Protecting the personal data and privacy of 8.5 million New Yorkers and the city’s vast commercial industry is essential to a strong and resilient economy. Defending the city’s digital infrastructure is one piece of the puzzle, so New York City Cyber Command was established in 2018 to serve as the guardians of New York’s networks and databases.
However, an equally important and related challenge is cultivating a self-sustaining cybersecurity ecosystem in New York—one that will attract and develop the talent and innovations required to keep the city safe for generations to come. This ecosystem-building approach is a focus of the New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC), the primary economic development vehicle for New York City.
NYCEDC recently launched Cyber NYC – a $100 million public-private partnership to make New York City the global hub of cybersecurity. This ambitious approach reflects the city’s dedication to scaling New York’s cybersecurity ecosystem and creating an international landing pad for cybersecurity companies.
These are some of the key elements that position New York City to be a global hub of cybersecurity companies.
Strong Commercial Demand: NYC is home to 45 Fortune 500 headquarters and is the global epicenter of financial institutions. The financial industry is one of the largest purchasers of cybersecurity technology. Acutely aware of the risks at play, industry leaders have been outspoken about the need to develop the innovations and talent required to keep market and consumer assets safe.
“Goldman Sachs has called New York City home for 150 years, in part due to its unparalleled access to customers, talent, and innovation. Cybersecurity is a key part of our firm’s dedication to providing our clients with the most secure services possible, and we’re happy to support Cyber NYC in their effort to make New York City the global leader in the cybersecurity sector,” said Phil Venables, senior adviser to Goldman Sachs.
Large and Diverse Workforce: New York City is home to over 4.4 million working people, and its workforce is one of the most diverse in the world. Diversity is a key business driver for cybersecurity companies. Historically, the cybersecurity workforce has struggled with diversity, particularly gender diversity (with women representing only 11% of the global cyber workforce). New York is well positioned to confront this diversity gap head-on, with its talent development programs focused on strategically building a diverse workforce.
Growing Startup Ecosystem: In New York City alone, there was $1.2 billion in venture capital funding in 2017. “These massive investments positioned the city as the second-largest tech city in the world,” said Uzi Scheffer, CEO of SOSA, a corporate innovation consulting firm. “The city’s unique social fabric and business-favored environment attracted over 9,000 startups and 400 venture funds (so far)—amazing numbers. These figures, combined with heavy investment by the municipality in emerging tech, positions New York [at] a great starting point to meet the challenges of tomorrow’s job market.”
Cyber NYC is capitalizing on the city’s growing tech ecosystem to nurture and scale cybersecurity startups. Partnering with some of the world’s most successful cybersecurity investors—from Jerusalem Venture Partners to a network of 100 venture capitalists organized at the Global Cyber Center—Cyber NYC capitalizes on the vast startup and investing ecosystem and steers it toward cybersecurity.
Leading Academic Institutions: There are nearly 100 colleges and universities in New York City alone. From the City University of New York system, which educates one of the most diverse student populations in the world, to Ivy League institutions including Columbia University and Cornell Tech, there is an abundance of talent, creativity, and innovation occurring across the research landscape of New York City. Cyber NYC weaves this network through its programs, integrating academia from workforce development to innovation and beyond.
No other city has the powerful need, capacity, and environment to become the international landing pad for the cybersecurity industry. Companies including Jerusalem Venture Partners, SOSA, Team8, and more have already opened their first U.S. offices in New York City. By capitalizing on New York’s competitive advantage and working closely with stakeholders across the industry, these companies will inevitably be followed by a wave of cybersecurity leaders in the coming months.
Join us in encouraging and welcoming cybersecurity companies from around the world to grow in New York City. For more information, visit www.cyber-nyc.com or email us at cybernyc@edc.nyc.