CSJ-2021SI: Special Issue on Diversifying the Cybersecurity Workforce |
Website | https://www.nationalcyberwatch.org/cybersecurity-skills-journal/ |
Submission link | https://easychair.org/conferences/?conf=csj2021si0 |
Abstract registration deadline | July 31, 2021 |
Submission deadline | December 15, 2021 |
Ongoing shortages of cybersecurity talent are a widely recognized problem. Researchers have been arguing for more holistic perspectives on this problem for the past ten years (e.g., Assante & Tobey, 2011; Furnell & Bishop, 2020; Hoffman, Burley & Toregas, 2012). Yet little is known about the factors that influence the interest, engagement, development, recruitment, retention, and advancement of broadening participation in cybersecurity functions and roles that could expand and enhance the cybersecurity talent pool. In this Special Issue, we invite practitioners, scholars, and educators to propose or report systematic and rigorous investigations of the contributing causes, mediating or moderating influences, and evidence-based solutions for diversifying the cybersecurity workforce.
Diverse perspectives are essential for driving innovation and addressing the critical cybersecurity skills gap. A recent survey by Glassdoor found that three-quarters of job seekers and employees believe that a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workforce and diverse perspectives are important when evaluating new employment or advancement opportunities in organizations. Furthermore, nearly two-thirds (63%) thought that employers should be doing more to increase workforce diversity. Why? According to HR.com increased workforce diversity is associated with higher morale, greater productivity, increased creativity for problem-solving, successful international expansion, and can generate return on investment exceeding 150% from turnover reduction in the first year alone.
Do you have models, data, systematic review, cases, or instructional designs that suggest how our nation can succeed in diversifying the cybersecurity workforce? If so, we invite you to submit a paper proposal or draft abstract that conforms to the structured abstract format specified in the Cybersecurity Skills Journal Author Guidelines. Not all sections of the abstract template are initially required, but you must complete at least the first three sections for your abstract to be considered and be assigned a peer mentoring panel that will assist you in further developing a manuscript suitable for publication in CSJ.
Register your interest in developing a paper for publication in this special issue by submitting your draft abstract.
After you receive notification that your draft abstract is ready for review by a peer review panel, please submit the review copy in Easy Chair.
Submission Types
All papers must be original and not simultaneously submitted to another journal or conference. The following paper categories are welcome:
-
CSJ Articles support replication, validation, and generalization of practice, research, and instructional methods and results. Due to the depth of analysis required, an article will typically be between 7,500 and 15,000 words. Abstracts for CSJ Articles have a structured format discussed in the author guidelines. At least the first three sections of the structured abstract form must be completed with your registration of an abstract submitted for review by the CSJ editorial staff. Selected abstracts will receive a double-blind review by a panel of up to ten peers. Once accepted, further development of the abstract and associated paper will be guided and mentored by the peer reviewers.
-
CSJ Notes explore uncharted territory, rather than seeking to confirm or disconfirm the results of prior literature as is done in an article. CSJ Notes inspire conceptualizing, applying, investigating, or experimenting with nascent ideas. A note will propose or review new or emerging domains, principles, techniques, or tools. Accordingly, a CSJ Note is much shorter than an article, typically between 1,000 and 2,500 words. The note is, in effect, an extended abstract that could be subsequently developed into an article for a future issue of CSJ.
-
CSJ Dialogues are being introduced with this Special Issue. The purpose of this format is to capture a discussion among stakeholders about dilemmas or previously insurmountable challenges to cybersecurity skill assessment, development, recruitment, or evaluation. CSJ Dialogues may be edited recordings of a focus group session, interviews with subject matter experts, or conversations between tor more practitioners, scholars, or educators exploring the goals, success factors (objectives), and effective practices for successful mitigation or resolution of problems or taking full advantage of opportunities facing the cybersecurity community. A dialogue abstract will include a problem definition, an initial list of open-ended questions, and brief bios of individuals who will be (or were) conversing about the issue(s) to be the prime focus of the dialogue.
