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Yahoo
13-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
The top companies you want on your résumé if you work in cybersecurity, according to recruiters
Business Insider spoke to 6 cybersecurity recruiters about the top names to have on your résumé. Recruiters said the companies can vary depending on the sector of cybersecurity you work in. Recruiters mentioned Palo Alto Networks, the NSA, Big Tech, and the Big Four consulting firms. If you work in cybersecurity, having the right skill set is a top priority — but having a strong name on your résumé doesn't hurt. Domini Clark, founder and CEO of Blackmere Consulting, told Business Insider that "it's not terribly important" for entry-level candidates to have the most well-known names on their résumés. In fact, working for small companies can sometimes help provide a broader understanding of the space. But as you climb the career ladder, Clark said a well-known company can provide "credibility" and indicate strong leadership experience exposure to handling enterprise problems. While success in some tech career paths can be closely tied to the major tech giants or FAANG companies, cybersecurity can offer more versatility since it's integrated across almost every industry. Many companies have their own internal cybersecurity teams, for example, which means professionals in the field aren't limited to working at firms specializing in cybersecurity. Business Insider spoke to six cybersecurity recruiting experts to hear which companies are considered the most powerful names to have on your résumé. Several mentioned that while there are big names in the industry, the right skills and experience are the top indicators of talent. Recruiters also told BI that what is considered a top name depends largely on the sector of cybersecurity. "A chemical company would be less interested in someone coming from Meta," said Brent Stokes, director of recruiting at staff company Blue Signal Search. In that case, an industry-specific company like Westlake would be of more interest. Here's what recruiters said. Palo Alto Networks Palo Alto Networks was mentioned by most recruiters BI spoke to. It partners with a number of companies worldwide, including Google, to help them cloud and AI adoption securely. Janelle Bieler, the head of US tech talent at global tech talent and engineering company Akkodis, said that the company is "focused on complex defense strategies" and is known to operate in a "very active environment" which many employers in the space find attractive. However, it's worth noting that different companies have different specialties. If a candidate is interested in working on the product side of cybersecurity, Palo Alto is considered a top name, Stokes told BI. If they want to be on the consulting side, then a Big Four firm may be a better fit, he added. Cisco Cisco is a leading technology company offering companies software, networking security, and computing solutions. The company's security business has recently experienced significant growth, specifically with products like Cisco Secure Access, a "zero trust" security solution. Art Zeile, CEO of tech careers marketplace Dice, told BI that big names like Cisco are doing "cutting-edge work when it comes to securing networks of all sizes." But it's the skills you learned at the job and how you used them that are the most important, he added. Crowdstrike Crowdstrike is one of the most well-known companies in the cybersecurity space, and it's used by Big Tech companies like Microsoft. Last year, Crowdstrike made headlines when a global IT outage resulted in worldwide disruptions to travel, banks, and supermarkets, causing potentially billions of dollars in damage. The company seems to have maintained a strong reputation in the space though, as it made the top of the list for most recruiters BI spoke to. While the Crowdstrike outage was the kind of incident cybersecurity firms want to avoid, in general, exposure to challenges in the field is considered beneficial for candidates. Clark told BI that "cyber leaders who have walked through the fire" make for the most compelling candidates. "Someone who has successfully navigated a company through a breach or major security event has invaluable experience and perspective," Clark said. Federal agencies and contractors A number of cybersecurity executives BI has spoken to came from government agencies, including the military, prior to joining the corporate world. Some have said that it provided a way to get hands-on experience right out of the gate. Patricia Karam, founder of employment agency Mission Recruit, told BI that experience with agencies like the National Security Agency or Department of Homeland Security can carry a lot of weight. "The NSA historically has a tremendous program," Stuart Mitchell, founder and recruiter at Hampton North, told BI. Additionally, Karam said companies that contract for the Department of Defense, like Raytheon or Lockheed Martin, are also highly regarded for their "threat intelligence and operating in high-compliance environments." Big Tech Mitchell told BI that "the real prestige in security is mostly in tech." "Particularly Netflix, Apple, and Google, have tremendous reputations in security," Mitchell said. "If I could rank it I'd probably say Apple, Netflix, Google." Microsoft was also mentioned by several of the recruiters BI spoke to. Stokes, at Blue Signal Search, told BI that when a hiring manager sees a candidate from Microsoft or Amazon's AWS, "there's an assumption that the candidate has been vetted, trained, and exposed to mature and complex environments." However, the big logos aren't everything and Stokes said some hiring managers also want to know that a candidate can wear multiple hats or adapt to a small team environment. The Big Four consulting firms Some recruiters BI spoke to said they consider the big consulting firms a strong indicator of solid experience on a cybersecurity résumé. The Big Four references the largest accounting and consulting firms, which are EY, Deloitte, KPMG, and PwC. Clark, from Blackmere Consulting, said she's seen some candidates come out of the cyber divisions at the major consulting firms, including Deloitte and EY. "With those firms, a candidate has the opportunity to see the problems in multiple environments," Clark said. "It serves as sort of a crash course on the different types of issues in different industries, regions, tech stacks, etc." Read the original article on Business Insider Sign in to access your portfolio
