Last year, the Information Systems Security Association reported a 63 percent jump in cyberattacks during the pandemic. As a result, demand for information security analysts is projected to grow by 31 percent between 2019 and 2029, far exceeding the average growth rate for all occupations, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

City University of Seattle is participating in a nationwide effort to expand the pipeline of qualified information security professionals by helping to train and recruit more high school STEM educators to the field of cybersecurity education. Backed by a $700,000 grant from the federal National Security Agency, CityU’s Center for Cybersecurity Innovation will join 11 other National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity to launch the Cybersecurity High School Innovation initiative.

“At a time when the rate and severity of cyberattacks is on the rise, investing in cybersecurity education and talent is essential for recruiting and retaining the well-qualified information security professionals we need to protect our institutions, employers and public sector agencies from these emergent cyberthreats,” said Morgan Zantua, associate professor and director of CityU’s School of Technology and Computing. “I’m proud to partner with peer cybersecurity experts, local and regional companies, government agencies, and military-related groups to ensure we can address the talent gap by building a sustainable pipeline of young diverse workers into the field.”