5 Best Practices for Fast, Secure Wi-Fi on K-12 Campuses

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When I was a high school student, bringing a smartphone into classrooms was not permitted. If you were caught with any electronic device, it would be confiscated. Pronto.

In this new digital era, schools are embracing this transformation everywhere. Classrooms are changing, with Wi-Fi being the primary form of internet access. Students, faculty and guests also use more than one device at a time, including laptops, tablets, wearables and smartphones. As the number of devices grow, it becomes critical to plan your K-12 networks effectively and future-proof it to be able to implement newer and safer technology.

If you’re expanding, upgrading or building a secure wireless network for K-12 campus or districts, review these five helpful best practices.

Plan for density

Secure Wi-Fi networks are often planned based on coverage. If the wireless signal simply covers a classroom it does not signify that it can actually handle the device density in that room. With students and faculty using multiple devices, the number of devices connected to a particular wireless access point increases. Ensure that you are prepared for max traffic density in your classroom — and across the entire campus.

How? As a first approach, ensure you have sufficient coverage and layer this with density. Use a site survey tool like the SonicWall WiFi Planner to make this process easier to visualize. Next, estimate where you find max device density, peak traffic and plan your Wi-Fi deployment around this.

Go cloud

More applications and functions are moving to the cloud (or are likely already there). For K-12 schools untethering Wi-Fi from their wireless controller or firewalls, the cloud offers powerful infrastructure and applications to simplify management and security.

By going this route, K-12 districts and schools have the flexibility to manage wireless security solutions from the cloud, scale limitlessly and also drive down TCO.

How? Transition to a cloud-managed wireless solution. The SonicWall wireless solution can be managed by the WiFi Cloud Manager, which is a scalable, centralized Wi-Fi network management system, simplifying wireless access, control and troubleshooting capabilities across networks of any size or region.

Accessible through SonicWall Capture Security Center (CSC), WiFi Cloud Manager unifies multiple tenants, locations and zones while simultaneously supporting tens of thousands of SonicWave wireless access points.

Single-pane-of-glass management

Managing multiple management dashboards is challenging as there is a high risk of things falling through the cracks. To avoid this and to streamline the process it is essential to have a single-pane-of-glass management system with real-time analytics to capture threats and abnormalities in your network. This type of management saves you time and helps you become proactive rather than reactive.

How? Empower yourself with the right management solution to govern your entire network security ecosystem from a single dashboard. Capture Security Center is a scalable cloud-based security management system that’s a built-in, ready-to-use component of your SonicWall product or service.

Capture Security Center features single sign-on (SSO) and single-pane-of-glass management. It integrates the functionality of the Capture Cloud Platform to deliver robust security management, analytics and real-time threat intelligence for your entire portfolio of network, email, mobile and cloud security resources.

Enable content filtering

Wi-Fi is an easy gateway for malicious attacks. It must be protected with the right encryption and security mechanisms. Create granular policies to ensure that students are protected against malicious and non-reputable websites.

How? Ensure that you enable content filtering on your network. SonicWall provides a Content Filtering Service (CFS) that compares requested sites against a massive database in the cloud containing millions of rated URLs, IP addresses and domains. It provides administrators with the tools to create and apply policies that allow or deny access to sites based on individual or group identity, or by time of day, for over 50 pre-defined categories.

Future-proof with the latest technology

Ensure that you deploy the latest wireless technology in your schools. Future-proofing secure Wi-Fi is the best way to ensure that you get your money’s worth in the long term while providing the best user experience.

How? This does not mean you have to rip and replace your entire existing network. It could be a gradual approach, wherein you upgrade only critical units based on your needs. Build your network on the latest certified wireless standard: 802.11ac wave 2. Future-proof with wireless access points that are 802.11ac Wave 2-capable.

Adhering to these best practices will make your WiFi network efficient and secure — all while saving you time and money.

The E-rate ‘Fear Less’ Technology Infrastructure

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Before you begin the RFP process, it’s important to explore the technology infrastructure (specifically what’s eligible in Category Two) as defined within the E-rate program by Universal Service Administration Company (USAC) and how each relates to the E-rate funding process.

