Network Security News

Defense companies ramp up IT security recruiting

Monday, June 1, 2009

Defense companies have been accelerating recruitment of IT security experts in order to gain lucrative Pentagon contracts as the federal government attempts to tighten the security of strategic networks.

The New York Times, which has previously reported that the Pentagon is considering implementing a cybercommand to coordinate cyberwarfare and network defense, reported Sunday that the Pentagon now employs thousands of "hacker soliders."

Large military contractors including Northrop Grumman, General Dynamics, Lockheed Martin and Raytheon have major contracts with the military and intelligence agencies, the Times reported.

In light of President Obama's announced plans to name a cybersecurity coordinator to oversee the nation's defense against web-based attacks and new efforts to combat hackers from foreign powers including Russia and China, defense companies are vying for top talent in the field.

"[The companies] have been buying smaller firms, financing academic research and running advertisements for 'cyberninjas' at a time when other industries are shedding workers," the Times reported.

Raytheon, for example, has posted an ad at the IT recruitment site Dice.com seeking a department manager for the company's Falls Church, Virginia-based Cyber Security Engineering organization.