Synack Launches Cybersecurity Skills Development Program for Military Veterans

Crowdsourced security firm Synack has launched an initiative to help military veterans hone their cybersecurity skills and pursue related jobs in the government or commercial sector.

Synack said Thursday its Veterans Cyber Program offers an expedited application process for former service members to qualify in the company’s group of ethical hackers, called Red Team, and a chance to participate in annual networking events.

The program seeks to complement ongoing efforts of the Defense Department, U.S. Army and other government agencies to train active duty military personnel and veterans to defend systems against cyber threats.

“Recruiting, supporting and retaining technical talent in the military can present unique challenges from training, to compensation, to ensuring opportunities for growth and engagement in a quickly evolving field,” said Chris Lynch, director of the DoD’s Defense Digital Service.

“Crowdsourcing their expertise helps employers, veterans and our national security,” said Jim Nicholson, an adviser to Synack’s Veterans Cyber Program and a former secretary at the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Cybersecurity Ventures has projected that the number of global job vacancies in the field will reach 3.5M by 2021.