Zawya
10-02-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Cisco plans cloud services data centers, manufacturing in Saudi
Cisco, a global leader in networking and security, unveiled a series of strategic initiatives to advance AI in partnership with Saudi Arabia, at LEAP 2025. By introducing advanced cloud data centers, AI talent development, and phased plans for local manufacturing, Cisco is deepening its commitment and strengthening its partnership with Saudi Arabia, the company said. These initiatives are designed to enhance Cisco's regional presence and support the kingdom's ambitious digitization goals under Vision 2030, accelerating its evolution into a technology-driven economy that leads in innovation and advanced digital infrastructure, it said. "Our partnership with Cisco highlights the kingdom's commitment to accelerating its digital economy through innovation. These initiatives will enhance Saudi Arabia's competitiveness both regionally and internationally by promoting innovation and the adoption of AI and cloud computing technologies," said Vice Minister at the Saudi Ministry of Communications and IT, Haytham Alohali. 'Cisco is proud to partner with the Kingdom to accelerate its Vision 2030,' said Cisco Chair and CEO Chuck Robbins. 'Through our investments and innovation, we are protecting organizations, preparing the Saudi workforce for the AI era, and contributing to the local economy and manufacturing ecosystem. Together, we will pave the way for a more connected and secure future.' Cloud Services Data Centers Delivering on its commitment, Cisco announced that its data centers for cloud security services as well as the Webex Collaboration Platform are now operational. The security data center underpins Cisco's cloud-based security services including its new Secure Service Edge (SSE) solution, Cisco Secure Access and Umbrella DNS. The center helps customers protect their users, infrastructure, and investments against threat actors and empowers them with flexible security services and data protection for devices, remote users, and distributed locations. The collaboration data centers bring extensive services from the Webex Suite such as Meetings and Calling closer to customers in KSA and the region. Customers experience the benefits of AI-powered collaboration tools, holistic built-in security, data protection, and privacy by design and by default when processing customers' data. The centers provide a rich collaboration experience, real-time media performance, underpinned with industry-leading security and privacy principles with end-to-end encryption and strong identity verification. AI talent development Cisco will continue to advance AI and digital skills across the region as part of its Country Digital Acceleration (CDA) program, aligning to the goals of the Saudi Research and Development National Strategy. According to Cisco's AI Readiness Index, 72% of organizations in KSA have a strategy to deploy AI powered solutions but only 46% of companies report that their talent is highly prepared. This highlights a need to cultivate AI-ready local talent. In collaboration with King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST), Cisco will invest in additional Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE) certifications, one of the industry's most widely recognized and respected certifications, to enhance the Kingdom's talent pool of highly skilled local IT professionals that can support complex networking infrastructures in the AI era. Initially launched in the Kingdom in 2016, Cisco's CDA program supports digitization efforts across key industries, fostering digital skills and developing the innovation ecosystem in the country. To date, the program has implemented more than 20 projects of national impact across vital sectors, including healthcare, education, smart cities and government digitization. The program focuses on digital economy, industry 4.0 and sustainability, in alignment with Saudi Vision 2030 and the national digital transformation agenda. Manufacturing plans With a regional head office in Riyadh, Cisco intends to build on its long-standing partnerships in the kingdom by initiating a manufacturing base, with groundwork beginning in 2025. The initial phase will focus on fulfillment operations for wireless technologies to meet local demand, with the intent to scale up in response to evolving market needs. Saudi Arabia joins key regions including North America, Asia and Europe within Cisco's extensive global supply chain network. This leverages Cisco's innovation and technology leadership to deliver solutions that address the needs of the Saudi market and contribute to the development of a sustainable and diverse economy. 'By aligning with key initiatives of Vision 2030, Cisco is committed to being a catalyst for digital transformation across various sectors in the Kingdom. As these projects advance, they will help strengthen digital infrastructure and drive economic growth to positively shape Saudi Arabia's future,' said Salman Faqeeh, Managing Director, Cisco Saudi Arabia. – TradeArabia News Service Copyright 2024 Al Hilal Publishing and Marketing Group Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