Journal Sections
Practice Section
-
unique challenges encountered by cybersecurity professionals in applying their knowledge, skill, and abilities
-
case studies or other qualitative analyses demonstrating the application of innovative tactics, techniques and protocols which highlight critical or often overlooked skill requirements for cybersecurity professionals
Research Section
-
theoretical/conceptual research with implications for cybersecurity capabilities
-
original empirical research on effective practices
-
in-depth, systematic reviews of the research and literature in specific areas of evidence-based practice
-
research on cybersecurity professional practice and performance requirements
Education Section
-
instructional designs, pedagogy, or curricula materials
-
assessments of cybersecurity knowledge, skill, and ability as defined by published cybersecurity competency taxonomies (e.g., Newhouse, Keith, Scribner & Witt, 2017; Tobey, Gandhi, Watkins & O’Brien, 2018)
-
practice/challenge lab designs
Special Issue Topics
Domains | Diversity | Interventions |
---|---|---|
Domains | Diversity | Interventions |
All-Source Analysis | Age | Apprenticeship |
Cloud Computing | Assigned sex | Broadening Participation |
Collection Operations | Bias | Building sustaining highly successful teams |
Customer Service and Technical Support | Citizenship | Career Discovery and Exploration |
Cyber Defense Analysis | Criminal background | COVID 19 |
Cyber Defense Infrastructure Support | Cultural identity | Culturally-sensitive teaching |
Cyber investigation | Education / Degree type | Equity (Distributive/Pay) |
Cyber Operational Planning | Ethnicity | Equity (Procedural) |
Cyber Operations | Ethodiversity (Upbringing, family structure, culture) | Human Factors |
Cybersecurity Management | Exceptionalities | Impact of AI & Automation |
Data Administration | Gender identity | Inclusion |
Digital Forensics | Ideology | Internship |
Executive Cyber Leadership | Intersectionality | Lessons from other fields |
Exploitation Analysis | Language | Mentoring |
Incident Response | Life experiences (Military, Occupational History) | Organizational policies |
Knowledge Management | Location | Parenting |
Language Analysis | National Origin | Professional growth / career pathways |
Legal Advice and Advocacy | Neurodiversity | Recruitment |
Network Services | Personality | Remote Work |
Program/Project Management and Acquisition | Race | Reskilling existing workforce |
Risk Management | Sexual orientation | Retention |
Software Development | Single Head of Household | Senior career pathways |
Strategic Planning and Policy | Socioeconomic Status | Training opportunities |
Systems Administration | Veterans | |
Systems Analysis | Work-life balance | |
Systems Architecture | Workplace training and development | |
Systems Development | ||
Systems Requirements Planning | ||
Targets | ||
Technology R&D | ||
Test and Evaluation | ||
Threat Analysis | ||
Training, Education, and Awareness | ||
Vulnerability Assessment and Management |
Editors
- Cybersecurity Practice: Laurin Buchanan, CISSP. Principal Investigator, Secure Decisions; NICE Community Coordinating Council member
- Cybersecurity Research: Dr. Robin Gandhi, Charles W. and Margre H. Durham Distinguished Professor of Cybersecurity, University of Nebraska at Omaha
- Cybersecurity Education: (acting) Dr. David H. Tobey, Co-PI, National CyberWatch Center
Publication
The Cybersecurity Skills Journal (CSJ) is a double-blind peer-reviewed journal published by the National CyberWatch Center Digital Press. The goal of CSJ is to stimulate professional discussion and advance the interdisciplinary field of cybersecurity through the publication of scholarly works of value and interest to the profession. CSJ seeks to integrate and expand the methods, processes, and evidence of effective practices which underlie skilled performance. CSJ focuses on valued, measured results; considers the larger system context of people’s performance; and provides valid and reliable measures of effectiveness.