Community Blog

CISE Education Fund Surpasses $1 Million to Help Bridge the Cybersecurity Talent Gap
26 Nov, 2020
Like never before, cybersecurity is foundational to business and institutions. But it’s also much more difficult to access the talent needed to ensure the secure flow of digital business. With Forbes reporting that cybersecurity talent gaps are bigger than previously thought, we know that we have less than half the cybersecurity candidates needed to handle increasing demand. According to research from Emsi , for every 100 active job postings, there are only 48 qualified candidates. It’s more important than ever to support technology education, and the Consortium of Information Systems Executives (CISE) is working to make a positive impact and expand the talent pipeline and assist less advantaged students as they pursue cybersecurity careers. The CISE Education Fund is committed to paving the way forward for cybersecurity talent and the education needed for the workforce. As part of the work, the CISE CIO Marathon is an important annual event that focuses on and supports cybersecurity talent -- helping keep pace with growth of the digital economy. Thanks to another successful CIO Marathon , the CISE fund has now surpassed $1M in donations to support cybersecurity education. “With business, transportation, fitness, education, and government digitizing faster than ever, it is the responsibility of all leaders across every sector to support and invest in the cultivation of cybersecurity talent,” said Shobhana Ahluwalia, CIO of Peloton and CISE Education Fund board member . “The CISE Education Fund is dedicated to filling the talent gap and preparing the next generation of cybersecurity leadership.” A special thanks goes to the following companies who participated in this year’s virtual event: Socilachorus , Prismo Systems , Productiv , Airgapnetworks , Cleanshelf , Zylo , and Tagit Solutions . With their participation, 100 percent of the Marathon proceeds are dedicated to the CISE Education Fund and are used to assist less advantaged students to pursue technology careers. The CISE Education Fund has supported the Merritt College Security Program , which consistently ranks as one of the top cybersecurity programs in the nation. If you would like to get involved with CISE or learn more about hiring talent, please visit https://www.ciseeducationfund.com .
STEM Teams 3D Print Face Shields
01 Apr, 2020
We are witnessing an unprecedented disruption throughout our communities and industries. It’s no surprise that unexpected heroes around the world are stepping up to help as countries grapple with COVID-19. As the past couple weeks have unfolded across the U.S., we’ve all seen how many are getting involved to help others. We can all do our part – from social distancing and charitable donations to working extra hours to help power and secure remote work efforts. One of the most inspiring examples is those who are assisting the healthcare workers fighting an uphill battle against the virus spread and depletion of personal protective equipment (PPE). PPE is vital for protecting our healthcare professionals who are putting themselves in harm’s way in order to help the sick. It’s clear that unity is once again the key to our community. Businesses large and small are coming together to quickly manufacture much-needed PPE, ventilators and other equipment. But they aren’t alone in those efforts. High school STEM clubs around the Bay Area are putting their passion and ingenuity to work assisting to fill the shortfall of protective masks for healthcare workers. At Saratoga High School in Saratoga California, the robotics team is collaborating with many other schools, non-profits, and individuals in a community-wide effort to manufacture PPE for healthcare workers. Using the 3D printers and laser cutters that were being used to make parts for their competition robots, they are now making bands for face shields.
