Exclusive Networks Grows Global Cybersecurity Talent at Cal Poly Tech Park
Exclusive Networks is a globally trusted cybersecurity specialist for digital infrastructure that is helping drive the transition to a “totally trusted” digital world. Phishing, ransomware, and other digital threats continue to grow worldwide, and Exclusive Networks' expertise and best-of-breed vendors provide cloud and cybersecurity solutions to help clients safely operate in a digital world.
As cyberattacks continue to increase, cyber skills are in short supply. The recruitment crisis in cybersecurity is currently faced with an estimated shortfall of 2.7 million professionals. Exclusive Networks is working to close this cyber skills gap and to find and nurture the next generation of cyber specialist talent. Senior Vice President of North America Brian Vincik is a Cal Poly engineering alumnus with a vision to raise cybersecurity awareness in the younger generation starting with college students as its first step.
Exclusive Networks team
Founded in Paris in 2003 and having grown to offices in 46 countries worldwide, Exclusive Networks opened a location in the Technology Park at Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo with the goal of nurturing the next generation of cyber specialist talent and closing this cyber skills gap. Learn-by-Doing has always been Cal Poly's core philosophy - it's a deliberate process in which students, from day one, acquire knowledge and skills through active engagement and self-reflection inside the classroom and beyond. Experiences are a critical part of their curriculum, which shows students how theory combines with application and prepares them to use their knowledge to solve the world's challenges. To do is to learn — that's why their faculty infuse hands-on opportunities in every part of the learning experience.
But it doesn't just happen in the classroom. From labs and internships to launching business ventures while in school, Cal Poly students take what they learn and put it to work. Learn-by-Doing isn't just their signature learning philosophy — it's their way of life.
The result of this experience is that Cal Poly graduates are ready, from day one, to make an immediate impact on the world around them in their careers. This is why Exclusive Networks has chosen to locate itself in the Tech Park - it offers access to a student group that is fully prepared to help fill the cybersecurity employment gap upon graduating. Through the company's university partnership, students have the opportunity to work alongside cybersecurity professionals and gain valuable on-the-job experience throughout their time at Cal Poly. Their goal is to ready these students for a role in cybersecurity (preferably at Exclusive Networks) when they complete their education.
Lunch meeting in Executive Networks' Tech Park space
According to David Yang, Exclusive Networks' senior director of support and services, the students also benefit by getting the opportunity to:
- Explore the corporate culture and environment
- Experience different professional fields as they seek their career path
- Inject fresh and innovative ideas into Exclusive Networks as they work alongside a professional team
“Our partnership with the school helps students gain corporate business experience and develop cybersecurity knowledge before they enter the workforce. Exclusive Networks' goal is to start training cybersecurity professionals early — at the college level — and in turn, we benefit by gaining fresh ideas that lead us to conduct business with diversified perspectives,” says Yang.
Exclusive Networks has a unique positioning in today's marketplace, defined by:
- Broad geographic coverage coupled with deep cybersecurity expertise
- Engineering-led approach to delivering highly specialized offerings
- Strength of vendor and partner network
- Strong entrepreneurial culture with superior execution
Their vision for a totally trusted digital world for all people and organizations is dependent upon a high-performance cybersecurity ecosystem, a proposition that Cal Poly graduates are prepared to contribute meaningfully to from day one.
Views from Exclusive Networks' bucolic Tech Park location
Exclusive Networks prides itself on having a balanced portfolio comprising established (market-leading vendors), growth (scale-up vendors) and emerging (start-up vendors) technologies. They have always ensured the right mix of technology segments to help their partners stay relevant, and in North America, their narrow set of best-of-breed vendors, including Fortinet and Juniper Networks, allows them to provide true cybersecurity expertise to channel partners.
Cal Poly's Tech Park offers access to prepared and innovative students - a space where hands-on experience and contribution with Exclusive Networks can begin before graduation day in parallel with university education, and often leads to post-graduation careers.
Exclusive Networks offers associate positions in sales, finance, marketing or any core area to support the needs of a cyber security focused business. For more information or to learn more about Exclusive Networks, visit www.exclusive-networks.com/usa, email them at HR_us@exclusive-networks.com, or visit them at one of Cal Poly's on-campus job fairs.