UNC Greensboro Joseph M. Bryan School of Business and Economics is the first university in the state of North Carolina to receive $1 million in grant and overall support from Google Cybersecurity Clinics Fund. The grant will create the Spartan CyberGuardian Academy (SCGA), a cybersecurity clinic at UNCG, which will train 870 students to help 174 organizations over the next six years. The funding for Google.org, the company’s philanthropic arm, is part of a $25 million collaboration with the Cybersecurity Clinics Consortium.
“Through the creation of the Spartan CyberGuardian Academy, our students will emerge with real-world experience and the essential knowledge and skills to meet workforce demand in this rapidly evolving industry, to the immediate benefit of their customers “, said UNCG Chancellor Franklin D. Gilliam, Jr. “An example of inclusive, community-engaged excellence, the clinic will soon serve and protect underfunded organizations in the Piedmont Triad from cyber threats . »
Cybersecurity clinics at higher education institutions provide free digital security services to underfunded organizations, much like law or medical schools offer free community clinics. The new Spartan CyberGuardian Academy will give Bryan School students the opportunity to learn cybersecurity and AI skills in an efficient and practical way while simultaneously helping to protect vulnerable organizations and critical infrastructure, such as local small businesses , hospitals, schools and energy networks. , cyberattacks.
Meeting labor demand
According to the World Economic Forum Global Risks Report 2024cyber insecurity remains one of the top 10 global risks over the next 10 years. Currently, there are nearly 450,000 open cybersecurity jobs available in the United States, including 13,251 in North Carolina (see a map here) and the demand for cyber professionals is expected to grow 32% by 2033. To keep communities, critical infrastructure, and businesses large and small across the United States safe, we need a workforce competent, diverse and AI-savvy cybersecurity worker.
“The Spartan CyberGuardian Academy represents a significant step forward in our commitment to fostering exceptional problem solvers and principled leaders,” said Bryan School Dean McRae C. Banks. “This initiative not only enhances our students’ practical skills and prepares them for the demands of the cybersecurity field, but it also highlights our commitment to serving the community by protecting local organizations and critical infrastructure.” We are deeply grateful to Google for its generous support and for recognizing the potential impact our students have locally and nationally.
UNCG’s SCGA will train a wide range of individuals, from high school, community college and university students to higher-level academics and organizations, equipping them with practical knowledge and cybersecurity skills critical to business success. organizational cybersecurity practices.
“With the increasing complexity of cybersecurity incidents, hands-on student training and preparation for real-world experiences have become essential. However, these trainings and facilities are often inaccessible to many, including students from underserved communities and nonprofit organizations,” said Dr Moez Farokhniahamedani, assistant professor and principal investigator thanks to the grant. “Thanks to Google’s generous $1 million grant, we can close this gap by creating the Spartan CyberGuardian Academy and providing free training sessions to students and employees of organizations that don’t have access to these resources . The cumulative knowledge and experience gained by these individuals will not only positively impact their career paths, but will also improve the overall quality of cybersecurity in our region.
The UNCG Clinic will also provide essential cybersecurity services, including audits, training and remediation, to nonprofit organizations, small businesses and all entities in the Piedmont Triad region that are under-resourced or teams dedicated to cybersecurity. Committed to closing the gap, SCGA is dedicated to providing education, training and services to underserved audiences, ensuring equitable access to cybersecurity expertise. “The clinic will train students in the use of advanced cybersecurity technologies, artificial intelligence and the NIST Zero Trust framework to help local businesses and government institutions assess and improve their cybersecurity posture,” said Dr Al Salamprofessor and Co-PI on the grant.
Additionally, SCGA will leverage existing cybersecurity analytics programs at UNCG to develop new cybersecurity knowledge, artifacts, and practices.
Prepared for technological headwinds
Opening in spring 2025, the clinic will support nonprofit organizations in the Piedmont Triad. Dr Lakshmi Iyer, chair of the Department of Information Systems and Supply Chain Management and co-principal investigator of the grants, said, “I am truly excited about the opportunities to engage and collaborate with our community, the small and medium-sized organizations and non-profit organizations in the field of cybersecurity that are essential. to building a resilient digital ecosystem. By leveraging the expertise and resources that the clinic can offer, we can increase awareness, share critical knowledge, and develop robust defenses against cyber threats, ensuring that all members of our community are protected and informed.
“The world is at a time where emerging technologies, like AI, are creating both new opportunities and new threats in the world of cybersecurity,” said Heather Adkins, vice president of engineering at security at Google. “It is critical that we invest in growing a strong, diverse and widespread cybersecurity workforce to help protect everyone – from critical infrastructure to small businesses and schools. The 15 clinics we are helping to create serve a wide variety of students across the United States and we are excited to see the impact they will have in their local communities.
“Google’s transformative investment catalyzes cybersecurity for the public good,” said Ann Cleaveland, co-founder and co-chair of the Consortium of Cybersecurity Clinics and executive director of the UC Berkeley Center for Long-Term Cybersecurity. “We congratulate the winners and applaud these awards, which propel the Consortium’s vision to establish a cybersecurity clinic in every U.S. state by 2030.”
UNCG is one of 15 new clinics planned to launch in 2024 at higher education institutions across the country, thanks to the collaboration of Google and the Cybersecurity Clinics Consortium. In addition to $1 million in funding from Google.org, the tech company is offering UNCG volunteer mentoring to Google employees, Google Titan Security Keysand scholarships for Google Career Certificate in Cybersecurity. Learn more about Google’s blog and the Consortium website.
This announcement builds on Google’s support for 10 clinics in 2023, part of a combined commitment to launch 25 Google-backed cyber clinics across the country by 2025. With the latest round of funding, Google.org has now committed more than $25 million to build diverse services and a workforce with expertise in AI and digital security is needed to protect critical U.S. infrastructure from cyberattacks.
Article written by University Communications
Photography by Martin W. Kane, University Communications
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