featuring in top tier media (no longer languishing just in tiny tech sections toward the back of newspapers but frequently featuring on front pages), tech and security are no longer the sole preserve of the asocial geek; InfoSec has rightly infiltrated the curriculum at many schools across the developed world. And as our society’s love affair with technology deepens, it stands to reason that IT security news has become more relevant and interesting to us all. Cybercrime and InfoSec get a lot of attention from the press these days because the threats we face are graver than ever; however, today I’m going to focus on the positive stuff.
Such as this: The National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education (NICE) is a national initiative addressing cybersecurity education and workforce development in the US. A public-private partnership between government, academia and the private sector, NICE is dedicated to educating, recruiting, training and retaining a ‘diverse, qualified cybersecurity workforce’. Very nice indeed! And in the UK, the government is committed to encouraging talented young people to move into cybersecurity careers via initiatives that include new apprenticeships, more civil-service cyber-specialists, and more cybersecurity training in further and higher education.
All of this is music to my ears. And I’m proud to say that we’re also doing our bit to encourage students and young people start successful cybersecurity careers; namely, with Kaspersky Academy’sown Cybersecurity for the Next Generationstudent conference,as well as with our new mentor-driven acceleration program, Security Startup Challenge, which is already in full swing.
But what about those of us who weren’t born digital natives? Those of us for whom the Internet has not been an ever-present – essential! – part of life? For whom connected devices and the WWW can sometimes be as daunting as they are liberating? Those who aren’t destined for illustrious careers within the cybersecurity sector but who just need a few pointers for navigating the net safely and securely?
Well, we’re helping there too. The Kaspersky Think Security Guide has been specifically created for the non-techie seeking friendly advice on everyday cybersecurity concerns. It covers topics that include why we get spam (and how to avoid it), how to make online payments safely, what to do if you think you’ve fallen victim to a phishing scam, how to secure your mobile device, and how to keep your kids safe online, to name just a few. So if you have a friend or relative who could do with a helping hand, please share the Think Security Guide with them. You’ll be doing your bit in the name of cybersecurity education, and that means you’ll be helping make the cyberworld a safer place for us all. Happy reading!