These things make it much easier to learn than C. Shuman's harping on s-l-o-w probably says more about the quality of Microsoft's virtual machine than it does about Java or the Java paradigm.
It is easier to learn C than Java.
In such an environment, it is essential that (1) security specialists keep abreast of developing techniques and tools and the latest information about system vulnerabilities and (2) senior executives ensure they have the resources to do this.