NICE (National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education) Conference 2015

Cybersecurity has emerged as one of the leading creators of jobs and opportunity for all economic sectors. The demand for cybersecurity positions in both the public and private sector is large and growing, but the talent pool of cybersecurity workers is not yet able to keep up. The NICE 2015 Conference and Expo features thought leaders from education, government, industry and non-profits who are addressing the cybersecurity education, training, and workforce needs of the nation. This two-day event includes:

• Face-to-face convening of public-private partners
• An opportunity to signal NICE strategic directions and priorities
• Forum to showcase best practices

Three tracks are being designed to enable attendees to gain the maximum benefit from the NICE 2015 Conference:

Track 1: Accelerate Learning and Skills Development

• Invoke a sense of urgency in both the public and private sectors to address the shortage of a skilled workforce
• Stimulate approaches and techniques that can more rapidly increase the supply of qualified cybersecurity workers
• Reduce the time and cost for obtaining knowledge, skills, and abilities for in demand work roles
• Pursue displaced workers or underemployed individuals who are available and motivated
• Identify and fill gaps in cybersecurity skills training to support identified workforce needs

Track 2: Nurture a Diverse Learning Community

• Encourage creative and effective efforts to increase the number of underrepresented populations
• Inspire cybersecurity career awareness, exploration, and preparedness with students in elementary and secondary schools
• Strengthen formal education programs, co-curricular experiences, training and certifications, and employer-based training
• Build on institutional initiatives to improve student success by establishing academic pathways for cybersecurity careers
• Explore international approaches that could inform practice in the United States or that NICE could influence

Track 3: Guide Career Development and Workforce Planning

• Promote the National Cybersecurity Workforce Framework and encourage sector implementations
• Identify and analyze data sources that project present and future workforce demand and supply of qualified cybersecurity workers
• Explore tools and techniques that effectively measure and validate knowledge, skills, and abilities
• Identify and promote effective practices and solutions that enhance recruitment, hiring, promotion, and retention
• Promote tools that assist human resource professionals and hiring managers with talent management