Greetings ISACA GWDC Members,

I hope this message finds you well. Last month, our chapter had the incredible opportunity to spend a day on Capitol Hill, advocating for increased awareness of the critical skills shortage in the cybersecurity profession. We had meaningful discussions about the importance of strengthening our workforce and providing resources for upskilling. I encourage everyone to read our detailed article covering the key takeaways from this important day.

In line with our efforts, I’m excited to share that ISACA has just released its 2024 State of Cybersecurity Workforce Report. The findings are eye-opening, especially concerning the growing stress levels in our field. It’s a clear indicator that more needs to be done to support cybersecurity professionals, both in terms of skills development and mental well-being. Community-based organizations like ours play a pivotal role in providing that support, and I’m proud of the work we are doing at ISACA GWDC to address these issues.

As we celebrate Cybersecurity Awareness Month, don’t forget to register for our annual Cybersecurity conference on October 24.  We have a great lineup of speakers from NIST, Black Kite, SANS Institute, and BorgWarner.  I look forward to seeing many of you there.

As the year draws to a close, we are committed to offering numerous opportunities for professional development. You won’t want to miss our upcoming training sessions, including the CISA and CET review courses and a specialized PowerShell Workshop on Windows Logs.  Our December conference on Security Risks and Insights features CISOs who will share their strategies and investment plans for 2025. All are fantastic opportunities to earn CPEs while expanding your skillset.

Thank you for being a part of this dynamic community. Your dedication to continuous learning and collaboration is what makes ISACA GWDC a leader in the industry. I look forward to meeting you at our upcoming events and working together to build a stronger, more resilient cybersecurity profession.

Stay secure,

Sushila Nair
CISSP, GIAC GSTRT, CISA, CISM, CRISC, CDPSE, CCSK, CCAK
GWDC President