CDSA

There are an estimated 350,000 open cybersecurity positions in the U.S., according to a 2017 report from Cybersecurity Ventures. And it looks as though the talent shortage won’t be improving anytime soon. Globally, the shortfall is predicted to reach 3.5 million by 2021.

On the other hand, what if the skills gap is actually misinterpreted — and things aren’t as dire as they appear? Whether you agree the industry is facing a severe predicament or not, getting children interested in security is critical. A pervasive theory shared by many industry experts: We need a young workforce who already possess many of the required cybersecurity skills to fill the open positions. In the U.K., for example, the National College of Cyber Security is set to open at world-famous Bletchley Park, ZDNet reported. Initiatives like this will likely have an impact in the future — even if we don’t see immediate results.