Microsoft is forging new partnerships in Asia under its Ready4Cybersecurity program, aiming to enhance access to cybersecurity skills and careers for historically underrepresented individuals, with a special focus on young women.
In its second year, Ready4Cybersecurity sets forth a commitment to skill and certify 100,000 young women and underrepresented youth in cybersecurity by 2025. The initiative aims to bolster employment opportunities in cybersecurity, address the talent shortage, and foster a diverse cybersecurity workforce.
According to Microsoft’s Digital Defense Report, the frequency of password attacks skyrocketed to an estimated 921 attacks per second in 2022, marking a 74% surge in just one year.
These cyberattacks often have devastating consequences, with the average cost of a breach reaching $4.35 million. Consequently, there is a growing demand for skilled cybersecurity professionals in the region.
To bridge the divide in talent and skills, Microsoft’s Ready4Cybersecurity program, part of the global Cybersecurity Skilling Initiative, is thoughtfully curated to create alternative pathways for underrepresented youths aspiring to enter the cybersecurity industry.
By means of public-private partnerships, Ready4Cybersecurity facilitates access to industry-recognized foundational and intermediate cybersecurity skills and certifications for traditionally excluded populations, enabling them to qualify for available roles.
This initiative aims to train and empower women, accounting for 75% of the individuals to be trained.
Since its launch in 2022, the Ready4Cybersecurity campaign has already trained over 19,800 individuals from underserved communities, providing up to 18,300 cyber skilling initiatives.
In its second year, Microsoft will continue collaborating with partners to skill and certify young women and underrepresented youth in cybersecurity, driving positive impact.
To fulfil its commitments, Microsoft adopts a comprehensive approach to cultivate a more diverse and inclusive cybersecurity workforce:
- Partnering with non-profits: Microsoft collaborates with non-profit organizations that directly engage underserved communities, enabling them to directly skill identified segments, particularly young girls and women.
- Equipping educational institutions: A key strategy to address the cybersecurity gap involves equipping educational institutions to effectively teach cybersecurity to the next generation and inspire them to become defenders against cyber threats.
- Scaling with governments: Microsoft recognizes that achieving digital peace requires collaborative efforts involving multiple stakeholders, including governments, tech companies, NGOs, and international organizations working together towards a shared goal.
- Leveraging Microsoft’s ecosystem: Microsoft actively collaborates with its customer and partner network to reassess hiring avenues, exploring alternative pathways that prioritize skills over traditional qualifications.
To combat the escalating threat of cybercrimes, a multi-stakeholder approach is indispensable. Microsoft aims to empower more training organizations and non-profits to offer cybersecurity skilling to underserved groups.
Manju Dhasmana, Regional Philanthropies Director – Asia, Microsoft, commented, “Addressing the gender gap in the cybersecurity field, where women represent only 25% of professionals globally, is an urgent necessity. We must recognise that a diverse cybersecurity workforce is crucial in defending cyberspace and strengthening cyber resilience. Tackling diversity gaps in the industry demands intentional program design and execution. Through programs like Ready4Cybersecurity, we are dedicated to collaborating with local education institutions, non-profits, government bodies, and businesses to establish partnerships and initiatives that improve access to cybersecurity skilling, empowering more women and underserved communities to pursue careers in this critical industry.”
Original Release: https://news.microsoft.com/apac/2023/04/28/microsoft-expands-access-to-cybersecurity-skilling-for-women-and-girls-with-ready4cybersecurity-program/
