Could inclusivity expand the cybersecurity talent pool in australia?

ANGELINA LIU

COULD INCLUSIVITY EXPAND THE CYBERSECURITY TALENT POOL IN AUSTRALIA?

by Angelina Liu

Making individuals from all backgrounds feel welcome will encourage more women to pursue a career in cybersecurity, argues Barracuda Territory Account Executive, Angelina Liu.

That large organisations have begun casting the cybersecurity recruitment net wider comes as little surprise to those of us who have the privilege of working in the sector. Australia has been short on qualified personnel for years, even before COVID slammed the gate shut on skilled migrants who, historically, were able to plug some of the gaps. Exactly when those migrants will be able to return en masse remains unknown, although recent announcements from the federal government seem to suggest it’s unlikely to be before mid-2022.

According to AustCyber, Australia will need an additional 17,000 cybersecurity workers by 2026 to meet the demands of government and industry. Universities and vocational education providers are doing their bit to funnel fresh blood into the sector via a range of certificate, diploma and postgraduate qualifications, but whether supply will meet demand is open to question.

Meanwhile, the past year has seen the threat level rise, in Australia and globally. Household name organisations, including beverage giant Lion Nathan and transport and logistics behemoth Toll Group, have seen systems crippled and operations disrupted by ransomware. Across the country, businesses of all sizes and stripes are looking over their shoulders and opening the coffers to invest in technology to boost their capacity to prevent, detect, neutralise and remediate attacks. And they are hiring skilled personnel to help them implement and manage it.

HIRING DIFFERENTLY

Hence, we’re seeing a growing number of large organisations getting proactive and creative in their cyber hiring policies. A recent Australian Financial Review article highlighted the fact that large employers, including Commonwealth Bank and Macquarie Telecom Group, are now prepared to consider individuals who don’t have qualifications or experience in ICT or cybersecurity, if they can demonstrate aptitude in other areas, such as problem-solving and communication.

That’s sensible and smart and will do much for diversity of thinking within our sector. So too would the adoption of holistic diversity and inclusion programs to make the cybersecurity sphere more attractive to individuals—men and women—from a wider range of backgrounds.

For example, my employer, Barracuda, has created the Belong at Barracuda Council. It comprises a panel of employees who are charged with finding ways to improve diversity across the organisation and proposing programs that help all of our colleagues feel heard, respected and valued. It’s opened the door to some valuable discussions and helped us implement initiatives to celebrate our differences and bring us closer together as a team.

PLAYING YOUR PART

But organisations should not bear sole responsibility for increasing diversity. As individuals working in cybersecurity, we can all play a part: in educating customers and partners about the importance of diversity and inclusion, and in promoting our sector as a welcoming and inclusive one in which to work.

One of the ways I’ve found to do this is to list my personal pronouns, she and her, in my LinkedIn profile. This has prompted questions from connections in my network, including contacts with whom I deal regularly in my role as a territory account executive.

While the tone of the enquiries has frequently been jocular, they’ve been conversation starters nonetheless, and have allowed me to share my rationale for making a public show of solidarity with people who don’t identify as cisgender. Feeling and identifying as different from the norm takes courage, particularly for those who are new to an industry, or to the workplace. The presence of allies can provide these individuals with the courage to bring their authentic selves to work, and do so with the confidence that they will be supported rather than judged.

TOWARDS A STRONGER, SAFER FUTURE

Ours is an industry in growth mode. As the economy continues to automate and digitise, strong cybersecurity will be essential for the wellbeing and prosperity of Australian businesses and for each and every one of us who calls Australia home. Encouraging more people from all backgrounds and walks of life to make a career in the sector will see us better placed to address the challenges the future holds in store

www.linkedin.com/in/angelinaxl/