Visa has taken proactive measures to address the critical shortage of skilled cybersecurity professionals by launching a comprehensive payments learning program, according to a company press release. The program’s primary objective is to equip individuals, including workers, students, and military personnel, with the essential training and certifications needed for careers in the field of cybersecurity.
Initially, the focus will be on payment cybersecurity, a response to the White House National Cybersecurity Strategy Implementation Plan’s call for businesses to create more pathways for aspiring cybersecurity experts. While the program is currently available in the United States, Visa, headquartered in San Francisco, plans to expand it globally in the future to create a diverse talent pipeline.
In response to the pressing need for cybersecurity workers, Visa is offering both an apprenticeship track and a military track within the program. The apprenticeship track combines introductory cybersecurity training with on-the-job experience, while the military track is designed to provide training in payments cybersecurity and related fields to military veterans, reservists, and military spouses.
The apprenticeship program has already begun with an initial cohort of ten participants who completed a 16-week training in May 2023. They have now transitioned into a one-year on-the-job training apprenticeship, with some based in Ashburn, Virginia, and others in Austin, Texas, reflecting a hybrid remote and onsite employment model. Visa’s initiative is particularly timely as the cybersecurity industry grapples with a significant talent deficit. The press release notes that there are currently 3.5 million unfilled cybersecurity positions, indicating a substantial demand-supply gap. This is especially crucial in the payments industry, where the protection of sensitive data, prevention of financial losses, adherence to regulations, and fostering trust with consumers are paramount.
Visa’s Payments Learning Program is the company’s response to the call for support of unique career pathways in cybersecurity and underscores its commitment to building a robust cybersecurity workforce. The program’s apprenticeship for payments cybersecurity is set to expand, along with offerings related to software engineering, further addressing the industry’s talent shortage.
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