Virginia News & Features

Bridging the Gaps in the Cybersecurity Talent Pipeline

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Our Quarterly Publication: Virginia Economic Review

Our Quarterly Publication

Securing the Future

Virginia’s critical infrastructure is by and large a hardened fortress built on best practices and the talents of among the most forward-thinking workforces in the nation. But more than that, it’s gaining ground when it comes to hardening its critical infrastructure out of the gates — embracing a cyber-first development approach to systems and solutions.

The Role of AI in Cybersecurity: A Conversation With Candice Ling

VEDP President and CEO Jason El Koubi spoke with Candice Ling, senior vice president at Microsoft and head of the company’s federal government business unit, about Microsoft’s cybersecurity work with the federal government and potential future developments in the cybersecurity industry.

Hacking the Glass Ceiling

In an increasingly digital world where data breaches, ransomware attacks, and other cybercrimes are pervasive, a skilled cybersecurity workforce is more important than ever. Yet the industry grapples with a significant worker shortage. Globally, there are an estimated 3.5 million unfilled cybersecurity jobs, including nearly 500,000 vacancies in the United States, according to research firm Cybersecurity Ventures. At the same time, a large talent pool is being underutilized: female professionals.

Cyber Mission Ready

Virginia's proximity to the federal government and the wealth of private technology leaders headquartered in the Commonwealth have helped its workforce rise to the forefront of the cybersecurity industry. It boasts the second largest cybersecurity workforce in the country, with approximately 80,000 cybersecurity professionals operating within the Commonwealth. Yet Virginia is also home to a unique asset that provides its businesses with a secure operating environment and access to singular skill sets that they can’t develop in-house.