SANS New2Cyber Summit 2023: Reskilling Edition

We are opening this Summit to the community.
Register now to attend in-person or Live Online for FREE!

Free Summit: March 14 | Baltimore, MD & Live Online | Summit CPE Credits: 6

SANS New2Cyber Summit 2023: Reskilling Edition

The good news for prospective career changers is that the cybersecurity job market shows no sign of slowing down. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the demand for information security workers will grow 35% faster than demand for other types of jobs between now and 2031, and the median annual salary is $102,000. Estimates by analysts and media outlets range from 500,000 to 700,000 unfilled cybersecurity jobs in the US alone.

Despite the promising statistics, it can feel overwhelming or even impossible to pivot into a cybersecurity career. There are seven categories and more than 30 areas of specialization, according to the NICE Framework developed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology. How is a newcomer to the field to narrow down their area of interest? What resources are available to learn about the field and build skills? And how do you convince an employer to take a chance on you if you’re coming from a seemingly unrelated field, without a background or formal training in cybersecurity?

In this one-day Summit, we’ll provide the answers to those questions and more. Topics include:

• Understanding the different job roles in cybersecurity and the skills needed for each
• How to match your unique traits and strengths with the right job for you
• Playing up and conveying transferable skills based on previous work experience
• Getting experience in cybersecurity when you have no experience in cybersecurity
• Free or low-cost resources available from SANS and from the community
• Alphabet soup – what all the degrees and certifications really mean, and whether you really need them
• Success stories from cybersecurity pros who made the switch from very different fields

What Attendees Say:

"I've been in IT a long time and landed my first job in Cybersecurity last year. Even though I've started a new career in Cybersecurity, I can't say enough about how much this summit will help me grow in my current role! I learned a lot, was inspired and got new direction I'll be able to take back to the office." - Joe Warner, Arctic Wolf 

"I learned more than I was expecting and genuinely enjoyed every talk I attended. The summit and the CTF solidified that I am making the right choice in stepping into this industry." - Keely Robinson

Who should attend:

• Professionals in non-cybersecurity industries who are looking for a career change into cybersecurity (at any stage in life)
• Students interested in cybersecurity and want better perspective into this field
• Beginners in cybersecurity roles who want to enhance their skill set
• Practitioners already in the field that want to explore different focus areas
• Cybersecurity managers who are building teams and want to gain perspective of newcomers to the field

Below you'll find some of the confirmed talks and panel.  Please check back frequently for exact times and changes, as this agenda is dynamic and always subject to updates. 

Keynote 

Naomi Buckwalter, Founder & Executive Director, Cybersecurity Gatebreakers Foundation

Panel | Pivot! – Success Stories from Career Changers

You’re interested in and motivated to pursue a career in cybersecurity, but maybe you’re finding it hard to believe you can actually make the leap without any experience or a relevant degree. These panelists are here to convince you that not only can it be done, but it might be easier than you think. With previous careers in accounting, the military, and other fields, our speakers will share their journey into cyber and what they learned along the way.

Panel | From Nothing to Something: Getting Experience When You Have No Experience

It’s an age-old conundrum. Employers are looking for experience that indicates hiring you will be a safe bet, but until someone hires you, you can’t get experience. But you can hack that cycle. There are professional associations, free training resources, and even games and teams you can join to beef up your resume before you ever get your first cybersecurity role. Our panelists are bursting with ways to get you started!

Lunch | Meet the SANS Faculty

While you re-fuel with lunch, some of the top SANS faculty will spend their lunch hour with us. Do you have a question you’ve always wished you could ask a SANS instructor? Or are you still trying to figure out what SANS is all about? Either way, you’ll get to hear their personal stories, a brief overview of the content of their training courses, and their best advice for breaking into cybersecurity.

