Solving the cybersecurity talent shortage will take a collective industry-wide effort. That’s why SafeGuard Cyber is proud to stand alongside some of our industry partners and peers to raise $1 million to fund one year of community college courses for Bay Area students pursuing careers in cybersecurity. Driven to make a difference in the lives of students and the local community, we've already raised more than $300,000 towards this goal and are calling on the industry during the RSA Conference this year to join us in making a meaningful impact together.
The campaign is led by SafeGuard Cyber’s partner NightDragon, an investment and advisory firm focused on the cybersecurity, safety, security, and privacy industries, and NextGen Cyber Talent, a nonprofit organization dedicated to increasing diversity and inclusion in the cybersecurity industry through education and career opportunities for underserved and underrepresented students.
SafeGuard Cyber is proud to join forces with more than 25 industry-leading cybersecurity and technology leaders, including AllegisCyber Capital, Carahsoft, Claroty, Coalfire, Cyderes, Deloitte, Exclusive Networks, ForgeRock, HUMAN Security, iboss, Immuta, Ingram Micro, Interos, Knight Group, Macnica Networks, Marsh, Merlin, Mezmo, NightDragon, Onapsis, Optiv, Palo Alto Networks, Prosek, Team8, Ten Eleven Ventures, ThriveDX, Snowflake, and vArmour.
“The way we communicate has changed and threat actors are targeting the new channels of human communications," notes Lisa Hayashi, SVP of Marketing, SafeGuard Cyber. "We're on a mission to protect human communication and we need talented people to help us. SafeGuard Cyber is honored to support NextGen Cyber Talent’s efforts to introduce and support underserved and underrepresented students into the cybersecurity industry. We look forward to bringing educated and highly motivated individuals along with us on our mission.”
NextGen Cyber Talent partners with Bay Area community colleges to offer several cohorts of training programs, continuous career development and mentoring, and grants to hundreds of students pursuing cybersecurity education. The funds raised through this campaign will be distributed by NextGen Cyber Talent to students at participating Bay Area community colleges who have applied and met the qualifying grade criteria of a B- or better.
In addition to capital, founding coalition partners have also contributed additional in-kind donations, including lectures, curriculum materials, and internships for students. SafeGuard Cyber is committed to working with NextGen Cyber Talent for our internship requirements.
Solving the cybersecurity talent shortage will take a collective industry-wide effort. SafeGuard Cyber is honored to stand together with our partners in this important mission. We hope the rest of the industry joins us in this important effort.
Donations of any size can be made through the Coalition to Close the Cybersecurity Talent Gap campaign donations page.