EP 56: Cybersecurity careers in the Defense sector
- S2E56
- 47:05
- October 29th 2021
https://www.yourcyberpath.com/56
In this episode, we provided an introduction to cybersecurity careers in the defense sector within the United States. This discussion can provide you with a great starting point for understanding how to get a cybersecurity position within this sector of the industry.
The defense sector consists of three main categories of positions: military members, government civilians, and government contractors. The defense sector is a huge area of growth in the cybersecurity industry, with over 50% of all federal government cybersecurity spending being dedicated to the Department of Defense’s budget for digital security in the United States. This equates to a lot of cybersecurity work and positions being made available within the industry for qualified and cleared individuals.
As we went through the episode, we covered all three areas and types of positions available in the defense industry. We discussed the advantages and disadvantages of joining the military or the reserve forces in order to get a cybersecurity position. For example, if you join the military, they will provide you with all of the training and qualifications necessary to become a talented cyber defense professional. We also covered the role of government civilians and the lengthy application process they undergo to land one of these positions. There is usually a lot of competition for these positions and a lot of “preference factors” that they use in determining who to hire for these positions. Finally, we covered the work of government contractors, which consists of the commercial companies involved with conducting business for the government.
For many defense sector cybersecurity positions, it is important to maintain a Secret or Top-Secret security clearance. This is another lengthy process, unfortunately, and can take between 6 to 18 months to finalize your investigation and get awarded a clearance. Due to this, those that have already received a validated security clearance have a significant advantage in getting hired those who are waiting for one or simply do not have one yet. The requirements for the Cyber Security Workforce (CSWF) requirements and certifications were also discussed.
As we discussed in the episode, there are a lot of other differences between applying for a civilian or contractor job inside of the defense industry, especially in terms of the position description and the way you will write your resume. If you want to land a contract position, you should visit the company’s website or any of the major job boards like LinkedIn, Monster, etc. If you want to land a government civilian position, then you should visit their central repository at USA Jobs.
What You’ll Learn
● What is the defense sector?
● What are the three different types of positions available to work for the government?
● What type of requirements are needed to get a job in the defense sector?
● What type of roles are there in the defense sector?
● Are there any differences when applying for a civilian or contractor position?
Relevant Websites for This Episode
Your Cyber Path: How to Get Your Dream Cybersecurity Job
The Your Cyber Path podcast is designed to help you find out what it takes to get your dream cybersecurity job (from the hiring managers' perspective). After all, it is the hiring manager you need to impress in order to land your dream role. Stop wondering what the hiring manager is thinking, and learn first hand from our team of professional cybersecurity hiring managers who can help you cut through the process and understand what it takes to get hired these days.
Meet the Hosts
Jason Dion is a former college professor and the lead instructor at Dion Training Solutions. He has multiple information technology professional certifications, including Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP), Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH), Certified Network Defense Architect (CNDA), Digital Forensic Examiner (DFE), Digital Media Collector (DMC), CySA+, Security+, Network+, A+, PRINCE2 Practitioner, and ITIL. With networking experience dating back to 1992, Jason has been a network engineer, Deputy Director of a Network Operations Center, and an Information Systems Officer for large organizations around the globe.
Kip Boyle is a husband, dad, entrepreneur, and experienced cyber risk manager. He founded Cyber Risk Opportunities LLC in 2015 after 7 years as the CISO of PEMCO Insurance in Seattle. As a captain on active duty in the US Air Force, he served in the Combat Archer and F-22 Stealth Fighter programs, where he was the director of enterprise network security. These days, he serves as virtual chief information security officer for many customers, including a professional sports team and fast-growing FinTech and AdTech companies. Over the years, Kip has built teams by interviewing hundreds of cybersecurity professionals. And now, he’s sharing his insider’s perspective with you!