In this episode, Gene Fay interviews Ed Adams, President and CEO at Security Innovation, about his journey into cybersecurity and his work in advancing software security practices. Ed shares his story of transitioning from quality assurance in software at Rational Software to founding Security Innovation, a company focused on application security and training. Ed also dives into his book, See Yourself in Cybersecurity Careers Beyond Hacking, which highlights the many career paths available in the cybersecurity industry beyond hands-on keyboard roles. He discusses the cybersecurity talent shortage, particularly how it affects underrepresented groups, and the need for organizations to rethink how they hire and retain talent.

Takeaways:

• There are many ways to start a career in cybersecurity, even from non-technical backgrounds.
• Security is an integral part of software quality can help developers and organizations create more secure, reliable applications.
• The book, See Yourself in Cybersecurity Careers Beyond Hacking, focuses on educating the next generation of cybersecurity professionals and promoting diversity in the field.
• The cybersecurity talent shortage is not about the lack of skilled individuals, but about outdated hiring practices and insufficient investment in talent development.