Bethesda, MD., November 20, 2017 – SANS Institute, the global leader in information security training, today announced a special mentoring event for girls and women in technology, the Women’s CONNECT Event. Presented in partnership with ISSA Women in Security SIG, Women’s Society of Cyberjutsu, ISACA and WITI, the event will be held December 15 in conjunction with SANS Cyber Defense Initiative 2017, which takes place in Washington, D.C. December 12-19.

Groups of Girl Scouts and students as well as individuals are invited to participate in this special event which brings together tomorrow’s technology leaders with today’s women in technology. This is an interactive evening of activities for girls and includes real-world talks with female mentors and women currently working in the cyber security profession.

According to Adriana Sanford, Internationally-recognized privacy and cybersecurity scholar, “STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) careers have become critical to meeting the world’s challenges and to building better opportunities for tomorrow. Outreach, recruitment, and mentoring is needed to encourage more female participation. Only 16% of female students around the world graduate with majors in STEM subjects. It is our hope, through programs like the Women’s CONNECT event that we can make a positive change and open the door for more female cyber security professionals.”

To learn more about the Women’s CONNECT Event, or to register to attend this complimentary event, please visit: www.sans.org/event/cyber-defense-initiative-2017/bonus-sessions/12182/#bonus-box

SANS Cyber Defense Initiative (CDI) 2017 is one of SANS’ biggest training events of the year. The event features more than 35 courses across a variety of security disciplines. CDI offers a variety of Lunch and Learn opportunities as well as bonus evening talks covering some of today’s most complex security issues. In addition to SANS classroom training, attendees of SANS CDI can test their security skills at the Core NetWars Experience, DFIR NetWars Tournament, and the new Cyber Defense NetWars Tournament Dec. 17-18.

To learn more about SANS Cyber Defense Initiative 2017 including a complete list of courses and details on bonus evening discussions, or to register, visit: www.sans.org/cyber-defense-initiative-2017