More often than not, media portrays the tech and cyber industry to be elite and isolated. We find this whenever we see Silicon Valley on the screen, or an apparent hacker working in a dark room with a hood on. Usually, the narrative behind these characters are tech geniuses or have been afforded elite academic opportunities their entire lives.
Unfortunately, this mindset has led people to believe that careers in those fields are difficult, possibly only for geniuses, and even unattainable. The truth is though, more and more programs and products are being invented to reduce the barrier to entry, and are creating opportunities for all individuals to join the workforce.
In particular, the need for cybersecurity workers grows as the workforce shortage continues to increase. According to ISC2, the cybersecurity workforce needs to grow by 145% to close the skills gap. Thankfully in this future of work, there are new creative ways to fill that void – such as cybersecurity bootcamps.
Bootcamps are programs tailored to a specific trade, meaning they are built to be fully employment-focused. They provide the academic knowledge and hands-on skills a learner needs to finish the program and be job-market ready. Most importantly, due to the accelerated format and flexible delivery, bootcamps provide more accessible education than traditional schools.
As an accessible program designed to fit the needs of the learner, cybersecurity bootcamps provide significant benefits not only to the industry but also to the communities that offer these programs.
Diversity in Cybersecurity
In recent years, a major criticism of the technology industry has been the lack of diversity in nearly every major company. Studies have shown that women comprise less than 20% of the cybersecurity workforce, and that women in cybersecurity earn less than their male counterparts.
In addition, another study found that Black and minority ethnicities in the US are also severely under-represented in the cybersecurity workforce.
The ways in which cybersecurity skills are taught and new hires are recruited are big contributors to the lack of diversity. The cybersecurity workforce shortage is partially caused by the four-year degree mindset. The traditional path to a career in the tech industry had previously been limited to those who could afford a four-year education.
However, times are changing. A blended learning program like the Cybint Cybersecurity Bootcamp diversifies the industry because it allows flexibility of time and cost. What previously had to be done in four years can now be finished in as little as three months. The future of work is heading towards a diverse workplace, a workplace that focuses not on college degrees, but skill.
How Cybersecurity Bootcamps are Changing Communities
Given that traditional education pathways are a significant force behind the lack of diversity and community support in cybersecurity, cybersecurity bootcamps are becoming increasingly popular as an entry point into this industry.
However, seeing that a common misconception is that only traditional education will help one succeed in the industry, many educational institutions often wonder “are cybersecurity bootcamps worth it?”.
With that in mind, here are the biggest benefits of cybersecurity bootcamps on the industry and the local community.
Cybersecurity Bootcamps Community Benefits
● Provides a lower-cost educational pathway into cybersecurity, which is often more accessible for women and minority individuals than a full four years at college or university.
● Cybersecurity employees are in-demand in the increasingly digital world. Bootcamps make a career in cybersecurity more accessible, helping local technology companies to access the qualified workforce they need to thrive.
● Cybersecurity bootcamps encourage local residents with an interest in technology to take up new skills, which results in them being hired in local businesses. Since they are not moving away from home for a college or university education, they continue to stimulate the local economy.
● Cybersecurity is a future-proof industry, and professionals learn a portable skill-set that can often be transferred into other areas of technology. This means that they are less at risk of job loss, which gives local economies a degree of economic protection during times of hardship.
How Cybint is Empowering Communities
The Cybint Cybersecurity Bootcamp is a turnkey accelerated cybersecurity program that helps people with no prior knowledge or experience gain a qualification in cybersecurity. Students get both an academic and practical understanding of cybersecurity through a course that is fully employment-focused.
We partner with universities and vocational training centers passionate about educating their communities. The Cybint Cybersecurity Bootcamp offers comprehensive courses designed to help all students, no matter their background or experience. Our goal is to help learners navigate the cybersecurity career landscape and land entry-level cybersecurity jobs.
Empower your learning community today. Partner with us.
