April 15, 2016 Comments (0) Views: 2809 Spring 2016, Web

The Next Big Thing: Cyber Security

It’s not your parents’ antivirus software

Think of all the data you keep on your phone. Pictures, bank info, contacts, passwords, credit cards. And now think of all the information in your (and your kids’) medical records, which are all online. Protecting this stuff is big business. It’s life or death. So while it might not be the sexiest topic, we should celebrate San Diego’s position as hub for the industry. As hubs go, this is a critical one.

The future is now.

Growth: Recently surveyed cybersecurity employers expect to see their total employment grow by more than 10 percent and their cybersecurity workforce grow by more than 25 percent year over year.
San Diego Mayor’s Cyber Cup: Teams of middle and high schoolers learn how to secure their laptops and other technology in the cybersecurity industry. Winners of the 2015/16 cup split $5,000 in scholarships, awarded this April.
Center for Cyber Security Engineering and Technology: University of San Diego launching the Center for Cyber Security Engineering and Technology to address these challenges through education, training and research.

Tim Cook, Apple CEO, in a statement in response to government demands that it create a way for them to access individual smartphones:

“Compromising the security of our personal information can ultimately put our personal safety at risk … we have used encryption to protect our customers’ personal data because we believe it’s the only way to keep their information safe. We have even put that data out of our own reach, because we believe the contents of your iPhone are none of our business.”

Congress takes action, finally.

Cybersecurity Act: Congress can’t agree on much these days, but it appears they do see eye to eye on cybersecurity, having passed the Cybersecurity Act last December.

Oh CNAP! Obama followed up with a Cybersecurity National Action Plan (CNAP) in January, which proposes a $3.1 billion IT Modernization Fund, to retire, replace, and modernize legacy IT, and a new position: Federal Chief Information Security Officer.

Innovate, incubate, accelerate!

CyberHive: Startups focused on cybersecurity products and services find support in CyberHive. Part shared workspace, part incubator, it provides support services, high-speed data connectivity, conference and reception space, and mentorship.
CyberTech: This global cybersecurity community offers incubators, strategy, and shared workspaces for cyber-security companies.
Cyber Center of Excellence (CCOE): The nonprofit connects the region’s cyber companies, encouraging collaboration and helping recuit and retain top, niche talent.

SPAWAR

United States Navy Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command (SPAWAR) is the foundation for this industry in San Diego, employing more than 3,000 cybersecurity professionals.