Cybersecurity: The Next Generation

The cybersecurity industry is facing a critical shortage of skilled professionals, with more job openings than qualified candidates to fill them. To address this gap, initiatives like the GenCyber Camp are introducing high school students to the exciting world of cybersecurity.

Cybersecurity professionals in high demand

The GenCyber Camp, hosted by Augusta University’s School of Computer and Cyber Sciences, provides a unique opportunity for students to explore the various aspects of cybersecurity. This year, over 200 high school juniors and seniors applied for the camp, with only 30 selected to participate.

A Glimpse into the Future

Matthew Nichols, a rising high school senior from Milton, Ga., was one of the lucky few selected for the camp. With a keen interest in cybersecurity, Nichols was eager to learn more about the field and its numerous job opportunities.

Nichols learns about the CIA triad

“I’m not super advanced in cybersecurity, so I felt like I needed a bigger, fundamental knowledge on it,” Nichols said. “I felt like this place could really help me with that.”

Hands-on Experience

The week-long camp provided Nichols with a wealth of knowledge, including the CIA triad, cryptography, robotics, and Python programming. He was particularly impressed by the thunder board bot, which allowed him to program a robot and control its actions.

Nichols programs a robot

“I was definitely surprised by the thunder board bot because I thought that was really cool,” Nichols said. “I didn’t realize you could go into the robot itself and actually program what it could do and exactly when you want it to do it.”

Expanding Horizons

Eryuanna Allen, a senior at A.R. Johnson Magnet School in Augusta, was another participant who benefited from the camp. With a background in healthcare, Allen was interested in exploring the intersection of healthcare and cybersecurity.

Allen learns about cybersecurity in healthcare

“I used to be in Girls Who Code, but school got in the way of that, and I wasn’t able to take many computer science classes with the healthcare pathway,” Allen said. “I really like both and wanted to broaden my expectations and maybe tweak it a little bit. Maybe minor in something computer science or maybe go back to school after college.”

A Breath of Fresh Air

Allen was one of 11 female students participating in the camp, the highest number in the program’s nine-year history. Cybersecurity remains a male-dominated field, but initiatives like the GenCyber Camp are helping to change that.

Female students in cybersecurity

“This has been a breath of fresh air – seeing so many people that are like-minded that actually want to do this and are passionate about this camp as much as I am,” Allen said.

Cyber Stars

The camp also featured daily discussions with “cyber stars,” including current and past Augusta University students, as well as industry partners. These talks provided students with a well-rounded view of the industry and its numerous job opportunities.

Cyber stars share their experiences

“I have a better understanding of the path I need to take in order to do something in this field,” Nichols said. “A lot of the talks with the cyber stars did a really good job explaining what’s the next step for me. What can I do to ensure that I’m part of this field in the future?”

Conclusion

The GenCyber Camp is an excellent example of how initiatives can inspire and educate the next generation of cybersecurity professionals. By providing hands-on experience and exposure to industry experts, the camp is helping to fill the void in the cybersecurity job market.

Cybersecurity professionals in high demand

As the demand for cybersecurity professionals continues to grow, initiatives like the GenCyber Camp will play a critical role in shaping the future of the industry.