The Changing Landscape (and Faces) of Cybersecurity
29 Jan, 2020
The face of cybersecurity continues to change, thanks in large part to industry executives who saw a need and did something about it. In 2014, a group of Bay Area cybersecurity professionals worked together to address the gap of cybersecurity professionals and the growth of malicious attempts to compromise computer systems. The Consortium of Information Systems Executives (CISE) developed a partnership with Merritt College , creating an affordable way for people to learn the necessary skills to launch a highly rewarding career in cybersecurity. Today, an important data point continues to reverberate: a prediction by Cybersecurity Ventures that there will be 3.5 million unfilled cybersecurity jobs globally by 2021, up from one million positions in 2014. Security jobs will be more in demand than ever. "With the cybersecurity talent gap expected to grow 350% by 2021, we simply must work harder to prepare,” says Jim Cates , a CISE member and program director at Merritt College. “Any time we can empower a new generation of leaders to bridge a gap by putting their skills to work, industry benefits -- and so does the community around it." Today, industry professionals from more than 50 Bay Area companies are working together to cultivate a program that sets a new standard for future cybersecurity professionals. As one of the first community colleges to offer a cybersecurity degree accredited by the state of California, the Merritt program continues to lead the way in both quality and results. The program is now entering its sixth year and will recognize the 5th graduating class in June 2020. Moving forward, the program will expand with more students and instructors, move lectures online, offer soft skills training and automate placement process. StrataFusion Partner Mark Egan has been involved from the start as a member of CISE and the Merritt College Cybersecurity Program. “I’m so proud of the impact this program is having. Merritt students graduate not only ready for the workforce but uniquely equipped and prepared to make a difference for their employers,” Mark says. “Cybersecurity is a crucial part of successful digital transformation and StrataFusion is proud to be a Merritt College supporter. This program is not only enriching industry, it is truly transforming lives.” The program is helping companies find hard-to-recruit talent and ensure that the cybersecurity field is not only more diverse but also more prepared with unique points of view. In addition to helping develop talent in unexpected places, the Merritt College Cybersecurity Program provides students a smart, affordable way to become a trained professional. It also provides a rare opportunity for students to learn about cybersecurity from experts who are currently active in the field. Efforts are paying off. Merritt cybersecurity students continue to excel in national competitions. In fact, the SANs Cyber Talent Fast Track ranking hit a new milestone in 2019 with Merritt ranking 1st in California and 40th in the nation. Merritt student teams also consistently do well in the National Cyber League with three teams placing in the top 5 percent during the last competition and winning the Silver Bracket. As your security team grows, be sure to connect with Merritt College to hire some of the best (and most prepared) young professionals entering the cybersecurity workforce.
Accelerating Business Transformation through Mentorship
21 Dec, 2019
Our careers go through many transformations, but one thing we can do at every step is coach others to be successful through mentoring. Being a mentor has served as an important marker for me through the years, and working with organizations like WOMEN Unlimited (WUI) has enabled my learning and growth as I coach others to navigate their careers and work toward their unique goals. Mentoring is extremely gratifying. I’ve been part of WOMEN Unlimited for many years and have met amazing people and continue to learn about business. Because WUI works with corporate partners to ensure high-potential women, it helps ensure a unified approach and infrastructure. In fact, both male and female mentors involved with WOMEN Unlimited say the program is a transformational learning experience for them as well. The good news is that there is room for everyone — we can all be involved. When I started mentoring almost 20 years ago, I was a more-than-full-time executive running global development for Hitachi Data Systems. Today, when I think about what made me an effective leader, I attribute much of my personal success to mentoring — identifying and helping great talents, inside or outside of my company, who just needed a coach. Leaders who make time to get involved and actively advocate for women and diversity in business can have a much deeper impact on company culture and accelerate success. A recent WOMEN Unlimited white paper noted a Pepperdine University that study tracked 200 Fortune 500 companies over a number of years. According to the lead researcher, Roy Adler: “the correlation between high-level female executives and business success has been consistent and revealing.” It’s also mutually beneficial. Helping others succeed many times also helps those who are doing the mentoring: Mentors gain insights that can easily be applied to other organizational relationships. Mentors develop a clearer picture of how to be stronger advocates for organization-wide diversity. Mentors have a greater understanding of the impact of corporate culture on the advancement of women For me, helping a new generation of high potential women find their footing and explore career possibilities is energizing. I’m constantly seeing how culture is shifting in the age of technology, and how we can better help business accelerate and successfully embrace diversity. While I’m focusing on more mentoring today in my career, it’s still a balancing act of very active work and coaching. Having an established infrastructure through WOMEN Unlimited helps to more effectively pass on the lessons I’ve learned, provide insights and share knowledge with someone who will, in time, do the same. If you are seeking a new goal or resolution for 2020, considering becoming a mentor. WOMEN Unlimited is currently recruiting new mentors for their programs, so be sure to check out their website for more information.
