To help people learn about the looming quantum security threat, ISC2 recently launched an express course in quantum computing, focusing on the cybersecurity implications. The 30-minute online program costs just $23 ($19 for ISC2 members) and has no prerequisites.
The new course is designed to offer a quick foundation to the topic, says Jon Duggan, ISC2’s associate director of learning experience. “You’re not necessarily going to take the course and learn how to build a quantum computer. They’re intended to help you stay current while earning continuing professional education credits.”
ISC2 plans to develop more quantum-related courses, France says. “It’s one of those topics that is very fast-changing, so it will be on the express learning side of things.”
While the encryption challenge is the most pressing concern for the largest number of companies, some enterprises are also starting to hire on the quantum computing side, says Jason Crane, founder and executive recruiter at CNA Search. Those include defense contractors, national labs and financial services. “JPMorgan, Goldman, and several hedge funds have active quantum research teams,” he says. “Not mass hiring yet but the roles that exist pay exceptionally well.”
And there’s already a hiring bottleneck for quantum talent, Crane adds, as companies struggle to find and vet the people they need. Most employers look at academic backgrounds, he adds, seeking people who are expert in physics, math, cryptography, or software engineering. “After that, they want to see that someone has actually spent time in the tools and frameworks,” he adds.
There are also firms who are willing to take a chance on someone with potential and train up. “Right now, there is no clean certification path for quantum the way there is for cloud or cybersecurity,” he says. People who are looking to transition into quantum are piecing it together with vendor training, online courses, and experimenting in cloud environments that the big players have released. “And honestly, a fair amount of just learning by doing,” Crane says.