Episode 4: The E-rate Fear Less Technology Infrastructure

On the fourth episode of the E-rate Fear Less series, Holly Davis dives further into the program and reviews other options school districts have in building a secure, future-proof network with the E-rate program.

At a high level, E-rate Category Two technology in three primary pillars. Category Two components are those that relate to cyber security solutions, hardware, software and other services. For more details about E-rate categories, please review the 2019 Eligible Services List (PDF).

Technology Function
Broadband Internal Connections (IC) On-premise solution internally managed; equipment may be owned or leased.
Managed Internal Broadband Services (MIBS) Managed service solution owned, leased or hosted in the cloud.
Basic Maintenance
of Broadband Internal Connections		 Support for the IC solution.
Source: 2019 Eligible Services List (PDF)

E-rate Category 2 technology funding with SonicWall

School and campus networks range in size and manage different types of sensitive data. Mitigating potential weak points in the network — and the data that can be targeted — is no easy task for standard IT teams that haven’t undergone extensive cyber security training. SonicWall network and cyber security solutions meet the needs of school districts at the highest efficacy — all at price points that fit within K-12 budgets.

If you are utilizing E-rate funding to assist you in buying your networking and cyber security solutions, SonicWall can help. Our team of E-rate funding experts ensure your SonicWall solution aligns with the rules and regulations of the E-rate program.

SonicWall Security as a Service (SECaaS) is an alternative solution for schools that do not have a large capital outlay to invest in a future-proof security solution or a dedicated IT team trained to manage cyber security.

“Security-as-a-Service provides more flexibility,” said Jenna Burros, Director of Business Services, at the Calistoga Joint Unified School District in California. “It is such an improvement to be able to have enough control to differentiate various levels of accessibility.”

Under Burros’ guidance, the California school district upgraded the flexibility and granularity of its existing content-filtering solution, while also keeping costs at minimum — a key obstacle for K-12 organizations regardless of E-rate eligibility.

With the most comprehensive channel program in the industry, combined with additional E-rate discounts, SonicWall and its partners are best positioned to meet the needs of K-12 customers and help them take full advantage of the funding E-rate provides for securing their networks.

If you are an eligible K-12 organization, please contact your preferred SonicWall reseller for information on E-rate benefits and discounts, or visit the SonicWall E-rate page for information, tools and guidance.

E-rate Episode Video Series for K-12 School Districts

What is E-rate?

To help offset funding and staffing shortages, the U.S. Department of Education and the FCC launched the E-rate program, which helps make telecommunications and information services more affordable for schools, campuses, districts and libraries.

The E-rate program is operated by Universal Service Administration Company (USAC), which has a core focus of providing underfunded organizations access to affordable technology and security services. This includes schools, libraries and rural healthcare organizations.

USAC provides a yearly Eligible Services List (ESL), which outlines which types of products and services can be procured via E-rate program discounts.

 Applicant Steps & Resources

Prep: Before You Begin
Step 1: Competitive Bidding
Step 2: Selecting Service Providers
Step 3: Applying for Discounts
Step 4: Application Review
Step 5: Starting Services
Step 6:  Invoicing 

Resources provided by USAC

The E-rate ‘Fear Less’ Solution

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The E-rate program is critical for K-12 organizations that lack the funding to procure appropriate technology, such as networking and cyber security solutions (e.g., firewalls, wireless network security, etc.). But understanding the program — as well as confirming your E-rate eligibility — can be daunting.

Episode 3: The E-rate Fear Less Solution

On the third episode of the E-rate Fear Less series, Komplement CEO Holly Davis discusses school eligibility, discounts levels and the competitive bidding process.

E-rate discounts are based on the category of service requested, level of poverty, urban/rural status of the population served and the level of participation of students in the Nation School Lunch Program (NSLP).

  • School districts derive their discount, for purposes of determining their level of poverty, from the total percentage of students eligible for the NSLP in the school district.
  • Libraries derive their discount, for purposes of determining their level of poverty, from the NSLP eligibility percentage of the public-school district in which the main branch of the library is located.
  • Rural discount eligibility is determined at the school district or library system level. If more than 50 percent of the schools in a school district or libraries in a library system are considered rural, the district or system is eligible for the rural discount. Note: Non-instructional facilities (NIFs) are not included in this percentage calculation.

