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Taking on the challenges of cybersecurity

The fight against cybercriminals is not going to get easier anytime soon. In recent months, critical sectors within the United States including both financial services and government agencies have been targeted by hackers and data thieves.

Seeking Alpha contributor Robert Kientz's recent analysis of the state of cybersecurity in the United States raised some alarming figures. His research found that a unique malware strain is created every half-second, resulting in more than 50 million new forms being discovered each year. The amount of threats in cyberspace along with the increasing frequency of attacks led Kientz to argue that cybercrime has "reached a pandemic stage".

Further exacerbating these concerns has been the recent disclosure that the nation's cybersecurity population is rapidly aging. The 2012 Information Technology Workforce Assessment for Cybersecurity stated that approximately 78 percent of the study's respondents were above the age of 40. According to the report, most are nearing the federal government's retirement age threshold. The study's researchers warn that as the workforce ages and transitions to retirement, the nation will face a shortage of experienced individuals qualified to take on the growing cybersecurity challenges.

Contributing to Poltico, Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Janet Napolitano wrote that the agency has stepped up its efforts to cultivate an effective federal cybercrime taskforce. Steps to improve the nation's cybersecurity professional population include refocusing efforts to recruit new talent and provide them with a clear career path with the federal government. Furthermore, DHS is establishing new training protocols to develop the strongest cybersecurity team possible.

Although the federal government appears to be taking the necessary steps to improve its ongoing battle with cybercriminals, private businesses should implement their own precautions. Many network breaches are the result of data thieves searching for valuable information such as financial account numbers. To protect that sensitive data, businesses should leverage encryption methods at all levels, including files stored on their servers and payment information being transmitted across their website.

The battle with cybercriminals will continue to wage on for the foreseeable future. Protect sensitive in-transit data with an SSL certificate today.

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