Collaborative Pathways to Cybersecurity Excellence: Insights from Industry and Academia in the Southeastern US

This research article examines conversations happening between cybersecurity academics and industry leaders with a goal to improve the development of cybersecurity professionals. We specifically focus on efforts in the Southeast region of the United States. The discussion features insights from a pa...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Humayun Zafar, Carole L. Hollingsworth, Tridib Bandyopadhyay, Adriane B. Randolph
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Kennesaw State University 2024-07-01
Series:Journal of Cybersecurity Education, Research & Practice
Online Access:https://digitalcommons.kennesaw.edu/jcerp/vol2024/iss1/23/
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849320039597998080
author Humayun Zafar
Carole L. Hollingsworth
Tridib Bandyopadhyay
Adriane B. Randolph
author_facet Humayun Zafar
Carole L. Hollingsworth
Tridib Bandyopadhyay
Adriane B. Randolph
author_sort Humayun Zafar
collection DOAJ
description This research article examines conversations happening between cybersecurity academics and industry leaders with a goal to improve the development of cybersecurity professionals. We specifically focus on efforts in the Southeast region of the United States. The discussion features insights from a panel consisting of an academic cybersecurity researcher, a Chief Information Officer (CIO) of a leading technology company with over 1,000 employees, and a CIO of a financial services firm, which employs over 3,000 people. The discussion sheds light on the challenges and opportunities involved in aligning cybersecurity programs with industry requirements. This article explores strategies for academia and businesses to work together in shaping cybersecurity education addressing issues like the skills gap and lack of practical experience among recent graduates. It emphasizes the challenges faced by technology and financial sectors when hiring cybersecurity experts and suggests integrated solutions such as co-developed curriculum and experiential learning initiatives. Through a series of brief case studies, this article then examines the effectiveness of such integrated solutions. This collection of perspectives provides a roadmap for strengthening collaboration between institutions and industry—an essential step towards building a strong, adaptable workforce in the field of cybersecurity.
format Article
id doaj-art-891e140cb6914fe8a9c7c4190f666d84
institution Kabale University
issn 2472-2707
language English
publishDate 2024-07-01
publisher Kennesaw State University
record_format Article
series Journal of Cybersecurity Education, Research & Practice
spelling doaj-art-891e140cb6914fe8a9c7c4190f666d842025-08-20T03:50:15ZengKennesaw State UniversityJournal of Cybersecurity Education, Research & Practice2472-27072024-07-0120241Collaborative Pathways to Cybersecurity Excellence: Insights from Industry and Academia in the Southeastern USHumayun Zafar0Carole L. Hollingsworth1Tridib Bandyopadhyay2Adriane B. Randolph3Kennesaw State UniversityKennesaw State UniversityKennesaw State UniversityKennesaw State UniversityThis research article examines conversations happening between cybersecurity academics and industry leaders with a goal to improve the development of cybersecurity professionals. We specifically focus on efforts in the Southeast region of the United States. The discussion features insights from a panel consisting of an academic cybersecurity researcher, a Chief Information Officer (CIO) of a leading technology company with over 1,000 employees, and a CIO of a financial services firm, which employs over 3,000 people. The discussion sheds light on the challenges and opportunities involved in aligning cybersecurity programs with industry requirements. This article explores strategies for academia and businesses to work together in shaping cybersecurity education addressing issues like the skills gap and lack of practical experience among recent graduates. It emphasizes the challenges faced by technology and financial sectors when hiring cybersecurity experts and suggests integrated solutions such as co-developed curriculum and experiential learning initiatives. Through a series of brief case studies, this article then examines the effectiveness of such integrated solutions. This collection of perspectives provides a roadmap for strengthening collaboration between institutions and industry—an essential step towards building a strong, adaptable workforce in the field of cybersecurity.https://digitalcommons.kennesaw.edu/jcerp/vol2024/iss1/23/
spellingShingle Humayun Zafar
Carole L. Hollingsworth
Tridib Bandyopadhyay
Adriane B. Randolph
Collaborative Pathways to Cybersecurity Excellence: Insights from Industry and Academia in the Southeastern US
Journal of Cybersecurity Education, Research & Practice
title Collaborative Pathways to Cybersecurity Excellence: Insights from Industry and Academia in the Southeastern US
title_full Collaborative Pathways to Cybersecurity Excellence: Insights from Industry and Academia in the Southeastern US
title_fullStr Collaborative Pathways to Cybersecurity Excellence: Insights from Industry and Academia in the Southeastern US
title_full_unstemmed Collaborative Pathways to Cybersecurity Excellence: Insights from Industry and Academia in the Southeastern US
title_short Collaborative Pathways to Cybersecurity Excellence: Insights from Industry and Academia in the Southeastern US
title_sort collaborative pathways to cybersecurity excellence insights from industry and academia in the southeastern us
url https://digitalcommons.kennesaw.edu/jcerp/vol2024/iss1/23/
work_keys_str_mv AT humayunzafar collaborativepathwaystocybersecurityexcellenceinsightsfromindustryandacademiainthesoutheasternus
AT carolelhollingsworth collaborativepathwaystocybersecurityexcellenceinsightsfromindustryandacademiainthesoutheasternus
AT tridibbandyopadhyay collaborativepathwaystocybersecurityexcellenceinsightsfromindustryandacademiainthesoutheasternus
AT adrianebrandolph collaborativepathwaystocybersecurityexcellenceinsightsfromindustryandacademiainthesoutheasternus