The Power of Community
01 Nov, 2019
Every day I’m amazed at the technical skills students are developing at the high-school level — from hands-on collaborative design and prototyping to systems simulations and custom fabrication with CNC machining and additive manufacturing. I’ve been working with a local public high school’s STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) program for several years as a mentor for a competitive robotics and rocketry club. We are fortunate that our school is extremely supportive of these activities and can provide the space -- and even some equipment. But schools are not resourced to fully sponsor technical robotics and rocketry. There are just too many other demands on their resources. Our school is not alone in this situation. Let’s face it, these advanced programs are expensive. Corporate and individual donations are more important than ever. These skill-building opportunities don’t just happen; it takes a community working together. While funding is crucial, these programs would never get off the ground without passionate mentors who volunteer their time. They help with all aspects of STEM programs across technology, design, and fabrication, while also helping students develop leadership and project management skills. The students I’ve worked with are incredibly well prepared to begin their college level studies when they complete high school. Last year, several of the seniors in our program obtained professional-level certifications in advanced CAD tools. One of them used their skills to design and fabricate — from scratch — custom test fixtures for a materials science company over the summer. This job had been assigned to a full-time engineer who had to take a sudden leave of absence. Every day the world is more technology driven, which brings both new challenges and new ways to address them. The solutions will require extremely creative, skilled scientists and engineers. Consider Robotics Process Automation, or RPA. This technology is expected to be a big disruptor in 2020 and beyond. Engineering coursework and practical applications like robotics and rocketry will be more important than ever before. We can help the next generation be ready by stimulating interest to develop their skills early. STEM programs help do just that by creating a foundation of knowledge so college work is more enriching, building on existing skills and interests. But the reality today is that schools are underfunded and only able to teach the foundational skills like math and science. That means we all need to be involved to support, mentor, fund, and inspire our young people. Schools can’t afford to pay for these projects in their entirety, so it has to be a team effort with the schools, the families, the local community, and the local businesses all working together. Think about it. Some of these students will become the real-life superheroes who solve giant problems in our world. But first, it’s up to us to give them a solid head start.
Kenyan Farming Community
24 Sep, 2019
Transformation is not just for billion-dollar, multi-national companies. Technology can do amazing things in the most unsuspecting places. When I co-founded Till Mobile three years ago, we knew our idea could be a game-changer for smallholder farmers everywhere. As it turns out, our technology has had a very profound, life-changing impact. Funded by StrataFusion Group (SFG), we rolled out a joint project between Till Mobile, a messaging platform provider, and Global Roots , a grassroots charity funded mostly by small donations from hundreds of individual donors. Global Roots began their mission in Kenya with a goal of feeding HIV-positive children before they ingested their medication. They did so much more, and technology is at the core of their story. I’m also Chairman of Till Mobile, an app startup that uses two-way SMS technology to solve complex problems. Today, it is being applied to lift up small-scale farmers in this Kenyan community, who many times struggle to keep their business going and ensure they can afford educational opportunities for their children. We are helping them succeed by providing technology tools to better manage their farming business -- from negotiating prices, scheduling deliveries, and even purchasing through SMS. All they need is a mobile phone. With Silicon Valley tech veterans Nick Crafford, Till Mobile CTO, and Ted Michon, head of Product at Till Mobile and a key member of the StrataFusion team, we knew SMS technology could be harnessed to help these farmers collectively maximize their profits on even the smallest amount of produce. Once signed up, farmers are able to send SMS messages on their flip phones to have their crops picked up, amalgamated with crops from other small-scale farmers, and transported directly to the nearest major city. The farmers then receive their corresponding commissions by SMS. It’s working! After several months of product development by Till Mobile and Global Roots, a new program called "Small Scale Farms Ltd" was born. In fact, the first pick-up of produce took place in early July. Next, Global Roots plans to launch the program in Afghanistan, Nigeria, and Cambodia in 2020.
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