Vanguard Magazine

46 DECEMBER 2018/JANUARY 2019 www.vanguardcanada.com tHe Last WORD rity skills based on job profiles, industry requirements and emerging trends. Our hope is to work with DND as a beta test- ing candidate in the future. Engaging academia Most academic leaders will acknowl- edge that there is a need and a demand for cyber security training both through diploma-degree courses along with tar- geted continuing education programs. The challenge I have heard from many academic leaders centres around ensur- ing curriculum development remains relevant in an industry that is fluid and ever changing. Add to this the challenge to find skilled professionals to deliver this curriculum when salaries are increasing at a staggering pace. Academia cannot and should not be asked to shoulder the responsibility of fostering interest in the cyber security in- dustry as well as train talent. These efforts require committed leadership and support from public and private sector. For the defence sector, it means creating closely aligned partnerships to help support the development of academic and awareness initiatives that will showcase the options a career in cybersecurity can offer. Bringing innovation, academia and defence together Cyberspark in Beer Sheva, Israel was a joint partnership between the Israeli Na- tional Cyber Bureau in the Prime Minis- ter's Office, Beer Sheva Municipality, Ben Gurion University of the Negev and lead- ing companies in the cybersecurity indus- try. It houses top secret defence research and innovation, talent development and private sector innovation and commer- cialization. It has become a catalyst for other projects in the North American landscape including the Port San Anto- nio Cyber Centre (http://www.portsan- antonio.us) and the Georgian Cyber In- novation and Training Institute (https:// cyber.augusta.edu/georgia). The closest comparison to date in Canada lies with CyberNB (www.cybernb.ca), but it lacks the depth of investment and presence from the defence sector. For Canada and National Defence, a national hub is need- ed to ensure that proximity and collabo- ration continue to drive the requirements for talent development and cutting-edge technologies in the years to come. Train now and retain on the way out I have heard some pretty staggering fig- ures thrown around about the number of active serving members of Canadian Armed Forces who are eligible for re- tirement in the next five years. If that is the case, one recommendation we have provided is to take current serving mem- bers, assess their level of cyber aptitude, and provide training to those interested in transitioning into a career in cyber op- erations. Once at retirement, the govern- ment has the ability to transition these men and women into jobs as public sector employees and allow them to continue serving their country. Appealing to millennials In a recent study by Protectwise, only 9 per cent of high school students inter- ested in post-secondary studies in com- puting and information technology were considering a career in cyber security. The reasons listed were the lack of exposure to cyber security in school and not knowing anyone who worked in the cyber security industry. For the defence sector, the messaging to millennials redefines aspects of what it means to serve and protect your coun- try. Physical strength and endurance may be replaced by mental fortitude and technical creativity. Combat moves from foreign countries under siege to online entities under attack. However the mes- sage is structured, the role cyber security expertise will play in helping secure our country and our citizens going forward becomes more critical. As Principal of Human Firewall Solu- tions, a Toronto based market advisory and development firm and Founder-Chair of the Canadian Advanced Technology Alliance (CATA) Cyber Council, Kather- ine Thompson leads a national team of globally recognized cyber security experts focused on helping Canadian organiza- tions better understand, secure and capi- talize in the global digital marketplace. Katherine sits as a board member of the CATA Public Safety Advisory Board and Cyber Titan, a collaborative with the US Air Force's Cyber Patriot program which seeks to engage young Canadians in a career in cybersecurity and other science, technology, engineering and math areas. She is also currently involved in the creation of a national program providing military veterans with a second career in cyberse- curity. She has also been appointed Execu- tive Director of the Canadian Cyber Security Innovation Institute (C2I2), a collaboration with Carleton University. In a recent study by Protectwise, only 9 per cent of high school students interested in post-secondary studies in computing and information technology were considering a career in cyber security. The reasons listed were the lack of exposure to cyber security in school and not knowing anyone who worked in the cyber security industry.

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