Once eligibility is confirmed, it is very important to understand that the government requires a fair and competitive bidding process. Please contact a SonicWall E-rate expert to help guide your organization through the rules and guidelines of the E-rate process.

E-rate technology discounts with SonicWall

Applicant Steps & Resources

Prep: Before You Begin
Step 1: Competitive Bidding
Step 2: Selecting Service Providers
Step 3: Applying for Discounts
Step 4: Application Review
Step 5: Starting Services
Step 6: Invoicing

Resources provided by USAC

SonicWall network and cyber security solutions meet the needs of school districts at the highest efficacy — all at price points that fit within K12 budgets.

If you are utilizing E-rate funding to assist you in buying your networking and cyber security solutions, SonicWall can help. Our team of E-rate funding experts ensure your SonicWall solution aligns with the rules and regulations of the E-rate program. SonicWall provides services in the following areas:

  • Managed Internal Broadband Services
  • Internal Connections
  • Basic Maintenance for Internal Connections

With the most comprehensive channel program in the industry, combined with additional E-rate discounts, SonicWall and its partners are best positioned to meet the needs of K12 customers and help them take full advantage of the funding E-rate provides for securing their networks.

If you are an eligible K12 organization, please contact your preferred SonicWall reseller for information on E-rate benefits and discounts, or visit the SonicWall E-rate page for information, tools and guidance.

E-rate Episode Video Series for K-12 School Districts

Know the E-rate Terminology

The E-rate program is replete of acronyms, form numbers and other unique nomenclature. Learn the key terms to successfully guide your K12 organization through the E-rate process.

VIEW THE GLOSSARY

What is E-rate?

To help offset funding and staffing shortages, the U.S. Department of Education and the FCC launched the E-rate program, which helps make telecommunications and information services more affordable for schools, campuses, districts and libraries.

The E-rate program is operated by Universal Service Administration Company (USAC), which has a core focus of providing underfunded verticals the access to affordable technology and security services. This includes schools, libraries, rural healthcare organizations and more.

USAC provides a yearly Eligible Services List (ESL), which outlines which types of products and services can be procured via E-rate program discounts.

Navigating the E-rate Program: Forms, Filling Cycles & Rules

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Participating in your first E-rate season can be overwhelming. It is important to understand eligibility requirements of the program since the forms and terminology can become confusing. To better understand the ins and outs of the E-rate program, watch Episode 2 of the SonicWall E-rate video series below.

Episode 2: Navigating the E-rate Program

On the second episode of the E-rate Fear Less series, Komplement CEO Holly Davis highlights key elements of the E-rate program to help you navigate the process. You will learn about the filling cycle, ESL, 470 and 471 forms, and rules of the program.

Before you get started, it’s important to remember some key dates. First, the E-rate program operates on a fiscal year (FY) calendar. This year, FY2020 is July 1, 2019, to June 30, 2020. From here, there are two primary dates to remember:

  • 470 Filing: July 1, 2019 (RFP Posting)
  • 471 Filing: January 11, 2020-March 22, 2020

Applicant Steps & Resources

Prep: Before You Begin
Step 1: Competitive Bidding
Step 2: Selecting Service Providers
Step 3: Applying for Discounts
Step 4: Application Review
Step 5: Starting Services
Step 6: Invoicing 

Resources provided by USAC

Each year, before the FCC Form 471 application filing window opens, the FCC releases Eligible Services List (ESL) for the upcoming funding year (it is typically released between September and November).

The ESL contains a description of the products and services that will be eligible for discounts, along with additional helpful information such as eligibility conditions for each category of service for each specified funding year.

Be sure to review the list before you post a form 470 request for services to properly align your products and service needs.

SonicWall and E-rate

Through its global channel of more than 23,000 technology partners, SonicWall is actively involved in helping K-12 education organizations cost-effectively obtain and deploy network security solutions. SonicWall provides a broad array of E-rate-eligible products and services, including firewalls and turnkey Security-as-a-Service solutions.

SonicWall can discuss its products and services prior to the posting of a school/library Form 470, which begins the competitive bidding process. Once Form 470 is filed, SonicWall and its partners are restricted to rules and regulations of the program and are respondents to the bidding.

