Apple building

Major Companies Pledge To Take Steps Toward Building Cybersecurity Workforce

Large employers like Google, Facebook, Johnson & Johnson and Apple have committed to closing the gap of cybersecurity jobs.

  • By Haley Samsel
  • Oct 31, 2019

Some of the world’s largest corporations have agreed to a set of steps that they hope will help close a major cybersecurity jobs gap.

Organized by the Aspen Cybersecurity Group, a part of the Aspen Institute, the initiative takes aim at prioritizing “real-world skills over degrees” so that more workers are deemed qualified to fill crucial positions in the security industry.

John Carlin, the chair of the Aspen Institute’s cybersecurity and technology program and a former assistant attorney general for national security, announced the coalition on Wednesday, stating the need to seek candidates outside of those who have bachelor’s and more advanced degrees.

There will be at least 500,000 vacant cybersecurity jobs in the U.S. by 2021, Carlin added.

“It should deeply concern all Americans that businesses and government agencies are struggling to find enough cybersecurity workers,” he wrote, referencing the amount of money lost in cybersecurity breaches each year.

The companies include tech giants Apple, Google, Facebook and IBM along with fellow partner organizations AIG, Cloudflare, Cyber Threat Alliance, Duke Energy, IronNet, Northrop Grumman, Symantec, Unisys, Verizon and PwC.

In addition to widening recruitment beyond applicants with four-year degrees, the companies have also committed to using “non-gender biased job descriptions” and focusing on core job requirements rather than using over-technical language. Companies have pledged to making career paths “understandable and accessible to current employees and job seekers,” Carlin wrote.

While there are structural forces that have led to fewer Americans being qualified for cyber jobs, including a lack of integrated cybersecurity curriculum in schools and universities, Carlin said that the industry must act now to do what it can to attract a more diverse workforce.

“Companies and government agencies already have the power to narrow the cyber workforce gap simply by changing their internal processes,” he wrote. “Many organizations are leaving large pools of skilled candidates untapped, in part because of overly complex job requirements that disqualify more than 50% of applicants.”

More organizations, including government agencies and smaller companies, may sign on to the initiative as well, according to the release.

About the Author

Haley Samsel is an Associate Content Editor for the Infrastructure Solutions Group at 1105 Media.

Featured

  • Security Today Announces 2025 CyberSecured Award Winners

    Security Today is pleased to announce the 2025 CyberSecured Awards winners. Sixteen companies are being recognized this year for their network products and other cybersecurity initiatives that secure our world today. Read Now

  • Empowering and Securing a Mobile Workforce

    What happens when technology lets you work anywhere – but exposes you to security threats everywhere? This is the reality of modern work. No longer tethered to desks, work happens everywhere – in the office, from home, on the road, and in countless locations in between. Read Now

  • TSA Introduces New $45 Fee Option for Travelers Without REAL ID Starting February 1

    The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) announced today that it will refer all passengers who do not present an acceptable form of ID and still want to fly an option to pay a $45 fee to use a modernized alternative identity verification system, TSA Confirm.ID, to establish identity at security checkpoints beginning on February 1, 2026. Read Now

  • The Evolution of IP Camera Intelligence

    As the 30th anniversary of the IP camera approaches in 2026, it is worth reflecting on how far we have come. The first network camera, launched in 1996, delivered one frame every 17 seconds—not impressive by today’s standards, but groundbreaking at the time. It did something that no analog system could: transmit video over a standard IP network. Read Now

  • From Surveillance to Intelligence

    Years ago, it would have been significantly more expensive to run an analytic like that — requiring a custom-built solution with burdensome infrastructure demands — but modern edge devices have made it accessible to everyone. It also saves time, which is a critical factor if a missing child is involved. Video compression technology has played a critical role as well. Over the years, significant advancements have been made in video coding standards — including H.263, MPEG formats, and H.264—alongside compression optimization technologies developed by IP video manufacturers to improve efficiency without sacrificing quality. The open-source AV1 codec developed by the Alliance for Open Media—a consortium including Google, Netflix, Microsoft, Amazon and others — is already the preferred decoder for cloud-based applications, and is quickly becoming the standard for video compression of all types. Read Now

Most   Popular

New Products

  • A8V MIND

    A8V MIND

    Hexagon’s Geosystems presents a portable version of its Accur8vision detection system. A rugged all-in-one solution, the A8V MIND (Mobile Intrusion Detection) is designed to provide flexible protection of critical outdoor infrastructure and objects. Hexagon’s Accur8vision is a volumetric detection system that employs LiDAR technology to safeguard entire areas. Whenever it detects movement in a specified zone, it automatically differentiates a threat from a nonthreat, and immediately notifies security staff if necessary. Person detection is carried out within a radius of 80 meters from this device. Connected remotely via a portable computer device, it enables remote surveillance and does not depend on security staff patrolling the area.

  • Mobile Safe Shield

    Mobile Safe Shield

    SafeWood Designs, Inc., a manufacturer of patented bullet resistant products, is excited to announce the launch of the Mobile Safe Shield. The Mobile Safe Shield is a moveable bullet resistant shield that provides protection in the event of an assailant and supplies cover in the event of an active shooter. With a heavy-duty steel frame, quality castor wheels, and bullet resistant core, the Mobile Safe Shield is a perfect addition to any guard station, security desks, courthouses, police stations, schools, office spaces and more. The Mobile Safe Shield is incredibly customizable. Bullet resistant materials are available in UL 752 Levels 1 through 8 and include glass, white board, tack board, veneer, and plastic laminate. Flexibility in bullet resistant materials allows for the Mobile Safe Shield to blend more with current interior décor for a seamless design aesthetic. Optional custom paint colors are also available for the steel frame.

  • ResponderLink

    ResponderLink

    Shooter Detection Systems (SDS), an Alarm.com company and a global leader in gunshot detection solutions, has introduced ResponderLink, a groundbreaking new 911 notification service for gunshot events. ResponderLink completes the circle from detection to 911 notification to first responder awareness, giving law enforcement enhanced situational intelligence they urgently need to save lives. Integrating SDS’s proven gunshot detection system with Noonlight’s SendPolice platform, ResponderLink is the first solution to automatically deliver real-time gunshot detection data to 911 call centers and first responders. When shots are detected, the 911 dispatching center, also known as the Public Safety Answering Point or PSAP, is contacted based on the gunfire location, enabling faster initiation of life-saving emergency protocols.