Workshop | Resume Glow-Up: Highlighting Your Transferable Skills

Yes, you have transferable skills, we promise. No matter how unrelated to cybersecurity your experience appears, you’ve built competencies and strengths throughout your life that can be applied to entry-level cybersecurity roles. The key is knowing how to showcase them to get your resume seen. George Sandford has years of experience interviewing, hiring, and mentoring employees for technical roles, and he’ll share his best advice (and encouragement) with you. After George’s talk, you’ll have the opportunity to get into your resume makeover in real time with help from our speakers. IT IS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED THAT YOU BRING 2-6 HARD COPIES OF YOUR RESUME if you’d like to take part in this.

We can't wait to bring you all this great content! If you can't wait either, check out these talks from the 2022 Summit.

HILTON BALTIMORE INNER HARBOR
401 W. Pratt Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
Phone: 443-573-8700

Hilton Baltimore Inner Harbor

The hotel is adjacent to Oriole Park at Camden Yards, a half-mile from the Inner Harbor’s museums and the National Aquarium and surrounded by downtown dining. Camden Station’s light rail is a three-minute walk and offers airport transit. Enjoy the heated indoor pool, whirlpool, and sauna.

Hotel Special Rates and Reservations

A special discounted rate of $214.00 S/D plus applicable taxes will be honored based on space availability.

A limited number of Government Per Diem rooms at the prevailing rate are available with proper ID.

These rates include Internet in your room and complimentary access to the fitness center and are only available through Monday, February 20, 2023.

• To make a regular reservation, please visit this link and select Attendee from the drop-down menu.
• To make a government per diem reservation, please visit this link and select Government Per Diem from the drop-down menu.

Top 3 reasons to stay at the Hilton Baltimore Inner Harbor

1. No need to factor in daily cab fees and the time associated with travel to alternate hotels. Everything is in one convenient location!

2. By staying at the Hilton Baltimore Inner Harbor, you gain the opportunity to further network with your industry peers and remain in the center of the activity surrounding the conference.

3. SANS schedules additional networking events at the Baltimore Inner Harbor that you won't want to miss!

Travel Arrangements and Directions

Please visit the hotel’s website or contact them directly at 443-573-8700 for prevailing parking rates that are subject to change prior to the official meeting dates.

Please note that while SANS tries to negotiate a great parking rate with the hotel, many times the parking garage is not owned by the hotel, but an independent company. In these cases, neither SANS nor the hotel have any control over the fees charged.

From Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI): Approximately 11.6 miles.

Google Maps

Experience Baltimore

3 Quick Facts about Baltimore

1. Baltimore’s World Trade Center at the Inner Harbor is the world’s tallest five-sided building. (Take the elevator to the 27th floor for a panoramic view of the city.)
2. The waterfront neighborhood of Fell’s Point was the second largest point of immigration to the U.S. after New York’s Ellis Island.
3. If you’ve ever played Monopoly, you have Baltimore to thank for the B&O Railroad square. Founded in 1829, it was the first commercial railroad in the United States as well as the first long-distance track.

Recommended Web Links

https://baltimore.org/

Health and Safety Information

As we welcome you back to In-Person Training, your safety remains our greatest priority. We continue to make proactive decisions that are grounded in care, ensuring your peace of mind and we are grateful for the trust you have shown us over the years.

SANS continues to adhere to all official government and local authority guidance, as well as any venue or location-specific imposed regulation.

It is important to consider your own personal situation and the risk to you, your fellow attendees, and SANS faculty and staff before attending in-person training.

Our measures will be implemented in accordance with local government agencies guidance in effect during the event. As a result, our practices may vary from event to event.

• We take great pride in only working with hotel venues that maintain rigorous standards of cleanliness and hygiene and continue to monitor the evolving situation and guidelines.
• We will ensure proper distancing, where needed, inside of classrooms and event seating areas.
• We intend to deliver the highest level of hygiene and safety protocol during our event to ensure attendees, faculty, staff, sponsors, and vendors can connect, learn, network, and return to business as usual, effectively, and safely.