If you are utilizing E-rate funding to assist you in buying your networking and cyber security solutions, SonicWall can help. Our team of E-rate funding experts ensure your SonicWall solution aligns with the rules and regulations of the E-rate program. SonicWall provides services in the following areas:

  • Managed Internal Broadband Services
  • Internal Connections
  • Basic Maintenance for Internal Connections

SonicWall integrated solutions meet the needs of school districts at the highest efficacy and at price points that fit within K-12 budget constraints. SonicWall helps reduce the total cost of ownership (TCO) for these under-funded organizations.

If you are an eligible K-12 organization, please contact your preferred SonicWall reseller for information on E-rate benefits and discounts, or visit the SonicWall E-rate page for information, tools and guidance.

What is E-rate?

To help offset funding and staffing shortages, the U.S. Department of Education and the FCC launched the E-rate program, which helps make telecommunications and information services more affordable for schools, campuses, districts and libraries.

“Eligible schools and libraries may receive discounts on telecommunications, telecommunications services and internet access, as well as internal connections, managed internal broadband services and basic maintenance of internal connections,” explains the FCC website. “Discounts range from 20 to 90 percent, with higher discounts for higher poverty and rural schools and libraries. Recipients must pay some portion of the service costs.”

The E-rate program is operated by Universal Service Administration Company (USAC), which has a core focus of providing underfunded verticals the access to affordable technology and security services. This includes schools, libraries, rural healthcare organizations and more.

USAC provides a yearly Eligible Services List (ESL), which outlines which types of products and services can be procured via E-rate program discounts.

E-rate Episode Video Series for K-12 School Districts

An Explanation of E-rate: How to Cost-Effectively Protect K12 Networks

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Networks security is often too focused on traditional business. But there are more than 100,000 K12 campuses in the U.S. alone. Each have similar security challenges as the standard enterprise or business, but its users (i.e., most commonly students) require more careful and dedicated protection.

Video 1: An Explanation of E-Rate

To help K12 organizations and technology partners better understand opportunities provided by the E-rate program, SonicWall E-rate and cyber security experts explain the history of the program, its importance to K12 organizations, discount levels, and eligible technologies and solutions.

K12 At A Glance

  • 104,000 public K12 schools in the U.S.
  • 55 million public K12 student enrollment
  • Education is the No. 1 target for ransomware attacks
  • Ransomware has hit over 23 percent of educational institutions
  • U.S. K12 spends over $230 million annually on cyber security
  • Maintaining a secure network is one of the top challenges faced by K12 school districts

What is E-rate?

To help offset funding and staffing shortages, the U.S. Department of Education and the FCC launched the E-rate program, which helps make telecommunications and information services more affordable for schools, campuses, districts and libraries.

“Eligible schools and libraries may receive discounts on telecommunications, telecommunications services and internet access, as well as internal connections, managed internal broadband services and basic maintenance of internal connections,” explains the FCC website. “Discounts range from 20 to 90 percent, with higher discounts for higher poverty and rural schools and libraries. Recipients must pay some portion of the service costs.”

The E-rate program is operated by Universal Service Administration Company (USAC), which has a core focus of providing underfunded verticals the access to affordable technology and security services. This includes schools, libraries, rural healthcare organizations and more.

USAC provides a yearly Eligible Services List (ESL), which outlines which types of products and services can be procured via E-rate program discounts.

SonicWall and E-rate

Through its global channel of more than 21,000 technology partners, SonicWall is actively involved in helping K12 education organizations cost-effectively obtain and deploy network security solutions. SonicWall provides a broad array of E-rate-eligible products and services, including firewalls and turnkey Security-as-a-Service solutions.

SonicWall integrated solutions meet the needs of school districts at the highest efficacy and at price points that fit within K12 budget constraints. SonicWall helps reduce the total cost of ownership (TCO) for these under-funded organizations.

With the most comprehensive channel program in the industry, combined with additional E-rate discounts, SonicWall and our partners are best positioned to meet the needs of K12 customers and help them take full advantage of the funding E-rate provides for securing their networks.

If you are an eligible K12 organization, please contact your preferred SonicWall reseller for information on E-rate benefits and discounts, or visit the SonicWall E-rate page for information, tools and guidance.

