Ask tech CEOs what’s the most critical component to the success of their business, and you’ll hear words like “talent” and “workforce” over and over again. With cyber attacks becoming more frequent and increasingly sophisticated, the cybersecurity industry is always looking for the top professionals to ensure their company is at the top of its game—from providing clients with top-rate cybersecurity services or looking for the next big breakthrough in cyber protection.

And while pockets of tech talent exist across the country, an unmatched tech workforce is congregating in Maryland. Take it from the Technology Councils of America, which identified Maryland as the leading state  for tech workforce growth since the pandemic. Milken Institute's biennial State Technology and Science Index also puts  Maryland as the top state for technology and science workforce.

Simply, you’ll find the best minds in the field here. Here are three reasons why.

Federal Agencies Attract Talent to Maryland

Critical security agencies, including the U.S. Cyber Command, NSA, DISA and NIST call Maryland home. Naturally, these institutions attract the nation’s best cybersecurity practitioners with specialized skills. And when those practitioners decide to transition to the corporate world? They turn to the local private IT and cybersecurity sector, or forge their own path with a startup, like Dragos.

Maryland's Talent Pipeline is Strong

The IT and cybersecurity talent pipeline in Maryland is strong and will continue to be for a long time, thanks to an education system that’s continuously producing tech talent. Home to 17 Centers of Academic Excellence in cybersecurity and many workforce training programs, there’s cyber training happening everywhere you look in Maryland.

Maryland's colleges and universities lead the way in preparing students for tech careers and produce thousands of cybersecurity graduates every year. It’s no surprise that Maryland has the highest concentration of STEM professionals among the states.

Maryland is a Great Place to Live

Affordability matters when it comes to attracting and retaining talent. Maryland offers affordable living, without sacrificing a high quality of life. Here, you’ll find top-ranked schools, a diverse population, a physically diverse environment and outstanding healthcare. This great quality of life comes at a cost of living that's much lower than other tech hubs. For instance, Baltimore's Cost of Living Index in Q1 2022 is 106.7, compared to 184.2 and 237.8 in San Francisco and New York City, respectively.

Maryland is all-in to help cybersecurity companies succeed.