By Chetrice Mosley-Romero

Here in Indiana and around the world, cybersecurity – as a career path – is advancing at a clip that might not measure out at the speed of light, but there’s never been a time when the opportunities have been more abundant.

According to ISC2.org there are approximately 2.93 million cybersecurity positions open around the globe. And, now, thanks to the CyberStart America challenge, Indiana high school students again have an opportunity to participate and compete in a cybersecurity skills-based game competition and, in doing so, gain an understanding of the many educational and career opportunities that are out there in an ever-widening range of cyber fields.

At the same time, the challenge centers on a fun and thought-provoking game to inspire young men and women to test their aptitude in cyber skills.

Whether you’re a high school student thinking about a career in cyber or you know a student, who could benefit from the experience of participating in an activity that could provide the  foundation and lead to a decision to pursue a lucrative and fulfilling career, now’s the time to register.

Organized by the Indiana Department of Homeland Security (IDHS), registration for participating in the 2022 CyberStart America challenge is open through April 26, 2022.

High school students in grades 9-12 can participate for free, either as individuals or as part of a school-based team. Participants will take on the roles of agents in the Cyber Protection Agency, where they will develop forensic and analytical skills and deploy them to sleuth through challenges and tackle various online cybercriminal challenges.

As those who work in our schools, together with parents, guardians, and family members, you have a profound impact on the youth in our state and can play an important role in CyberStart America by encouraging young men and women to participate. To date, more than 600 students and 63 schools in Indiana have registered for this year’s competition.

Of course, it’s fair to ask the question of why someone might pursue an opportunity to learn more and/or follow on a cyber-focused career path, there’s 4 good reasons to consider, including:

• Practically unlimited growth potential – both with your career and within the companies and/or industries in which you’ll work.
• Plenty of variety, in terms of the situations and experiences you’ll encounter and the skills you’ll acquire as a part of your job.
• The ability to solve puzzles; for some of it, you’ll rely on best practices; in other instances, the tactics can (and, sometimes, will) change day-to-day.
• Cybersecurity jobs have a real impact that extends beyond the digital world and extends to the physical world, in which we live, work and play.

With your help, we can inspire even more young men and women to learn about cybersecurity and the many benefits of learning more about this growing field. Participating students do not need prior cybersecurity knowledge or IT experience. All that is required is a computer and an Internet connection.

Interested students can find out more information and register for CyberStart America at cyberstartamerica.org. If your organization has any questions or would like more information about the challenge, please contact the IDHS Office of Public Affairs by at pio@dhs.in.gov.