The demand for cybersecurity professionals is at an all-time high, with a global shortage of approximately 4 million workers, 750,000 of which are in the United States. Despite approximately 100,000 students graduating with computer science degrees each year, there is still a significant gap in the cybersecurity workforce. Bret Fund, the SVP and GM of Infosec, believes that traditional education alone is not enough to meet the demands of today’s business landscape, which requires advanced credentials and certifications in addition to a college degree.
Fund argues that a transformational approach to learning is necessary to close the talent gaps and stay ahead of emerging security threats. Transactional learning, where students learn a skill and move on, is not sufficient in the rapidly evolving field of cybersecurity. Transformational learning, on the other hand, allows individuals to continuously build and adapt their skills, earning stackable credentials along the way to better prepare them for the workforce. This approach is already being adopted by some two- and four-year colleges, allowing students to pursue certifications and credentials for college credit while completing their degrees.
By focusing on graduating career-ready, credentialed, and certified cybersecurity workers, businesses can benefit in several ways. This includes reducing the time spent searching for qualified candidates, improving the hiring evaluation process, and reallocating resources from entry-level training to more advanced upskilling efforts. With a strong foundation of skills and certifications, businesses can offset training costs and empower their workforce to stay ahead of cybersecurity threats.
To implement a transformational learning approach within an organization, it is important to view learning as a continuous process rather than a one-time event. By celebrating the learning process and creating a culture of knowledge-sharing, employees can be encouraged to take an active role in their own development. Providing on-demand resources, incorporating a mix of learning formats, and training managers to be effective coaches are key strategies for fostering a culture of transformational learning.
While progress has been made in adopting transformational learning in education and the workforce, there are still barriers that need to be addressed. In the next article, Bret Fund plans to focus on identifying and removing these obstacles to further promote lifelong learning and professional growth. As a member of the Forbes Business Council, Fund is dedicated to helping business owners and leaders navigate the challenges of the cybersecurity workforce and drive innovation in the industry.
