Dive Brief:
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The Washington, D.C., area is home to 350% more cyber engineers and analysts than the rest of the U.S. combined, according to CSO Online, citing a paper written by the founders of DataTribe.
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But the D.C. area may lack people with the entrepreneurial prowess needed to commercialize those cybersecurity skills, according to the authors.
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Silicon Valley is home to the largest number of cybersecurity companies in the world, CSO Online reports.
Dive Insight:
It might be light on cybersecurity companies compared to Silicon Valley, but the Washington, D.C. area may be bracing for a cyber boom.
There are roughly 300,000 unfilled cybersecurity jobs in the U.S. today, according to Symantec. That figure is expected to grow to 1.8 million jobs by 2022, according to a recent report from Frost & Sullivan for the Center for Cyber Safety and Education. For companies on the hunt for cyber talent, or new companies searching for a place to locate DC attracts people interested in government and security, making it rich in cybersecurity talent.
The D.C. area is also good for women in tech. Earlier this year, an analysis by SmartAsset found Washington, D.C. is the best city for women in technology, touting the smallest gaps in pay and the highest number of female tech workers in relation to male tech workers.
