Cyber Recruiting, Country Music Style

Our cybersecurity blogger takes a new approach to attracting top talent to the field.

The need for skilled cybersecurity experts continues to be a priority for the U.S. government, the private sector and academia. 

Since the need for a skilled workforce has been stressed in traditional and non-traditional methods and publications in almost every way possible – except maybe in song – I thought I would make the case in a country song.  With apologies to Willie Nelson:

Mamas please let your babies grow up to be hackers
Please let ‘em write source code and fix their tablets

Make em be geeky and nerdy and such
Mamas please let your babies grow up to be hackers
To keep China out of our systems
And the networks we love

Hackers aren’t easy to find and they’re harder to hold
And these days they are worth more than diamonds or gold
Access Control Lists and Auditing Risks await skilled folks each day
And most just don't understand code unless they are young
So info is stolen away

Hackers like Austin, Denver, and Silicon Valley mornings
Little warm cookies and jobs that let them work through the night

And there are those that don’t know they need ‘em
And then those that do know don’t know how to get ‘em
The world is just so different
And just needs more nerds that can  keep our computers all right


Mamas please let your babies grow up to be hackers
Please let ‘em write source code and fix their tablets
Make em be geeky and nerdy and such
Mamas please let your babies grow up to be hackers
To keep China out of our systems
And networks we love