The Mission Isn’t Over: How cybersecurity is fulfilling a sacred purpose to serve and protect
Jeremy McCauley is a veteran of the United States Army, which you can likely ascertain for yourself just by taking a quick measure of the man. He’s built like a Sherman tank. His square-jawed visage is defined by a close-cut beard and mustache. A set of dog tags rest upon his barrel-sized chest. When you speak to him, his arms cross instinctively, always on guard.
He’s also likely one of the most insightful and gracious people you’ll meet in the cyber defense community.
“A lot of people coming out of the military feel like the mission is over,” says McCauley, who currently serves as Director of Cyber Security Incident Management and Intelligence at GlaxoSmithKline. “That’s one reason suicide is a major problem with veterans. Careers in cyber renew a purpose to protect.”
In the military, McCauley worked in intelligence, which developed his taste for the clandestine world of cyber warfare. Upon discharge, he took his skills to Walmart, further honing his craft. Eventually, he landed at GSK, a global healthcare company, where he found himself leading a team of citizen cyber operatives.
“I felt like I needed to refresh myself with the nomenclature of cyber,” said McCauley. “I also wanted to go through the same training operations program my team was expected to complete. That’s why I signed myself up for the Forge Institute Cyber Training Bootcamp.”
The Forge Institute CyberTraining Bootcamp(CTB) is 14-weeks of required baseline training individuals need to become cybersecurity analysts. Hands-on-keys and instructor-led, the program meets in person and online, and positions itself as delivering the most up-to-date cyber tactics against an ever-evolving enemy.
“One thing I came to understand through the Bootcamp is just how much more sophisticated the dark web has become,” said McCauley. “Hackers used to be loners looking to create chaos out of boredom. Now they’re organized. Funded. And they’re mission tasked. Billions of dollars are at stake here.
The expected cost of cybercrime is expected to hit 6 trillion dollars globally by the end of the year and will likely go as high as 10.5 trillion dollars in 2025. McCauley notes that while there are many professionals today working in cybersecurity, there are not enough specialists bearing the unique skill sets required of a cyber defender. The Forge InstituteI Cyber Training Bootcamp is designed to bring cyber pros and aspiring cyber pros up to speed.
Already a leader in cybersecurity, the Bootcamp served more as a refresher for McCauley, but he appreciated the instructor-led approach. “I like to ask questions. I think most people entering cybersecurity do. You can’t get that level of interaction with a self-paced course.”
McCauley stresses that collaboration and communication are essential to effective cybersecurity, explaining that the cyber community works best by sharing intelligence and tactics. “Cyber security is like NATO: you get stronger with numbers,” said McCauley. “It’s good that this is a field that can appeal to anyone. In my Bootcamp, there was a woman who believed her skills as a mother could translate well in cybersecurity. You know what? She was right. She’s killing it! All perspectives are welcome in this field.”
Refreshed by his Cyber Bootcamp experience, McCauley applied his learnings to leading his team at GSK. The battle is ongoing. Fortunately for McCauley and others like him, more qualified people are joining the cause.
Sources
https://cybersecurityventures.com/cybercrime-damage-costs-10-trillion-by-2025/