Advanced Security Training: New SonicWall Network Security Professional (SNSP) Course & Certification

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Building on the success of the recently released SonicWall Network Security Administrator (SNSA) course and certification, SonicWall is proud to announce the release of the SonicWall Network Security Professional (SNSP) course.

Designed for today’s IT professionals who need to go beyond basic administration skills, the SNSP program provides network and security engineers with the in-depth technical knowledge required to maximize the capabilities of SonicWall’s next-generation firewall appliances in complex environments.

What is SNSP and how is it improved?

The SNSP cybersecurity training program includes 16 learning modules taught during two days of instructor-led classroom training, including advanced routing, interface settings, advanced high availability and implementing best practices. It features:

  • 60 percent hands-on labs
  • 40 percent training lectures
  • Based on the recently released SonicOS 6.5.2 firmware

The SNSP will replace the existing Network Security Advanced Administrator (NSAA) course, which will be retired on June 30, 2019. After this date, no additional NSAA courses will be offered. However, the associated Certified SonicWall Security Professional (CSSP) certification will remain valid for two years after completion.

Delivery of the SNSP program will align with other SonicWall certification courses and will be incorporated into our existing Authorized Training Partner (ATP) strategy. This will ensure consistency in the delivery of training, regardless of where it is received, or which ATP provides it.

For more information on the SNSP course, or to find scheduled classes, go to the SonicWall Training and Certification page.

SonicWall Now a California Multiple Award Schedule (CMAS) Vendor

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SonicWall has received the California Multiple Award Schedule (CMAS) and is now a CMAS vendor in the state of California.

What is CMAS?

The California Multiple Award Schedule (CMAS) allows state agencies and local governments to streamline purchasing and ensure the payment of appropriate prices for information technology and non-information technology products and services.

The program is a part of the State of California Department of General Services Procurement Division. Vendors among the CMAS Unit have the capability of offering goods and services that have been competitively bid and awarded on a Federal General Services Administration (GSA) Schedule. The GSA is an independent agency of the United States government established in 1949 to help manage and support the basic functioning of federal agencies.

“SonicWall is dedicated to providing our partners every available competitive advantage during the selling process and reduce obstacles they may face,” said SonicWall general manager John Mullen, who oversees the company’s State, Local, Education (SLED) initiatives. “We look forward to working with them as a CMAS contractor to bring proven cyber security defenses to California’s highly depended upon state and local agencies that provide a range of services to the community.”

Being awarded CMAS means SonicWall has even more of an opportunity to support K-12 education through the use of the E-rate program.

What is the E-rate program?

Who Can Use CMAS?

Educational institutions in the state of California in the following categories are eligible for CMAS products or services.

  • K-12 public schools in California
  • Community colleges that spend public funds
  • California State University and University of California systems
  • State agencies
  • Any city, county or district

E-rate is a U.S. federal program that funds technology in schools and libraries. Many SonicWall network security products and services can be purchased by school districts and libraries through E-rate funding.

Many SonicWall network security products and services — including firewalls, high-speed wireless, and content filtering — can be purchased by school districts and libraries through E-rate funding, a Federal program funding technology in schools and libraries.

Leveraging the E-rate program enables cost savings which can help your district better comply with CIPA while safeguarding students, faculty, staff, data, and applications with state-of-the-art network security technology from SonicWall.

For more information, or to inquire about SonicWall solutions under the CMAS program, please contact John Mullen (jmullen@sonicwall.com) or Holly Davis (holly@komplement.us).

Save Money with E-rate Funding

If you are utilizing E-rate funding to assist you in buying your networking and cyber security solutions, SonicWall can help. Talk to our team of E-rate funding experts who can ensure your SonicWall solution aligns with the rules and regulations of the E-Rate program.

LEARN MORE ABOUT E-RATE

Network Security for K-12 School District Simplified with Powerful Firewall, Failover Capabilities

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The Goffstown School District in New Hampshire supports nearly 4,000 students and staff. And one person oversees it all.

Running the IT department for an entire K-12 school district sounds like a challenge that few would take, but Goffstown School District IT director Gary Girolimon makes it look easy. Clearly, this is the result of years of experience and having sound networking tools available.

