On June 5th, the Charter of Trust convened a high-level workshop dedicated to one of the most pressing challenges in cybersecurity: how to train, attract, and retain the next generation of cyber professionals.

Bringing together representatives from Charter of Trust Partners and external organizations, the session focused on enhancing the Cyber Talent Academy, a growing initiative that is already demonstrating real impact. The workshop was a space for deep exchange, shared purpose, and forward-looking collaboration between cybersecurity and HR professionals.

One key theme ran through every conversation: the cyber skills gap continues to widen, and traditional recruitment methods are no longer enough. To meet growing demand, we must fundamentally rethink how we discover, train, and support talent.

A New Approach to Cyber Talent

The Cyber Talent Academy is emerging as a powerful model for change. By offering alternative pathways into cybersecurity, beyond conventional educational and career tracks, it opens opportunities to individuals from a range of academic, cultural, and professional backgrounds. Participants agreed that the programme holds strong potential for expanding the talent pipeline, increasing diversity, and making cybersecurity more inclusive and resilient.

The workshop discussions underlined several critical insights:

- Relying solely on established recruitment channels will not close the cyber talent gap.
- Tapping into overlooked talent pools, through inclusive outreach, training, and mentoring, creates real business value and aligns with corporate social responsibility goals.
- Stronger collaboration between cybersecurity and HR teams is essential, particularly when it comes to structuring mentorship, supporting life-long learning, and designing modern career pathways.
- Initiatives like the Cyber Talent Academy are already showing higher retention and greater team innovation in participating organizations.

“Attracting, retaining, and developing cybersecurity talent is a challenge faced by nearly every organization today,” says Dr. Sumit Chanda, Co-Chair of the Charter of Trust and COO Group Security & Business Lines CISO at Atos. “The Charter of Trust Cyber Talent Academy offers a bold and innovative response to this challenge.” Dr. Chanda further emphasizes the power of collaboration, between businesses, educators, and governments, as essential to closing the cyber skills gap. He adds, “Expanding access to cybersecurity training, especially for underrepresented communities, isn’t just the right thing to do, it’s smart business. Diverse perspectives are vital to building resilient and secure systems.”

Looking Ahead

This workshop was just the beginning. The energy, expertise, and ideas shared on June 5th are shaping the next phase of the Cyber Talent Academy, and informing how we support our partners in building stronger, more inclusive cybersecurity teams. We’re excited to continue this journey and will be sharing updates on upcoming developments.

Stay tuned. The future of cybersecurity talent is collaborative, diverse, and full of potential.

Collaboration Week 2025: Strengthening Bonds, Shaping the Future

Charter of Trust partners unite in Denmark for a three-day deep dive into cybersecurity collaboration.

Collaboration Week 2025 brought together representatives from all Charter of Trust member organizations for an intensive three-day summit hosted in Denmark. This event serves as a cornerstone of our alliance—an opportunity to connect, align, and advance our shared mission of building a safer digital world.

This year’s agenda was designed to elevate our collective efforts in tackling today’s most urgent cybersecurity challenges. From artificial intelligence and emerging technologies to supply chain security, harmonized regulations, security-by-default practices, and future-focused education and advocacy, the sessions sparked meaningful dialogue and strategic alignment across working groups.

What emerged from these discussions was a powerful reminder: coordinated, purpose-driven collaboration is essential to building and sustaining digital trust. The impact of our joint efforts continues to grow as we share expertise, synchronize our actions, and lead by example.

A heartfelt thank you to Danfoss for hosting this year's event and offering an inspiring behind-the-scenes tour of their data centre. Their hospitality and commitment to innovation set the perfect tone for our discussions.

A big thank you to our Partner Allianz and to SANS Institute for inviting the Charter of Trust to participate in the high-stakes discussions at this year’s Allianz Executive Forum. The topic “Cyber-Nation Germany needs Cyber-Education” was a formidable chance for the Charter of Trust to present its commitment to support educational initiatives in the field of cybersecurity.

Our chairwoman Natalia Oropeza shared some insights from the inspiring programme “African Girls Can Code”, amplifying the message that the future of cybersecurity is diverse, committed, and highly ambitious. Furthermore, Ralf Schneider, Allianz Senior Fellow Cybersecurity and Next Generation IT, highlighted that it is everyone’s task, from everyday citizens to high-end IT experts, to educate themselves and learn about new cyber threats.

A huge shoutout to Allianz and the SANS Institute for the fantastic organization and the invitation to be part of this remarkable event!