Women in CyberSecurity (WiCyS) is proud to announce the 5th
annual Security Training Scholarship (STS) Program in partnership
with the SANS Institute. This initiative, made possible by WiCyS
Tier 1 Partners and Premier Supporters such as Craig Newmark
Philanthropies, the Center for Internet Security (CIS), and
Bloomberg, aligns to the Office of the National Cyber Director's
(ONCD) National Cyber Workforce and Education Strategy by
addressing the cybersecurity workforce shortage and increasing
diversity, equity, and inclusion in the industry.
BETHESDA, Md., Aug. 6, 2024
/PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Women in CyberSecurity (WiCyS) is proud to
announce the 5th annual Security Training Scholarship (STS) Program
in partnership with the SANS Institute. This initiative, made
possible by WiCyS Tier 1 Partners and Premier Supporters such as
Craig Newmark Philanthropies, the Center for Internet Security
(CIS), and Bloomberg, aligns to the Office of the National Cyber
Director's (ONCD) National Cyber Workforce and Education Strategy
by addressing the cybersecurity workforce shortage and increasing
diversity, equity, and inclusion in the industry.
According to ONCD, the cybersecurity
industry faces nearly half a million unfilled jobs in the U.S.
alone and almost 4 million globally. This shortage presents a
critical risk to national and global security.
According to ONCD, the cybersecurity industry faces nearly half
a million unfilled jobs in the U.S. alone and almost 4 million
globally. This shortage presents a critical risk to national and
global security. Over the past four years, the WiCyS Security
Training Scholarship has made a substantial impact, producing
exceptional results and demonstrating a reliable pathway for
underrepresented communities into cybersecurity careers.
WiCyS Security Training Scholarship Highlights:
- ● Ecosystem of Strategic Partners: The
program is developed in collaboration with the SANS Institute and
supported by WiCyS Tier 1 Partners and Premier Supporters such as
CIS, Bloomberg and Craig Newmark Philanthropies.
● Multi-Tiered Scholarship Opportunity:
Designed for students and career changers, this program offers a
reliable pathway to launch and advance in cybersecurity careers
through skills development. Participants will engage in a
multi-tiered process, with each stage building on the previous one.
Advancement is based upon performance and application data.
● Focus on Cybersecurity Employment: The
scholarship targets WiCyS members seeking cybersecurity employment
within the next 18 months.
● Inclusive Community Building: During each
stage of the scholarship, a cohort is established with mentors and
peers to guide and support recipients.
● Open to All WiCyS Members: All WiCyS
members over the age of 18 are invited to apply for this
transformative training program.
● Proven Results: Over the past four years,
the program has introduced more than 3,000 participants to new
cyber skills. Of these, 183 have received advanced training
scholarships, earning over 360 GIAC certifications. Impressively,
all advanced training scholars seeking jobs have found employment
within 12 months of completing the program successfully.
The WiCyS Security Training Scholarship program is unique
because it identifies hidden cybersecurity talent, nurturing those
with aptitude, grit and determination. It empowers participants
with real-world skills they can continue to build upon,
transforming lives by enabling final-stage participants to start
cybersecurity jobs within a year of graduation. This program
directly impacts the cybersecurity workforce by launching careers
and enhancing diversity and inclusion in the industry. By
incorporating a wide range of experiences and viewpoints, it
significantly advances DEI in cybersecurity, providing a vital
contribution to the field.
WiCyS Executive Director, Lynn
Dohm, stated, "It is a security risk not to have the diverse
perspective that women and underrepresented individuals can bring
to the cybersecurity workforce. This program offers individuals the
chance to enter lucrative, life-changing careers while helping to
mitigate current and future security risks."
Christine Morency, STS alumnus
and now a Senior Cloud Security Specialist at Merck, shared her
experience: "WiCyS provided the bridge I needed to transition from
physical therapy to the dynamic world of cybersecurity. Through the
Security Training Scholarship Program and the supportive WiCyS
community, I discovered an exciting new career path. WiCyS paved
the way for me to find fulfillment and success beyond my wildest
dreams." Christine, an HBCU graduate with no technical skills prior
to program entry, exemplifies the transformative impact of the
WiCyS Security Training Scholarship.
WiCyS recognizes and celebrates its partners and supporters,
whose brands are profiled and shared with an engaged community of
over 10,000 global members, 283 student chapters, 70 professional
affiliates, and more.
WiCyS is seeking premier supporters to continue funding and
scaling this impactful program. For more information or to become a
supporter, please fill out the form at
https://forms.zohopublic.com/zohodocs1545/form/SponsorWiCyS2020/formperma/fL6DcbApU6RJnzoCUuzgWidoZO1bclxwZGagxtLt24s.
Applications are open until August 30,
2024. Apply today at
[https://www.wicys.org/benefits/security-training-scholarship/.
About WiCyS
Women in CyberSecurity (WiCyS) is a nonprofit organization with
international reach dedicated to the recruitment, retention and
advancement of women in cybersecurity. Founded by Dr. Ambareen Siraj through a National Science
Foundation grant given to Tennessee Tech University in 2013, WiCyS
offers opportunities, trainings, events and resources for its
community and members. Strategic partners include Tier 1: Akamai
Technologies, Amazon, Bloomberg, Carnegie
Mellon University – Software Engineering Institute, Cisco,
Ford Motor Company, Google, LevelBlue, Lockheed Martin, Microsoft,
Optum, Sandia National Laboratories, SentinelOne. Tier 2:
Accenture, Adobe, DeVry University,
Intel, JPMorgan Chase & Co., McKesson, MITRE, Motorola
Solutions, Navy Federal Credit Union, Workday. To partner, visit
http://www.wicys.org/support/strategic-partnerships/
About SANS Institute
The SANS Institute was established in 1989 as a cooperative
research and education organization. Today, SANS is the most
trusted and, by far, the largest provider of cybersecurity training
and certification to professionals in government and commercial
institutions worldwide. Renowned SANS instructors teach more than
85 courses at in-person and virtual cybersecurity events and
OnDemand. GIAC, an affiliate of the SANS Institute, validates
practitioner skills through more than 50 hands-on technical
certifications in cybersecurity. The SANS Technology Institute, a
regionally accredited independent subsidiary, offers master's and
bachelor's degrees, graduate certificates, and an undergraduate
certificate in cybersecurity. SANS also delivers a wide variety of
free resources to the InfoSec community, including consensus
projects, research reports, webcasts, podcasts, and newsletters; it
also operates the Internet's early warning system–the Internet
Storm Center. At the heart of SANS are the many security
practitioners representing varied global organizations, from
corporations to universities, working together to support and
educate the global information security community.
http://www.sans.org
About Craig Newmark Philanthropies
Craig Newmark is a Web pioneer and
philanthropist, best known for creating the online classified ads
service craigslist. Craig's full-time philanthropic work focuses on
organizations on the frontlines of protecting America's security
and democracy. He has given more than $300
million in support of veterans and military families,
trustworthy journalism and civic engagement campaigns, cyber
security education programs, hunger relief, and pigeon rescue.
Craig was influenced by his Sunday
School teachers who escaped the Holocaust, set his moral
compass, and taught him to treat people like you want to be treated
– and how to know when enough is enough.
Media Contact
Jenn Elston, SANS Institute,
301-654-7267, press@sans.org, SANS.org
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SOURCE SANS Institute