Diverse Cybersecurity Workforce Act Offers More Than Diversity Benefits

This commentary advocates for the Diverse Cybersecurity Workforce Act as a means to reduce security risk by increasing diversity across gender, identity, ethnicity, and background; it urges CISA-funded, turn-key programs (mentorship, skills training, career services) to build an accessible talent pipeline and cites WiCyS outcomes and a proposed $20M/year budget. The report also emphasizes that retention requires addressing workplace exclusion, limited career growth, disrespectful behaviors, and lack of inclusion to ensure diverse hires remain in the cybersecurity workforce.