CSSIA Toolkit

Welcome to the National Center for Systems Security and Information Assurance’s (CSSIA) toolkit. This resource is designed to assist high schools, higher education institutions, and other organizations increase the number of women and other underrepresented populations entering cybersecurity careers. CSSIA has worked hard to make this a practical package that will help you in your outreach and retention efforts. The toolkit will be updated from time to time as new developments and experiences allow us to expand the available resources.

The United States is facing a critical shortage of cybersecurity professionals, a situation that President Obama and others have deemed a national security crisis. Estimates show that the country needs to grow its cybersecurity workforce by at least 30,000 highly qualified professionals. While cybersecurity is one of the fastest-growing and most lucrative careers, as is the case with many science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) occupations; minorities, women, and persons with disabilities are dramatically underrepresented. Recruiting, retaining, and advancing minorities, women, and persons with disabilities into the cybersecurity profession can address a critical need for the nation, while also improving the economic status and ability of these populations to compete in the labor market.

To help you meet these new and critical demands, this toolkit is designed to:

• Provide research and other background information that describe the current state of minorities, women, and persons with disabilities in STEM in general and in cybersecurity specifically, and

• Offer models, case studies, and other resources that may help you increase the number of women and other underrepresented populations entering and completing your cybersecurity and other STEM-related programs.

CSSIA is committed to assisting high schools, higher education institutions, and other organizations increase the number of women and other underrepresented populations entering cybersecurity careers.  CSSIA’s commitment of its vast resources, including this toolkit, faculty training, state-of-the-art virtual learning environments, real-world learning experiences such as cyber competitions and subject matter knowledge and support, will help educators fulfill the increased student and industry demands for effective cybersecurity curricula.

For more information about how CSSIA can help you increase the number of women and other underrepresented populations entering cybersecurity careers, please contact the CSSIA office at cssia@morainevalley.edu.