One challenge federal and state chief information security officers face when trying to recruit information security professionals is the lack of governmental occupation classification for IT security specialists. They just don't exist.

Most IT security professionals are classified under various information systems occupation categories, which means they don't identify security skills, explains Mark Weatherford, director and chief information security officer of California's Office of Information Security.

But Weatherford, in an interview with GovInfoSecurity.com, explains that he's working with other state CISOs and the Department of Homeland Security to develop IT security occupation categories as well as career paths that should help recruit and retain information security pros in government.

In the interview, Weatherford also discussed the impact of California's budget crisis on safeguarding the state's IT assets as well as his role as head of an office that like the federal Office of Management and Budget doesn't have direct control but much influence over 152 state agencies.

Weatherford was interviewed by Eric Chabrow, managing editor of GovInfoSecurity.com