VANCOUVER, British
Columbia, June 13, 2017
/PRNewswire/ -- Palo Alto Networks® (NYSE: PANW), the
next-generation security company, and Girl Scouts of the
USA (GSUSA) today announced that
they will join forces to deliver the first-ever national Girl Scout
Cybersecurity badges for girls in grades K–12. Girl Scout badges
are insignia Girl Scouts earn and display on their uniforms to
demonstrate their mastery of a given topic. Led by a panel of
expert cybersecurity advisers, GSUSA and Palo Alto Networks expect
to roll out the first in a series of 18 Cybersecurity badges to
Girl Scouts throughout the United
States in September
2018.
According to the latest Cybersecurity Jobs Report by
Cybersecurity Ventures, the worldwide deficit of qualified
cybersecurity professionals will reach 3.5 million by 2021. A
deficit of this magnitude can inhibit the industry's ability to
prevent cyber breaches, and the challenge is compounded by the
growing frequency and sophistication of cyber-attacks. Getting
ahead of tomorrow's threats requires a larger, diverse and
innovative team of problem solvers.
Yet, a study by (ISC)², Global Information Security
Workforce Study: Women in Cybersecurity, shows that women
remain vastly underrepresented in the cybersecurity industry,
holding just 11 percent of jobs globally. Plus, according to
research by the Computing Technology Industry Association, 69
percent of women who have not pursued careers in information
technology attribute their choice to not knowing what opportunities
are available to them.
With today's announcement, Palo Alto Networks and GSUSA
plan to introduce cybersecurity education to millions of girls
across the United States through
compelling programming designed to increase their interest and
instill in them a valuable 21st century skillset. This national
effort is a huge step toward eliminating traditional barriers to
industry access, such as gender and geography, and will target
girls as young as five years old, helping to ensure that even the
youngest girls have a foundation primed for future life and career
success.
The new badges will deepen the existing commitment that
Girl Scouts has made to science, technology, engineering and math
(STEM) by using the organization's unique, "fun with purpose" K–12
curriculum that inspires girls to embrace and celebrate scientific
discovery in their lives at all ages.
QUOTES
- "Our mission to prevent cyberattacks and
restore trust in the digital age is only achievable if we make
meaningful investments not just in technology but also in people.
Our collaboration with Girl Scouts of the USA to develop curriculum for the first-ever
national Cybersecurity badges will positively influence the future
of our industry by helping build tomorrow's diverse and innovative
team of problem solvers equipped to counter emerging
cyberthreats."
- Mark D. McLaughlin, chairman and chief executive
officer, Palo Alto Networks
- "At Girl Scouts of the USA, we recognize that in our increasingly
tech-driven world, future generations must possess the skills to
navigate the complexities and inherent challenges of the cyber
realm. From arming our older girls with the tools to address this
reality to helping younger girls protect their identities via
internet safety, the launch of our national cybersecurity badge
initiative represents our advocacy of cyber preparedness―and our
partnership with Palo Alto Networks makes a natural fit for our
efforts. It is our hope that our collaboration will serve to
cultivate our troops' budding interest in cybersecurity by
providing access to invaluable knowledge that may otherwise not be
available to girls―in communities across the United States."
-
Sylvia Acevedo, chief
executive officer, Girl Scouts of the USA
Learn more
To learn more about how
Girl Scouts transforms today's girls into tomorrow's leaders, and
to volunteer, reconnect, donate or join, visit
www.girlscouts.org.
About Palo
Alto Networks
Palo
Alto Networks is the next-generation security company, leading a
new era in cybersecurity by safely enabling applications and
preventing cyber breaches for tens of thousands of organizations
worldwide. Built with an innovative approach and highly
differentiated cyberthreat prevention capabilities, our
game-changing security platform delivers security far superior to
legacy or point products, safely enables daily business operations,
and protects an organization's most valuable assets. Find out more
at www.paloaltonetworks.com.
About Girl Scouts of the USA
We're
2.6 million strong—1.8 million girls and 800,000 adults who believe
in the power of every G.I.R.L. (Go-getter,
Innovator, Risk-taker, Leader)™ to
change the world. Our extraordinary journey began more than 100
years ago with the original G.I.R.L., Juliette Gordon "Daisy" Low.
On March 12, 1912, in Savannah, Georgia, she organized the very first Girl
Scout troop, and every year since, we've honored her vision and
legacy, building girls of courage, confidence, and character who
make the world a better place. We're the preeminent leadership
development organization for girls. And with programs from coast to
coast and across the globe, Girl Scouts offers every girl a chance
to practice a lifetime of leadership, adventure, and success. To
volunteer, reconnect, donate, or join,
visit www.girlscouts.org.
Palo Alto
Networks,
PAN-OS, and
the Palo Alto
Networks logo
are trademarks
of Palo
Alto
Networks,
Inc. in
the United
States and
in jurisdictions
throughout the
world.
All other
trademarks,
trade names,
or service
marks used
or mentioned
herein belong
to their
respective
owners.
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SOURCE Palo Alto Networks, Inc.