Identifying cybersecurity potential could more quickly grow the cyber workforce

The United States faces increasing threats to the cybersecurity of the nation. Yet, current cyber workforces are ill-equipped to manage the risks and costs associated with growing cybercrime and cyber espionage.

A change is needed in how organizations approach building their cybersecurity workforce. One way is to identify employees with “cyber-potential” and develop an internal talent pipeline.

ICF’s job analysis and testing experts have identified a preliminary list of capabilities to indicate a propensity for cybersecurity work, and advise that organizations need a valid and reliable assessment that will measure those capabilities within the context of cyber tasks.

In this white paper, ICF experts discuss:

• why this is a critical concern for organizations
• how organizations can respond to cybersecurity shortages by identifying individuals with cyber-potential
• the characteristics of cyber-potential, and
• an innovative approach for assessing those characteristics.