CYBER DIVERSITY NEEDED

A group of experts across multiple fields on Thursday recommended a sweeping set of actions to diversify the U.S. cybersecurity workforce, saying the field was “overwhelmingly” white and male.

The Aspen Institute’s Tech Policy Hub and Aspen Digital detailed the recommendations in a report following two meetings over the past year with dozens of individuals across cybersecurity, government, academia, nonprofits and other industries.

“The field remains remarkably homogeneous, both among technical practitioners and policy thinkers, and there are few model programs or initiatives that have demonstrated real progress in building diverse and inclusive teams,” the report noted. “It is estimated that only 4% of cybersecurity workers self-identify as Hispanic, 9% as Black, and 24% as women.”

In order to increase diversity in the cybersecurity sector, the report’s authors focused on strengthening cybersecurity education initiatives, reworking the hiring process, retaining diverse talent, establishing mentorship programs and shifting the narrative around working in cybersecurity.

Rep. Lauren Underwood (D-Ill.), the former chair of the House Homeland Security Committee’s cybersecurity subcommittee, praised the report during a virtual event hosted by the Aspen Institute on Thursday.