Practical DevSecOps unveils Advisory Board to address skills gap
Practical DevSecOps has established an Advisory Board comprising Erika Voss and Cecil Su to guide its security training and certification programmes.
The new Advisory Board is tasked with providing strategic oversight and ensuring that Practical DevSecOps' offerings remain aligned with current and emerging cybersecurity challenges. The formation of this board coincides with mounting concerns over a global shortage of professionals equipped with up-to-date security skills.
Skills gap
Businesses around the world have reported increasing difficulty in recruiting cybersecurity personnel with both the technical and strategic abilities to address complex threats. The board's remit is to bridge the widening security skills gap by focusing on practical and relevant competencies required in contemporary roles.
Practical DevSecOps specialises in vendor-neutral, hands-on education in areas such as DevSecOps, artificial intelligence security, and application security. Its training and certification pathways are designed to equip IT and security professionals with practical expertise across a range of disciplines, including API security, container security, and software supply chain security.
Leadership experience
Erika Voss joins the Advisory Board while serving as Senior Vice President and Chief Security Officer at Blue Yonder. In her capacity as CSO, Voss offers direct experience in executive-level security governance, risk assessment, and organisational leadership within the technology sector.
Voss said, "Joining the Practical DevSecOps Advisory Board is not just about shaping technology; it's about ensuring that security, speed, and trust evolve together as inseparable pillars of modern software delivery. I am both humbled and excited to contribute to this mission and to help shape the future of secure development best practices."
Voss is expected to influence the strategic direction of Practical DevSecOps courses, particularly in developing pathways that prepare professionals for positions of leadership in security-focused environments.
Tactical knowledge
Cecil Su, recognised as an experienced cybersecurity practitioner, also joins the Advisory Board. Su is known for his deep technical expertise and commitment to the ongoing professional development of security engineers. His appointment is aimed at enhancing the technical depth and market relevance of Practical DevSecOps' training content.
Su said, "Looking forward to contributing to the future of DevSecOps & AI by helping shape the technical skills and strategic mindset needed to embed security as a natural part of innovation. It's about creating a culture where security becomes everyone's shared accountability, enabling teams to deliver value faster and more securely."
Su will contribute current, ground-level insights on emerging cyber threats and the practical realities faced by frontline security engineers, with a goal of ensuring courses reflect immediate industry needs.
Strategic priorities
A spokesperson for Practical DevSecOps commented on the appointments, noting the pressing need for adaptable and forward-thinking security education, especially in areas impacted by rapid technological change such as artificial intelligence and cloud-native architectures.
"The pace of technological change requires that security education be both dynamic and forward-looking, especially in critical areas like AI and cloud-native security. Erika's strategic viewpoint combined with Cecil's tactical expertise provides a comprehensive view of the industry. This will enable us to anticipate future skills requirements and proactively develop training that meets market needs. We consider these appointments a foundational step and are actively working to welcome additional experts to make our Advisory Board even more robust."
The Advisory Board's formation marks the first phase of a larger strategy intended to strengthen the guidance available to the company's certification programmes. Practical DevSecOps has indicated that it will continue expanding the board by inviting additional professionals with diverse backgrounds and areas of expertise.
The organisation delivers hands-on, practical training and examinations lasting between six and 24 hours. Certification is achieved through skill-based assessments and is regarded by the company as a benchmark of proficiency in information security.
The decision to launch the Advisory Board is expected to help Practical DevSecOps maintain the relevance and rigour of its offerings, reflecting ongoing shifts in cybersecurity threats and industry standards.
