Government Programs in Cybersecurity Education and Awareness Essay

Government Programs in Cybersecurity Education and Awareness - Essay Example (Gattiker, 2009) Presently, the United States suffers a deficit in the number of professionals in cyber security; a fact that compromises predictions of America’s future needs. The demand for improved cyber security education would bolster America’s future workforce (Rudolph, 2009). Recent survey conducted by Zogby International suggests that cyber security education would be a significant contributor in the economic growth of the US. That small business owner registering high returns needs employees with cyber security skills. Another recent study by Microsoft indicates a significant demand for cyber security education in America’s K-12 classrooms (Gattiker, 2009). Therefore, the government programs, through cyber security education, would contribute in the economic growth of US and the sensitization of America’s K-12 classrooms among other contribution. a) The US government should raise the national awareness about cyber threats and associated risks. It should improve risk knowledge and cyber security vulnerabilities as well as engage in the promotion of the use of cyber security tools and resources. This can take the form of; encouragement of campaigns such as Stop.Think.Connect, Strategy promotion for cyber risk management training engagement in partnership with external stakeholders and encouragement of participation in activities, in line with cyber security. b) The cyber security workforce’s pool of individuals should be broadened by engaging in the promotion of interests in computer science and cyber security. This can be undertaken through an increase of diversity and quality of computer science programs in high schools, improvement of both undergraduate and graduate cyber security curricula and promotion of research and development on cyber security. c) The government should encourage the cultivation of globally competitive cyber security