DHS Wants To Hire 1,000 Cybersecurity Experts

Cyrus writes "DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano plans to hire 1,000 security experts over the next three years. 'Department officials could not say precisely how many cyberexperts now work at DHS and its various component agencies such as the Secret Service and Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Napolitano said she doubts it will be necessary to fill all 1,000 of the authorized positions, but she is focused on making DHS a "world-class cyberorganization."'" Cringely points out, "There aren't one thousand civilian cybersecurity experts in the entire friggin' world!!!!," except he uses all caps and bold.

Comments

Re:Cool - how do I become a security expert?

[RagingFuryBlack]

Yep. Penn State University offers a degree in Security and Risk Analysis with a specification in Cyber-security. http://ist.psu.edu/prospectivestudents/undergraduate/sra/

Re:Well, I've already had my DHS background check.

[El Torico]

Government paychecks are capped at a maximum that is significantly less than commercial starting pay for cyber-security experts...

No, they aren't. The Information Assurance and other Information Technology positions in the Federal Government are usually grade GS-13. A GS-13 Step 1 in the Metro DC Area makes $70,615, Step 10 makes $91,801. This is competitive with most commercial salaries. Factor in the generous benefits (retirement, commute cost compensation, flextime, etc.) and the Civil Service positions are lucrative.