Government shutdown poses cybersecurity threat

The partial government shutdown, which is delaying companies’ plans for initial public offerings, also could be making the nation more vulnerable to cyberattacks. The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, part of the Department of Homeland Security, has furloughed 43% of its staff—more than 1,500 of its 3,541 employees.…The shutdown also doesn’t help with the long-term problem of finding enough qualified cybersecurity professionals—and persuading them to work in government, where the pay is considerably lower than in industry. “There’s a massive talent shortage in cybersecurity,” said Justin Cappos, a professor at the NYU Tandon School of Engineering, which is expanding its cybersecurity program. “These [DHS] organizations are already facing an uphill battle recruiting talent.”