If the number of users doesn’t bother you, consider that all seven Goffstown School District buildings are part of a high-speed 10 Gbs dark fiber wide-area network (WAN). At any given part of the day, students can be downloading massive amounts of dangerous files, or stumbling upon harmful content that violates compliance regulations.

So, how do they handle that level of network complexity?

Girolimon, pictured, deployed a SonicWall SuperMassive 9200 high-end firewall at the perimeter of his network. On it, he runs the SonicWall Comprehensive Gateway Security Suite, including content filtering to support CIPA compliance, which helps him manage the bandwidth to demanding applications and block harmful sites. The district also uses SonicWall Analyzer for real-time web traffic reporting.

“SonicWall gives us an integrated, cost-effective solution for our organization’s security needs,” said Girolimon. “It’s easy to administer, with a flexible UI, and the solution is super reliable. We have had no downtime attributable to our SonicWall firewall.”

Prior to deploying the SuperMassive at the edge, Girolimon deployed smaller SonicWall firewalls, ranging from NSA 2400s to 3600s, at each distributed building location. Those firewalls now provide failover service in case a dark fiber link to the network hub goes down, thereby extending their life and usefulness.

“SonicWall gives us an integrated, cost-effective solution for our organization’s security needs. It’s easy to administer, with a flexible UI, and the solution is super reliable.”

Gary Girolimon
IT Director
Goffstown School District

This flexibility and performance have allowed Girolimon to create a DMZ and bring servers in-house for better local access and to provide specific employees remote access to network assets — all with the confidence they are secure and protected.

By maintaining a single, primary firewall appliance with a failover firewall available as needed, Girolimon greatly simplified administration of firewall rules, app policies and VPN permissions. Integrated content filtering and VPN has simplified CIPA compliance.

Cost-Effective Network Security for K-12 School Districts

Today, more than 3,000 districts and schools rely on SonicWall to deliver secure remote and network access with school firewalls that enable educational institutions to realize the promise of technologically-savvy learning environments, in the classroom or while students are mobile.

LEARN MORE

EDUCAUSE 2018: SonicWall Heads to Denver

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The EDUCAUSE Annual Conference hosts the best minds in higher education IT. The event empowers professionals and technology providers from around the world to network, share ideas, grow professionally and discover solutions to solve today’s cybersecurity and IT challenges. And we’re going to be there.

EDUCAUSE 2018

Oct. 30 – Nov. 1

Booth 1003
Colorado Convention Center
Denver, Colo.

REGISTER NOW

Join SonicWall at EDUCAUSE, Oct. 30-Nov. 1, at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver, Colo. Meet SonicWall security experts at Booth 1003, where we are joining long-time partner Dell on the conference floor.

Safeguarding many of the world’s best-known universities, SonicWall empowers security teams with the full breadth of high-performance, scalable security solutions and services that allow educators to realize the promise of tech-savvy learning and research environments.

To demonstrate these capabilities, SonicWall will showcase key solutions to better protect institutions of higher education.

Demo 1: Email Security & Content Protection

SonicWall Email Security, which is available for G Suite and Office 365, helps eliminate email-borne spam, phishing, viruses, spyware and data leaks. It’s also integrated with the SonicWall Capture Advanced Threat Protection (ATP) cloud sandbox to inspect and mitigate malicious attachments and URLs. The demo will feature:

Demo 2: Analytics & Visibility

The SonicWall Capture Security Center helps higher education institutions unify security governance, compliance and risk management. By establishing a holistic, connected approach to security orchestration, Capture Security Center can federate all operational aspects of the SonicWall security ecosystem. It also delivers campus IT admins real-time analytics and risk scores.

Available on SonicWall next-generation firewalls, integrated DPI-SSL technology can decrypt and inspect SSL/TLS traffic for encrypted threats, and Capture ATP delivers AI protection for block-until-verdict mitigation against both known and unknown cyberattacks. The demo will feature:

Event Program Tracks

EDUCAUSE conference content is carefully crafted and curated by institutional and industry presenters. Event discussions are categorized into the following tracks:

Experience EDUCAUSE Online

Can’t make the event in Denver? Experience the conference online with Encore! The EDUCAUSE Annual Conference 2018. The online program features the highest-rated, member-driven content organized across key areas of community interest.

