Full Report
SensePost and BlackHat are proud to announce a new scholarship initiative for a woman in the information security field. The scholarship will include a ticket to Black Hat USA 2017 in Las Vegas, complimentary access to one of our training courses, airfare, and accommodation. The scholarship will be awarded to a woman who demonstrates a strong desire to hone her InfoSec skills (more below). How To Enter? To enter, send us reasons as to why you believe *you* should attend one of our training courses and Blackhat USA. This could be in the form of an essay, examples of projects you are working on, stuff you’ve built or building or generally anything you think supports your claim for a place.
Analysis Summary
# Industry News: SensePost and Black Hat Launch Women in InfoSec Training Scholarship
## Summary
SensePost and Black Hat have announced a new scholarship initiative aimed at promoting diversity by sponsoring a woman to attend Black Hat USA 2017 and one of SensePost's associated training courses, complete with travel and accommodation. This move reflects a broader industry focus on addressing the gender imbalance within the information security community.
## Key Details
- **Date:** Announced May 25, 2017 (Article publication date)
- **Companies Involved:** SensePost, Black Hat (Informa Tech)
- **Category:** Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) / Diversity Initiative / Partnership Announcement
## The Story
The partnership offers a significant opportunity for an aspiring or developing female information security professional. The scholarship package is comprehensive, covering conference attendance, specialized training, travel, and lodging for Black Hat USA 2017. Entry requires applicants to articulate why they should receive the opportunity, encouraging submissions showcasing technical aptitude, project work, or a strong motivation to advance their offensive security skills ("breakers" who "love pwning networks"). The initiative explicitly states a commitment to fostering a more "balanced and inclusive InfoSec community."
## Business Impact
### For the Companies Involved
- **SensePost:** Enhances its brand image as a thought leader deeply invested in talent development and industry betterment, potentially improving recruitment pipelines for future specialized roles.
- **Black Hat:** Reinforces its commitment to supporting the ecosystem surrounding the conference, positioning itself as an actively inclusive platform, which appeals to a wider range of potential attendees and sponsors.
### For Competitors
- Competitors in the high-end security training and conference space may feel pressure to launch similar talent development or diversity-focused programs to maintain competitive parity in public perception regarding community investment.
### For Customers
- Ultimately benefits the customer base by investing in deeper, more diverse talent pools, which translates to higher quality research, better security consulting, and improved product development across the industry.
### For the Market
- This initiative contributes positively to the ongoing market narrative about addressing the cybersecurity skills gap, particularly focusing on improving gender representation within technical security roles.
## Technical Implications
The focus on skills development, particularly involving SensePost's specialized training, ensures the scholarship recipient gains access to cutting-edge technical knowledge in areas like penetration testing and vulnerability assessment, directly improving the technical capabilities within the workforce.
## Strategic Analysis
- **Market Positioning:** Both SensePost and Black Hat strategically align themselves with positive social governance trends, bolstering their reputation beyond technical excellence into social responsibility leadership.
- **Competitive Advantage:** For SensePost and Black Hat, this creates goodwill and positive media coverage, differentiating them from other training providers during a highly active conference season.
- **Challenges:** The primary challenge is ensuring the application process fairly identifies genuinely skilled or highly motivated candidates, and managing the external perception that this might be purely a public relations exercise rather than a sustained commitment.
## Industry Reactions
- **Analyst Opinions:** Analysts typically view such targeted initiatives positively, recognizing them as necessary steps to address systemic talent shortages and diversity deficits plaguing the broader tech and security sectors.
- **Expert Commentary:** Industry veterans are likely to applaud this targeted approach as a tangible way to mentor and bring new voices into high-level technical discourse.
- **Market Response:** Positive media coverage and uptake from the target demographic (aspiring female InfoSec professionals) are expected.
## Future Outlook
- **Predictions and Expectations:** If successful, this model could be replicated by other major training vendors or conference organizers targeting other underrepresented groups or specific skill areas.
- **What to watch for:** Key metrics will be measuring the professional progress of the scholarship winner post-Black Hat and whether SensePost and Black Hat establish this as an annual recurring program.
## For Security Professionals
This represents an excellent, fully-funded opportunity for eligible women to gain exposure to premier security conferences and highly regarded training—a significant boost to career acceleration in InfoSec. It also reinforces the growing acceptance that diversity is crucial for security effectiveness.