Red tape, 'tattoo-aversion' snarls government hiring of cybersecurity experts

[InfoSec News <alerts () infosecnews org>]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/sns-rt-us-usa-cybersecurity-dhs-20140426,0,136919.story

By Doina Chiacu
Reuters
April 26, 2014

In the race to attract cybersecurity experts to protect the government's 
computer networks, the Department of Homeland Security has a handicap 
money can't fix.

Navigating the federal hiring system takes many months, which is too long 
in the fast-paced tech world.

"Even when somebody is patriotic and wants to do their duty for the 
nation, if they're really good they're not going to wait six months to get 
hired," said Mark Weatherford, the former cyber chief at DHS.

After a spate of national security leaks and with cybercrime on the rise, 
the department is vying with the private sector and other three-letter 
federal agencies to hire and retain talent to secure federal networks and 
contain threats to American businesses and utilities.

[...]



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