Just like the actual conference, Encore! is tailored for higher ed IT professionals with over 50 presenters, 33 sessions and over 24 hours of session content, including content captured from the featured sessions in Denver.

Resources

Tips for Getting a Job in Cybersecurity

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It’s been a much-publicized issue for years: the cybersecurity skills gap. Not enough talented security pros. Way too many critical cybersecurity jobs. It’s becoming such a challenge, it’s even part of the U.S. government’s new Nation Cyber Strategy.

“The Administration will work with the Congress to promote and reinvigorate educational and training opportunities to develop a robust cybersecurity workforce,” noted in the official strategy document. “This includes expanding Federal recruitment, training, re-skilling people from a broad range of backgrounds, and giving them opportunities to re-train into cybersecurity careers.”

The perplexing fact of this challenge is that it’s not always clear how to get a job in the cybersecurity field. Want to become an electrician? Go to trade school. Want to become a doctor? Attend medical school. A lawyer? Study hard and pass the bar exam.

But pursuing a future in cybersecurity isn’t always as straightforward, particularly for those new to the field. There are many paths to take, but it’s often fraught with complexity and uncertainty.

A Critical Problem: Not Enough Cybersecurity Talent

As of March 2018, there were more than 300,000 unfilled cybersecurity jobs in the U.S. alone. California, Texas and Virginia represented the top geographies for open cybersecurity roles.

This skills gap is predicted to widen to 3.5 million jobs by 2021, a major supply-and-demand challenge for the one of the most critical threat landscapes. The growing disparity opens the door for all types of job-seekers: entry-level candidates, seasoned professionals, career-changers and executives alike.

“The demand for cybersecurity professionals is accelerating at such a pace that we can’t hire qualified and experienced talent fast enough,” said SonicWall Global Human Resources Director Bryce Ashcraft. “These are exciting, highly rewarding career fields, so it represents amazing opportunity for individuals interested in computer science, information technology, threat analysis and forensics — the list goes on and on.”

The Call for More Women in Cybersecurity

One of the many reasons for the cybersecurity skills gap is the gender disproportion in the industry. Data from the last few years estimated that women comprised 11 percent of the cyber workforce. One new source states that women represent 20 percent of the field — a stark improvement. But more change is still needed.

This issue was never more apparent than at RSA, North America’s largest cybersecurity conference hosted annually in San Francisco. Organizers of RSA 2018 actually came under fire for the lack of female panelists and speakers for the event, a story which was documented by SonicWall in, “The Shortest Line at RSA Conference 2018: Where are all the Women?”

Fortunately, pro-women organizations are growing quickly. Events, conferences and scholarships have been created across the world to empower women to prepare for careers in cybersecurity.

Organizations Conferences & Events
WiCyS Women in CyberSecurity WiCyS Women in CyberSecurity
Women in Security and Privacy Grace Hopper Celebration
National Center for Women & Information Technology OURSA – Our Security Advocates
SWE – Society of Women Engineers Scholarships
She Secures Raytheon’s Women Cyber Security Scholarship Program
Women in Defense (WID) (ISC)² Women’s CyberSecurity Scholarships
Women’s Security Society (WSS) Scholarship for Women Studying Information Security

Why Veterans Are Ideal Cybersecurity Pros

Many cybersecurity vendors are tapping into a different resource: military veterans. Highly skilled and easily trained, veterans are key to helping close the cybersecurity skills gap.

Better yet, they have unique skills that aren’t always easy to find in civilian sectors. Many veterans possess the right characteristics for working in high-pressure situations, such as a real-time security operations center (SOC).

“Efficient security operations teams operate in what’s called a ‘high-op tempo’ environment,” said Wayne Reynolds, an 18-year veteran of the United States Marine Corps and current CISO of Armor, a cloud security MSSP. “Veterans live this every day they are deployed.

“Most veterans I know operate extremely well in high-stress situations. In security, as you are combatting threats, you need to keep a cool, calm view of the situation. Veterans do this extremely well.”

