U.S. Cyber Challenge Aims to Fill Talent Gap

As our readers may know, there is an interesting talent search going on right now for cyber security professionals. Called the US Cyber Challenge (USCC), it has competitions currently running nationwide and in New York and California for high school and college students. The contest has drawn an estimated 1,500 high school and college students, who will need to gather as much information as they can about the U.S. Cyber Challenge, and then take two online quizzes about the competition. Winners will go to the Cyber Challenge Summer camps in July and August where they will be trained by cybersecurity experts.

Karen Evans, the former Administrator for IT and E-Government at OMB, and Cybersecurity Commission Member for the Center for Strategic and International Studies, is playing a major role in making this contest happen. Be sure to check out our exclusive podcast with Karen about the upcoming Cyber Security Conference & Expo here.

We applaud any efforts to draw talented young individuals in the cyber security profession. We imagine that the US Cyber Challenge will be a resounding success. With such a vast need for cyber security expertise, and a talent gap, right now there is a mini “gold rush” happening in the cyber security profession. But unlike the gold rush, there is no sign of running out of gold when it comes to cyber security.