With a recent study showing the value of cyber security professionals and pointing out (once again) the lack of diversity in the cyber security industry, James Hadley, CEO & founder of UK start-up Immersive Labs commented below.
James Hadley, CEO & Founder at Immersive Labs:
“The report published by Exabeam, like many others recently, screams that the cyber industry as a whole is a zombie walking into crisis. If this were a school report, you’d find the dreaded “must do better” and “see me after class” written across the top.
“Yet all is not lost. When such stark facts are presented and the questions are asked: what are we doing about this? There are positive answers. Not least through the NCSC’s CyberFirst initiative to get the next generation of cyber security professionals on the right path.
“At Immersive Labs, we tackle the distinct lack of diversity in cyber head on through our free Digital Cyber Academies for students and veterans and in the future, those with neurodiverse conditions and women returning to work. These academies allow people from all backgrounds a chance to develop real-life cyber skills as well as provide a platform for a career in cyber security without any predisposed biases. Equally, they enable organisations to adopt a skills-led hiring process, removing the barrier and over-reliance on university computer science degrees.”
