HOUSTON Safal Partners, a nationally-recognized workforce and education firm and sponsor of a cybersecurity registered apprenticeship program, announced that it has been awarded a $10 million, five-year contract from the U.S. Department of Labor(DOL) and recognized as a national cybersecurity industry intermediary. Under the contract Safal will increase the number of skilled, credentialed cybersecurity workers by expanding employer-based registered apprenticeship opportunities nationwide.

Safal partnered with the Cyber Future Foundation(CFF) on the contract and made the announcement during CFF’s annual Cyber Future Summit, a global convening of cybersecurity industry employers, stakeholders and futurists. The announcement was also timed with the release of the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s (NIST) National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education (NICE) five-year strategic plan, conclusion of Cybersecurity Awareness Month in October, and in advance of DOL’s National Apprenticeship Week (November 8-14, 2020).

“The cybersecurity industry is critical to the safety and strength of the American economy but has a large and growing workforce shortage,” said Mukta Pandit, President of Safal Partners. According to a 2019 (ISC)^2 report, the cybersecurity industry workforce would need to grow by 62 percent to meet pre-COVID demand. “This contract buildson our expertise developing education-based workforce solutionsfor employers. We will scaleour DOL approved registered apprenticeship program nationally to provide employers with a competency-based, industry-aligned solution for their workforce shortage and employee skills gaps.”

Registered apprenticeship is a proven model for workforce recruiting, development and retention. It provides workers with an “earn and learn” model togaincritically-needed occupational skills while contributing to the employers’ bottom line. According toDOL the apprenticeship model also benefits employers with reducedworker turnover, increasedproductivity, positive ROI and diversification ofthe workforce.Safal will utilize the industry-driven Cyber Workforce Development Program model proposed by the CFF Global Commission on Cybersecurity Education to implement this contract.

“COVID exponentially accelerated the demand on cybersecurity with schools shifting to all-virtual learning, consumers relying almost solely on e-commerce, and the majority of American workers pivoting to work from home,”noted CFF Chairman & Founder Valmiki Mukherjee. “Developing effective apprenticeship models enables us to drive increased value to partner employers and aligns with the just-released NICE strategy which focuses on increasing career awareness, facilitating performance-based competency assessments, and accelerating development of workforce training programs.”

Safal will work with CFF over the next five years to build employer-driven apprenticeship programs that register 750 American workers annually, with a focus on expandingthe diversity of the industry’s current talent pool by increasing the number of womenand people of color as well asVeterans working as cybersecurity technicians and professionals.The Safal cyber apprenticeship team will provide employers with free expert technical assistance, talent recruiting and screening services, basic cybersecurity and employability skills training, and strategic assistance in diversity and equity planning.

Employers, educators and workforce intermediariesinterested in partnering with Safal Partners to developcybersecurity apprenticeship opportunities please contact Leah Mclean at leah.mclean@cyberfuturefoundation.orgor Katie Adams at katie.adams@safalpartners.com.

FOR REFERENCE:USDOL press release: https://www.dol.gov/newsroom/releases/eta/eta20200925-3

About Safal Partners

Safal Partners is a nationally-recognized education and workforce consulting firm that helps clients bridge the gap between ideas and outcomes. As an 8(a) certified, woman-and minority-owned small business, Safal equips clients to improve student results and provide practical solutions for education and workforce development programs. Safal has deep experience working with a full range of federal and state partners, including the U.S. Department of Education, U.S. Department of Labor, andU.S. Department ofDefense Education Activity (DoDEA).

About Cyber Future Foundation

Cyber Future Foundation (CFF), is a Dallas, Texas, based 501(c)(3) non-profit. CFF's mission is to provide guidance and certification for educational programs in cybersecurity world-wide, contribute to the development of effective public policies in cybersecurity, create a platform for developing trust in cyber space, serve as a super-connector for global cybersecurity thought leaders and catalyze collaborative efforts through its network of alliances, organizations, and public-private partnerships. Please visit our website at: http://www.cyberfuturefoundation.org

Media Contacts:

  • Katie Adams - Safal Partners - katie.adams@safalpartners.com
  • Leah McLean - Cyber Future Foundation - leahmclean@cyberfuturefoundation.org