In some unique cases, veterans may also possess valuable security clearances that could make them attractive to companies that operative in state and federal arenas, or in matters of government or industry compliance.

If you’re not a veteran, the military is an attractive option to gain hands-on, real-world experience in related fields. Acquired skills will be highly marketable when you transition back to civilian roles.

Resources for Military Cyber Careers

Your Cybersecurity Career: How to Get Started

More than 768,000 people are employed in cybersecurity in the U.S. But hundreds of thousands of jobs remain unfilled.

Top Cybersecurity Job Titles

  • Cybersecurity Engineer
  • Cybersecurity Analyst
  • Network Engineer/Architect
  • Cybersecurity Manager/Administrator
  • Systems Engineer
  • Software Developer/Engineer
  • Vulnerability Analyst/Penetration Tester
  • Systems Administrator
  • IT Auditor

Source: CyberSeek.org

Cybersecurity represents a lucrative career path for those interested in technology, computer science, engineering, network and cloud architecture, IT management, software development, threat intelligence and cyberattack forensics.

While salaries are largely dependent on skill set, experience, industry and region, cybersecurity pay can easily exceed $200,000 (USD) per year. This is particularity achievable when professionals begin directing full SOCs or move into executive positions, like chief security officer (CSO) or chief information security officer (CISO).

But there are opportunities for many professionals, particularly those who are trainable and adept at solving problems.

“I look for two things in all candidates. First, inquisitiveness. Good security folks are big problem-solvers and are always curious,” said Reynolds. “Second, modesty. If you have an inquisitive person who is modest, you can teach them anything.”

Common Cybersecurity Career Paths

Source: CyberSeek.org

Three of the most common ways of pursuing a carrier in cybersecurity include formal education, certifications and, as outlined above, military service. Not every path is suited for every personality. It’s important to find a program that works for you, but be sure it includes applicable, hands-on experience as well as job-placement programs.

Cybersecurity Certification

Certifications are a common, cost-effective approach to building cybersecurity acumen. SonicWall offers an extensive training curriculum path for security experts seeking to enhance their knowledge and maximize their investment in SonicWall network security products. This practice is common for security vendors committed to training cybersecurity professionals. SonicWall’s primary certification programs are:

But certifications — CISSP, CISM, CISA, ISSA, ISACA, (ISC)², Security+, Certified Ethical Hacker, CSSP, SNSA and the like — only tell part of the story. While they demonstrate a willingness to train, many cybersecurity recruiters want to know that what has been learned can be applied to the job.

“I worry less about education and tend to stay away from folks that list a plethora of certifications,” said Reynolds. “But if I see someone with an advanced degree or multiple years in the field, I take a look. The ability to practically apply education is critical.”

Cybersecurity Education

Universities and institutions of higher learning now offer dedicated cybersecurity curricula. For example, CyberDegrees offers an online resource that outlines top degree paths, sample coursework and tools for finding cybersecurity programs in 44 states.

“Similar to most undergraduate programs, online cybersecurity degrees typically require students to complete 120 to 126 credits,” notes U.S. News & World Report. “While there are accelerated programs, full-time students usually graduate within four years.”

Training & Educational Resources

Various government, private and non-profit organizations provide complimentary tools and resources to aid individuals in training for cybersecurity jobs. If you’re just starting your path toward a cybersecurity career or looking for a career change, leverage the below sites to help guide your path.

About Cybersecurity Awareness Month

The 15th annual National Cybersecurity Awareness Month (NCSAM) highlights user awareness among consumers, students/academia and business. NCSAM 2018 addresses specific challenges and identifies opportunities for behavioral change. It aims to remind everyone that protecting the internet is “Our Shared Responsibility.”

In addition, NCSAM 2018 will shine a spotlight on the critical need to build a strong, cyber secure workforce to help ensure families, communities, businesses and the country’s infrastructure are better protected through four key themes:

  • Oct. 1-5: Make Your Home a Haven for Online Safety
  • Oct. 8-12: Millions of Rewarding Jobs: Educating for a Career in Cybersecurity
  • Oct. 15-19: It’s Everyone’s Job to Ensure Online Safety at Work
  • Oct. 22-26: Safeguarding the Nation’s Critical Infrastructure

Learn more at StaySafeOnline.org.