When it comes to recruiting employees for his cybersecurity company, Tony Marshall prefers apprenticeships.

In fact, Marshall’s Innovative Systems Group Inc. developed one of the first cybersecurity apprenticeship programs in the country.

Marshall, president and CEO of the Raleigh, N.C.-based company, said many in his industry go to job fairs trying to find talent, hoping they get what they need. With apprenticeships, he said, you identify talented people, invest time and energy to provide them with work-based learning opportunities and related instruction, and build a workforce that meets the company’s needs.

“One of the things about apprenticeship that most people don’t realize is that the level of dedication you get from apprentices is just incredible,” Marshall said. “And most of that is done through work-based learning. … You invest in people, treat them well, and they will treat you well.”