Cybercrime is on the rise, but finding professionals with the skills to fight it is harder than you think. According to a 2023 International Information System Security Certification Consortium (ISC2) workforce study, 67% of organizations have a shortage of cybersecurity professionals.
Despite its scale, the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) also encounters this challenge. Granted, with heightened severity compared to other organizations given its:
As a result, traditional workforce solutions aren’t enough to close the gap and equip the DoD with top cybersecurity talent. To overcome this obstacle, the DoD partnered with Correlation One to develop its cybersecurity workforce.
Rather than implement traditional workforce development tactics, Correlation One and the DoD launched the Cyber Sentinel Skills Challenge — a recurring series of cybersecurity competitions designed to attract qualified professionals.
To date, it has produced a pipeline of 5,700+ cybersecurity candidates, including many professionals who may not have been found through conventional recruitment methods. It has proven to be an effective workforce development initiative for the DoD for the following reasons:
On May 18, Correlation One and the DoD hosted the first Cyber Sentinel. It used a Capture the Flag (CTF) format where participants solved security challenges to uncover concealed pieces of data known as "flags". Participants tackled 20+ simulations based on real scenarios encountered by the DoD. The Cyber Sentinel included tasks to test technical, analytical, and strategic abilities in the following categories:
In addition to learning about DoD career opportunities, top performers received a share of the $15,000 cash prize pool.
Despite the competitive nature of the event, attendees enjoyed tackling unique problems and learning about DoD career opportunities. The competition fostered a sense of camaraderie, mutual respect and allowed participants to network with one another. Here’s what competitors had to say about their experience:
Building a strong workforce in cybersecurity and other technical fields is difficult for many organizations. However, initiatives like the Cyber Sentinel Skills Challenge are an excellent solution to this problem. By partnering with Correlation One, the DoD successfully:
Curious about partnering with Correlation One? Book a meeting to see how Correlation One helps government organizations and Fortune 500 enterprises cultivate top-tier workforces.