According to recent report by Barclay Simpson, demand for information security professionals is expected to grow steadily for the remainder of 2011, after recovering to pre-recession levels last year.
“Having started with the retail banks, the information security recruitment market recovered during the course of 2010. By the end of the year all sectors, outside of the public sector, were experiencing demand similar to pre-recessionary levels”, Barclay Simpson said.
“In spite of the difficult economic backdrop and general mood of caution, the number of information security practitioners employed in the economy has grown. The information security recruitment market is enjoying what is effectively full employment”, the report noted.
To serve the educational requirements of this growing workforce, SANS founded the SANS Technology Institute (STI), which offers working information security professionals the opportunity to earn master’s degrees in information security engineering and management, Diehl told Infosecurity.
At the upcoming SANS Cyber Defense Initiative (CDI) conference being held Dec. 9–16 in Washington, DC, the STI is offering a work-study program in conjunction with the conference, which features 20 technical courses addressing intrusion detection, penetration testing and ethical hacking, forensics, compliance and other topics.
CDI attendees also will have the opportunity to participate in NetWars. For the NetWars challenge, participants compete in a mock environment to test their defensive, analysis, and offensive information security skills, fighting off intruders while trying to take over other target systems and networks.
Through the work-study program that is available at SANS residential institutes, like the one being co-offered with CDI, STI students can accelerate their work toward degree completion and lower the cost of their graduate program. “This a great opportunity for our students to get hands-on experience and orientation to the Technology Institute", Diehl said.
STI students are able to earn a master’s degree in an average of three years; take classes in residence and through a variety of online learning options; enter the program, complete courses, perform community projects, and work in a dynamic group; benefit from a hands-on learning environment; build professional relationships for the future; and apply their skills to their job, Diehl explained.
The STI is applying for educational accreditation through the Middle States Commission of Higher Education, which accredits degree-granting colleges and universities in the mid-Atlantic region. “This will be a major breakthrough for us once we are accredited because a lot of companies and government agencies will not reimburse tuition unless it is from an accredited university”, Diehl noted.
After receiving accreditation, Diehl said that the SANS Technical Institute will continue to focus on information security as a boutique institution, while working to expand enrollment.