Prime Day

By blueray

It’s only October, but the holiday shopping season is officially kicking off this week with Amazon’s Prime Days today and tomorrow. The event is expected to rack up nearly $11 Billion in sales for the online retail giant. Many other retailers will be following suit between now and the end of the year with big online sales designed to give a boost to the ailing retail sector, which has suffered because of COVID-19.

At the same time, consumers are using online retail more than ever. It’s not just big electronics or kitchen goods purchases, but everyday grocery shopping has been more popular than ever before. A new survey of U.S. consumers out this week found that 82% of respondents are doing slightly or a lot more shopping online because of COVID-19

Much of what makes big sales like Prime Day possible happens because of the cybersecurity and network infrastructure workforce. As businesses – retail or otherwise – transition to online platforms and with more and more people working from home. Cybersecurity is poised to be a crucial issue.

Cybersecurity Ventures has predicted that there will be 3.5 million unfilled cybersecurity jobs globally by 2021, up from one million positions in 2014. According to MIT Technology Review, of the candidates applying for these jobs, fewer than one in four is qualified. The skills gap is real. That’s why Cyber Proud’s mission is more important than ever – to connect this ecosystem of education and workforce providers to the industry who needs the talent.

Cyber Proud is accomplishing this through workforce development educational and training systems and leading an inclusive digital transformation. In a region that has lost many jobs because of the pandemic, this industry has an opportunity to build the cyber workforce of the future. Cyber Proud can’t do it alone, so we are actively looking for sponsors and mentors who can lead this cyber talent revolution.

Our first no cost pre-apprenticeship program is starting soon. I hope I can count on your support to grow our programs and help make Sacramento the cyber capital of California. You can sponsor or mentor a student through our website.

While you are shopping this week, please consider making your purchases through Amazon Smile and select Cyber Proud as your preferred non-profit to receive a portion of the sales.

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