Onapsis Joins Industry Campaign to Close the Cybersecurity Talent Gap
As cyber threats continue to rise around the world, with an estimated $6 trillion in damages in 2021, we are faced with a significant challenge: the massive cybersecurity talent shortage. As part of our OnaCares mission, Onapsis is proud to stand alongside some of our industry partners and peers to raise $1 million to help fund one year of community college courses for Bay Area students pursuing careers in cybersecurity.
Solving this cybersecurity talent shortage will take a collective industry-wide effort. As part of our OnaCares mission, Onapsis is proud to stand alongside some of our industry partners and peers to raise $1 million to help fund one year of community college courses for Bay Area students pursuing careers in cybersecurity. Driven to make a difference in the lives of students and the local community, we have already raised more than $300,000 towards this goal and are calling on the industry during the RSA Conference to join us in making a meaningful impact together.
The campaign is led by Onapsis partner NightDragon, an investment and advisory firm focused on the cybersecurity, safety, security, and privacy industries, and NextGen Cyber Talent, a nonprofit organization dedicated to increasing diversity and inclusion in the cybersecurity industry through education and career opportunities for underserved and underrepresented students. The campaign includes more than 25 industry-leading cybersecurity and technology leaders, including AllegisCyber Capital, Carahsoft, Claroty, Coalfire, Cyderes, Deloitte, Exclusive Networks, ForgeRock, HUMAN Security, iboss, Immuta, Ingram Micro, Interos, Knight Group, Macnica Networks, Marsh, Merlin, Mezmo, NightDragon, Onapsis, Optiv, Palo Alto Networks, Prosek, Team8, Ten Eleven Ventures, ThriveDX, SafeGuard Cyber, Snowflake, and vArmour.
“While the skills gap has become a prevalent challenge in the cybersecurity community, not enough opportunity is given to underserved and underprivileged talent,” said Mariano Nunez, CEO of Onapsis. “At Onapsis, we participate in programs that align with our mission statement of making a positive societal impact through educational and philanthropic initiatives. We’re thrilled to partner with NextGen Cyber Talent and provide young professionals with educational resources that will open doors in their cybersecurity careers and lead them to higher-paid employment.”
NextGen Cyber Talent partners with Bay Area community colleges to offer several cohorts of training programs, continuous career development and mentoring, and grants to hundreds of students pursuing cybersecurity education. The funds raised through this campaign will be distributed by NextGen Cyber Talent to students at participating Bay Area community colleges who have applied and met the qualifying grade criteria of a B- or better.
Solving the cybersecurity talent shortage will take a collective industry-wide effort. We are honored to stand together with our partners on this important mission and hope the rest of the industry joins us on this important cause.
Donations of any size can be made through the Coalition to Close the Cybersecurity Talent Gap campaign donations page here.
Meet us at the RSA Conference at Booth #4434 from June 6-9, 2022 to help us reach our donation goal and learn how we can help your organization protect the business-critical applications that power your business.