Forge Institute has partnered with SmartResume®, a provider of certified resumes, to provide all Forge Institute trainees with a free SmartResume® profile to enhance professional visibility to authenticated Forge Institute cybersecurity trainees.

Following a rash of highly publicized cybercrimes, including attacks on Colonial Pipeline and Solarwinds, cybersecurity has become a national and international concern and challenge.

Highly trained and certified cybersecurity professionals are in demand in the private and public sectors. In fact, according to Cybersecurity Ventures, it is estimated that 3.5 million jobs in cybersecurity will be unfilled by the end of this year [1].

“In Arkansas alone, there are an estimated 1,200 open positions for cybersecurity specialists,” explains Lee Watson, founder and CEO of Forge Institute. “Our partnership with SmartResume® will help meet this critical need by providing our certified trainees with more visibility to employers looking to harden their cyber operations.”

iDatafy is SmartResume’s parent company. Dave Wengel, Founder and CEO, sees value in the partnership for both job seekers and employers.

“Employers are investing heavily in a cybersecurity trained workforce and are ready to hire today,” Wengel said. “The SmartResume authentication designation helps to streamline the hiring process because it provides employers with a certified pool of cybersecurity professionals trained by Forge Institute.”

Forge Institute provides workforce training through boot camps and courses led by experienced cyber subject matter experts with experience from our nation’s top companies and security agencies.

Watson says this unique partnership will strengthen Arkansas’ credentials as a rally point for the nation’s fight against cybercrime.

“Arkansas has the infrastructure, government policy and workforce in place to take the lead in our nation’s cybersecurity efforts,” says Watson. “Our partnership with SmartResume elevates our state’s national profile in this growing economic sector.”

According to Cybersecurity Ventures, it is believed that cybercrime will cost the world’s corporations more than $10 trillion annually by 2025 [2].

[1] https://cybersecurityventures.com/jobs/

[2] https://cybersecurityventures.com/hackerpocalypse-cybercrime-report-2016/

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