Case Study

EDC, CCOE quantify $4 billion cybersecurity cluster

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OCTOBER 2023

Cyber Center of Excellence (CCOE) is a San Diego-based nonprofit that mobilizes industry, academia, military, and government to grow the regional cyber economy and create a more secure digital community for all.

To better inform its programming and initiatives, CCOE contracted San Diego Regional EDC to develop an updated cybersecurity cluster analysis. Published biennially, the report serves to spotlight the region’s cyber resiliency, talent pipeline, and innovation.

sdccoe.org

Challenge

The average cost of a cyberattack on a company is the highest it has ever been. Cyber threats extend far beyond technology companies alone—making the case that cybersecurity is everyone’s business.

To help grow the region’s cybersecurity cluster, CCOE biennially seeks to understand the industry’s strengths and where investments are needed. That’s where EDC comes in.

EDC solution and support provided

Contracted by CCOE for the fifth time, EDC’s Research Bureau authored a web report exploring San Diego County’s cybersecurity cluster. The 2023 report, Cybersecurity is Everyone’s Business, quantifies the size and impact of the cybersecurity cluster. Through a survey and interviews of local firms, an analysis of the region’s talent pipeline, assets, and business landscape was provided along with recommendations for future growth. Findings from the report indicate San Diego is boasting a $4 billion regional economic impact, with 13,383 jobs and 1,016 establishments tied to the cyber cluster, up eight percent and 17 percent respectively in the last two years. Additionally, a survey of local cyber companies revealed that three-out-of-four respondents report having difficulty finding talent at any level of experience.

Once authored, EDC supported CCOE on the study launch event and promoted the findings to media and broader stakeholders.

Value derived

In October 2023, EDC supported logistics for the release event held at Qualcomm where more than 100 attendees from San Diego County’s business, academic, and defense community convened to learn about the report findings. In addition to social media and blog promotion, the report secured coverage in the San Diego Business Journal and the San Diego Union-Tribune, where calls-to-action in the report sparked discussion about what needs to be done to grow the cyber cluster in the region. Two of the primary report researchers were also featured in an episode of CCOE’s “Cyber Insiders” podcast. Currently, CCOE’s website cites key metrics from the report to showcase the size of the cyber cluster in San Diego.

“As the region’s cybersecurity trade organization, having up-to-date numbers on size and impact of the cluster is essential. Over the past decade, EDC has been a trusted partner in quantifying these numbers and other insights about the industry, which aid in our commitments to growing the regional cyber economy and creating a more secure digital community for all.”

— Lisa Easterly, President & CEO, CCOE

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