Okta, Inc, the leading independent identity partner, announced the launch of a new initiative focused on finding and developing the best cybersecurity talent and providing equitable access to thriving careers in technology. Okta is committed to investing in two key areas, the first being $1.6 million in philanthropic grants out of the Okta for Good Fund, a donor-advised fund held at Tides Foundation, for organizations around the globe providing tech career opportunities for women, people of color, veterans and other jobseekers from underrepresented communities. The second is made up of 5,000 educational grants to unemployed professionals looking to make a career transition to cybersecurity by growing their Okta skills. The program focuses on veterans, military spouses, and tech workers impacted by recent lay-offs.
Despite the continued increase in cyber threat activity, the gap in cybersecurity talent continues to grow. The 2022 (ISC)2 Cybersecurity Workforce Study identified a 3.4 million worldwide cybersecurity worker gap, with additional research indicating the broader tech talent gap at 40 million. The current economic climate makes it even more difficult for those looking to enter or make a career transition into tech or cyber.
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These career opportunities are also disproportionately out of reach for jobseekers from underrepresented communities. Okta’s philanthropic and educational grants further extend the company’s reach into communities around the world and help ensure the support of underrepresented communities’ access to the critical areas of cybersecurity and technical training. Okta’s commitment in this area also aligns to the White House’s National Cyber Workforce and Education Strategy (NCWES), a comprehensive initiative aimed at addressing both immediate and long-term cyber workforce needs, which the White House declares a national security imperative.
“The world urgently needs many more skilled cybersecurity professionals. And we have jobseekers who would value those careers, but need to take action to develop the required skills,” said Eric Kelleher, Okta’s Chief Customer Officer. “At Okta, we are pleased to be in the unique position to make this connection. Okta’s Cybersecurity Workforce Development Initiative contributes to the future workforce and provides opportunities to a new, diverse, and highly-capable pool of talent.”
SOURCE : BusinessWire