CIOs on cyber workers

What: The federal CIO Council's 2012 Information Technology Workforce Assessment for Cybersecurity.

Why: The ITWAC, released April 3, is the government's first attempt to inventory the full range of the federal civilian IT workforce with cybersecurity responsibilities. According to the authors, the report aims to help agency leaders:

- "understand the scope of the cybersecurity workforce pipeline;"

- "establish a baseline of current cybersecurity capabilities and proficiencies;" and

- "identify the general training needs of the cybersecurity workforce."

The report found that most federal cybersecurity personnel were in the GS-11 to GS-13 pay grades, and barely 5 percent were 30 years old or younger. More training is required, the authors suggest, with Information assurance compliance, vulnerability assessment and management, and knowledge management being the most pressing specialty areas.

Verbatim: "The data suggests that the majority of the participants are above the age of 40, with most being closer to the retirement age threshold.... [T]his data indicates potential risk to the current and future pipeline of cybersecurity professionals. An aging cybersecurity professional population could lead to a manpower shortage in the federal cybersecurity field (particularly in management and leadership positions).

Full Report: https://cio.gov/cio-council-releases-data-on-federal-cybersecurity-workforce/