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Former NSA Head Returns to Fight Cybersecurity Shortage

Posted: February 26, 2020 to Cybersecurity.

Tags: Data Breach, Malware, Cloud Security

There is a national shortage of cybersecurity specialists, and the former head of the NSA, Mike McConnell, is actively trying to fix that issue. McConnell is a DC professional but is now splitting his time between there and the University of South Florida, in an attempt to fill in this gap of about 500,000 professionals nationwide.  He is concerned that America is woefully unprepared for potential cyberattacks, and he's not wrong.  In fact, Vietnam vet came out of retirement because he is so concerned, and is now the executive director of Cyber Florida in Tampa, whose sole objective is to increase the number of Florida's public universities' cybersecurity graduates. To understand just how dire this issue is, the entire state of Florida had less than 500 cybersecurity graduates; Cyber Florida's goal is to increase that number to at least 5,000.  And that's understandable, seeing as how hackers are a  threat to national security; not only in the energy, transportation and communications industries, but also such issues the theft of intellectual property and election security. And the field pays well; new graduates can start at anywhere between $60,000 to $80,000 annually. If you have any questions about this field, for you or a loved one, please feel free to contact Craig directly, who is an expert in this field! Give us a call at 919-422-2607, or schedule an appointment free online!

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About the Author

Craig Petronella, CEO and Founder of Petronella Technology Group
CEO, Founder & AI Architect, Petronella Technology Group

Craig Petronella founded Petronella Technology Group in 2002 and has spent more than 30 years working at the intersection of cybersecurity, AI, compliance, and digital forensics. He holds the CMMC Registered Practitioner credential (RP-1372) issued by the Cyber AB, is an NC Licensed Digital Forensics Examiner (License #604180-DFE), and completed MIT Professional Education programs in AI, Blockchain, and Cybersecurity. Craig also holds CompTIA Security+, CCNA, and Hyperledger certifications.

He is an Amazon #1 Best-Selling Author of 15+ books on cybersecurity and compliance, host of the Encrypted Ambition podcast (95+ episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Amazon), and a cybersecurity keynote speaker with 200+ engagements at conferences, law firms, and corporate boardrooms. Craig serves as Contributing Editor for Cybersecurity at NC Triangle Attorney at Law Magazine and is a guest lecturer at NCCU School of Law. He has served as a digital forensics expert witness in federal and state court cases involving cybercrime, cryptocurrency fraud, SIM-swap attacks, and data breaches.

Under his leadership, Petronella Technology Group has served 2,500+ clients, maintained a zero-breach record among compliant clients, earned a BBB A+ rating every year since 2003, and been featured as a cybersecurity authority on CBS, ABC, NBC, FOX, and WRAL. The company leverages SOC 2 Type II certified platforms and specializes in AI implementation, managed cybersecurity, CMMC/HIPAA/SOC 2 compliance, and digital forensics for businesses across the United States.

CMMC-RP NC Licensed DFE MIT Certified CompTIA Security+ Expert Witness 15+ Books
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