Mid-Atlantic CCDC in Ready Supply of Cybersecurity Professionals for Sponsors to Interview and Recruit
Laurel, Maryland (PRWEB) February 23, 2016 -- Cybersecurity has high priority as President Barack Obama announces big plans for it in his 2017 budget plan. But when companies or businesses want to better protect their interests as well, how do they find qualified cybersecurity employees? The Mid-Atlantic Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition (MACCDC) brings together a bevy of burgeoning options.
The MACCDC is in its 11th year of pitting college and university students against a live Red Team to test their cybersecurity skills and knowledge in a highly competitive environment. From March 31 to April 2, teams from across the Mid-Atlantic region will compete at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Lab in this premier region finals, where the winner will represent the Mid-Atlantic region at the National Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition at the end of April. This event will have teams of students work to manage and defend an inherited network from cyber-attacks in a specified scenario.
“The Mid-Atlantic CCDC provides a unique experience for students to take the knowledge and skills they’ve learned in the classroom and apply it in a live environment, states Lewis Lightner, MACCDC Competition Director. “For most students this opportunity is a revelation of the challenges they can expect when they enter the workforce. We take great pride in being one of the premier events of this type in the United States.”
On April 1, the National CyberWatch Center is sponsoring the High School Cybersecurity Fair and Expo at the same Applied Physics Lab. This will subject students to MACCDC, careers in cybersecurity, certificate and college options, and scholarships.
This kind of competition and exposure develops and increases a desperately needed cybersecurity workforce. More than 200,000 cybersecurity jobs are unfilled in the United States with that number increasing every year. When President Obama proposed it in his plan, he requested $19 billion to improve the country’s cyber defense including revamping old government information technology and creating a Chief Information Security Officer position.
As technology evolves so do the skills of people trying to steal private information from any online source they can. MACCDC works to build an employable force to protect citizens and companies across the country. Finding these qualified cybersecurity workers is easier when working with MACCDC. Sponsors are needed to help defray institution costs to help increase participation as well as the number of students entering the workforce by participating in competition. There are also opportunities to mentor individuals or teams, develop scenarios and contribute equipment. For sponsorship information, visit maccdc.org/sponsors/.
About MACCDC:
Mid-Atlantic Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition (MACCDC) is a premier event in the United States presented by National CyberWatch Center that allows college and university students a unique opportunity to test their cybersecurity skills and knowledge in a scenario-specific competition. Since 2006, hundreds of students have competed in hopes of advancing to the national finals. This event also includes a job fair and high school career expo.
Lynn Dohm, The Nelly Group, LLC, http://nellygrp.com, +1 815.717.6546, [email protected]
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