Follow Robert Facebook
Email Robert Email
Education
Mar 16, 2017

The Growing Demand Of Cybersecurity Professionals

Sponsored Content provided by Robert Burrus - Dean , Cameron School of Business - UNC-Wilmington

This Insights article was contributed by Dr. Ulku Clark, Associate Professor of Management Information Systems, Cameron School of Business.

According to a report by Juniper Research, the global cost of cybercrime is estimated to be over $2 trillion by 2019. North American breaches are projected to account for about 60 percent of all data breaches - due primarily to the value of the U.S. assets - but as other countries begin to use more advanced technology, cybercrime will have a much greater global impact. 

The growing cost of cybercrime has precipitated an increase in demand for cybersecurity professionals. The field currently lacks a sufficient number of trained professionals, and former Symantec CEO Michael Brown predicts that, globally, there will be a cybersecurity workforce shortage of 1.5 million by 2019. A recent Peninsula Press report found that more than 209,000 U.S. cybersecurity jobs are unfilled. 

An Information Systems Audit and Control Association’s (ISACA) “State of Cybersecurity: Implications for 2017” study shows the majority of recruiters report that less than a quarter of cybersecurity applicants have the hands-on experience needed to secure a job. In addition, cybersecurity practitioners’ ability to understand business, communication and teamwork essentials are at a significant gap.

Nationwide, there are several initiatives to alleviate those skill and experience deficits. Universities have started to offer courses and programs designed to train the cybersecurity workforce, and the National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education -  a consortium of federal agencies, academics and industry professionals - has organized regional and national cyber-defense competitions to provide hands-on experience for students seeking cybersecurity training. 

In these competitions, teams of students from various academic institutions build mock networks and seek to detect security breaches from volunteer “hackers,” while simultaneously offering the other essential IT services businesses and organizations require.  The spoils of victory go to the team that can balance all the needed functions of an IT division.

UNC-Wilmington and the Cameron School of Business are deeply involved in preparing our students to face the marketplace’s cybersecurity needs.  UNCW’s Cyber Defense Club (CDC) has been a great outlet for students with an interest in cybersecurity topics. Members spend about two to five hours per week outside of class time to improve their cyber-defense skills via workshops offered by the club.

They also participate in the competitions mentioned above and were specifically asked to discuss cybersecurity with Michael Piwowar, current acting Chairman of the Security and Exchange Commission, when he visited the Cameron School as a lecture series speaker in 2014. 

The faculty in the Information Systems and Computer Science departments at UNCW are also currently working on additional curriculum initiatives in cybersecurity and non-credit professional training possibilities.

On April 10, Cameron School of Business will host the thirteenth annual Wilmington Information Technology eXchange (WITX), which brings together students, faculty, staff and local information technology professionals to share experiences and demonstrate their leading technology endeavors. This year’s event will include a learning eXchange specifically dedicated to cybercrime.  

To learn more about WITX or to register please visit http://csbapp.uncw.edu/witx/.

Robert T. Burrus, Jr., Ph.D., is the dean of the Cameron School of Business at the University of North Carolina Wilmington, named in June 2015. Burrus joined the UNCW faculty in 1998. Prior to his current position, Burrus was interim dean, associate dean of undergraduate studies and the chair of the department of economics and finance. Burrus earned a Ph.D. and a master’s degree in economics from the University of Virginia and a bachelor’s degree in mathematical economics from Wake Forest University. The Cameron School of Business has approximately 60 full-time faculty members and 20 administrative and staff members. The AACSB-accredited business school currently enrolls approximately 2,000 undergraduate students in three degree programs and 200 graduate students in four degree programs. The school also houses the prestigious Cameron Executive Network, a group of more than 200 retired and practicing executives that provide one-on-one mentoring for Cameron students. To learn more about the Cameron School of Business, please visit http://csb.uncw.edu/. Questions and comments can be sent to [email protected].

 

Other Posts from Robert Burrus

Uncwgradprogram 300x250
Ico insights

INSIGHTS

SPONSORS' CONTENT
Untitleddesign13 162533932

The Real Timeline to Sell Your Business (Hint: It Takes Longer Than Everyone Thinks)

Tully Ryan - Murphy Business Sales
Jessiepowellheadshot webversion

5 Reasons to Build Custom Franchise Software

Jessie Powell - Wide Open Tech
Untitleddesign12 101424113223

Carpe Diem

John Monahan - Vistage

Trending News

Brokers Mark Signs Of Housing Market Slowdown

Emma Dill - Jun 18, 2025

Wilhelm Named UNCW Chief Of Staff

Staff Reports - Jun 17, 2025

Developers, Local Leaders Talk Ongoing Downtown Projects

Emma Dill - Jun 17, 2025

Miller Sworn In To CFPUA Board

Staff Reports - Jun 17, 2025

Dorn Named Managing Broker Of Real Estate Firm's Hampstead Office

Staff Reports - Jun 17, 2025

In The Current Issue

Startup Founder Brings Others Together

Fleming’s day job is growing his social media marketing company Socialry, which he started five years ago. He’s also a local chapter organiz...


Live Oak Sets Small Loan Goal

"Live Oak Bank has taken several steps to build out our (Live Oak Express) team, and, to gain efficiency, has created rules and responsibili...


Natural Tendencies: Residents, Developers Look At Bald Head Island’s Future

The master plan includes detailed maps and schematics and addresses the three island locales authorized for commercial development....

Book On Business

The 2024 WilmingtonBiz: Book on Business is an annual publication showcasing the Wilmington region as a center of business.

Order Your Copy Today!


Galleries

Videos

2024 Power Breakfast: The Next Season