‍Beyond Identity is thrilled to partner with VetSec for our Cybersecurity Military Veterans Event during RSAC. The event honors military veterans and helps highlight their ability to close the skills gap within our industry. Tom Marsland, Chairman of VetSec, will be representing VetSec at the event  and shares why this event is so important.‍

A word from Tom:

As the Chairman of VetSec, I am thrilled to announce our partnership with Beyond Identity to bring a special networking reception to this year's RSA Conference. This event, titled "Honoring Veterans in Cybersecurity: Bridging Experience, Innovation, and Service," highlights the incredible contributions of military veterans in our industry and the support needed from organizations like Beyond Identity to help increase awareness about this talent pool and how they can solve the very real skills gap problem we have in cybersecurity.

In addition, networking is a key element of this event, providing attendees with the opportunity to connect with veterans and industry professionals. Collaboration and community are essential to driving positive change in our industry, and this event aims to foster those connections. The goals of this event are relevant. If we look at some recent statistics, we see why these kinds of opportunities are critical.

The reality of our industry landscape:

• 66% percent of cyber professionals indicated that working as a cybersecurity professional has gotten harder in the last two years
• 27% alluded to a high level of difficulty
• Research from the Information Systems Security Association (ISSA) and TechTarget analyst firm Enterprise Strategy Group finds the cybersecurity skills has impacted more than half (57%) of organizations,
• The latest pulse on cybersecurity workforce supply and demand according to Cyber Seek finds 1.1 million people are employed in cybersecurity in the U.S and there are 450,000 unfilled positions that are currently available.
• A likely shortfall of approximately 3.5 million people faces the industry by 2025, according to Cybersecurity Ventures.

Together, we can close the gap and extend our connections and resources. By leveraging veterans' unique skills and experiences, we can strengthen our collective defense against cyber threats. Establishing mentorship programs, offering training opportunities, and creating pathways for veterans to transition into cybersecurity roles can unlock their potential and address workforce shortages. By extending our connections and resources to support veterans in their career transitions, we strengthen our industry and honor their service by providing meaningful employment opportunities in cybersecurity. Collectively, we can close the skills gap and build a more robust and diverse cybersecurity workforce.

We hope you will join us at this important and meaningful event on May 7th. The event will start at 5pm at the InterContinental (just steps away from the Moscone Center) and will include a panel discussion and networking reception. Register for your spot here today.

More about Beyond Identity at RSAC:

We are looking forward to seeing you in San Francisco. We will be at booth 2057 in South Hall. We have tons of great things for you. Book exclusive meetings with members of our leadership team, visit our booth to chat with our experts and grab prizes and swag, or indulge in one of our evening events. See our event page for more details!

More about VetSec:

VetSec started in 2018 as a Slack community to support veterans in cybersecurity. Our founders saw the value in a veteran-oriented community within the cybersecurity industry. They saw the problems our servicemembers separating from the military were facing with unemployment, and the growing skills demand within the cybersecurity industry; in short, a fast-growing skill gap that could be solved by better employing our veterans. Our founders saw the importance of a community-based approach first and foremost. They also committed to providing our services at no cost to our service members, and thanks to the hard work of our board and the generosity of our members, we still remain free to join, and all of our resources remain free to our members.