According to a recent survey, youth in the UAE are more likely to choose a career in cybersecurity than their peers elsewhere in the world. The survey also discovered that the UAE has been successful in engaging most youth to try activities that would let them test their interest and aptitude for cybersecurity careers.
Raytheon, Forcepoint and the U.S. National Cyber Security Alliance (NCSA) commissioned the survey to Zogby Analytics and the research company presented its report under the title “Securing Our Future: Cybersecurity and the Millennial Workforce.” The survey was conducted among the 3,359 young adults aged 18 to 26 from nine countries across four continents. The annual survey demonstrated young Emiratis consider parents increasingly influential figures for career advice and are confident that their parents would know how to guide them to pursue a career in cybersecurity and educate them on staying safe online.
In addition, young Emiratis hold values that support a strong cybersecurity posture for their nation, saying they think cybersecurity issues are important and offering to serve in national security roles. The survey found that 67 percent of Emiratis surveyed reported they are more likely than a year ago to consider a job in cybersecurity, compared with 48 percent regionally and 39 percent globally. 96 percent of Emirati youth are confident or very confident that their parents could effectively guide them to pursue cybersecurity careers, compared with 79 percent in the region and 57 percent globally.
As compared with 65 percent in the region and 52 percent globally, the 70 percent of emirati’s were more likely to choose a career in cybersecurity believe in the importance of a more secure internet. And, when asked what types of organizations respondents would protect if they were a cybersecurity professional, 81 percent of UAE youth chose the government, and 79 percent selected the military
“The UAE has long recognized the importance of equipping young Emiratis with the tools and skills to keep up with modern day opportunities and challenges,” said Shahzad Zafar, Cybersecurity Director at Raytheon International Inc. “The survey demonstrates the enhanced efforts the UAE has put in place to build the next generation of cyber defenders and safeguard its cyber future.”