"Cybersecurity Education Helps Communities Become More Cyber Secure"
As part of the National Security Agency (NSA), the National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity awarded a two-year $1.67 million grant to the Center for Infrastructure Assurance and Security (CIAS) at the University of Texas at San Antonio to help communities become more cyber secure. During the two-year grant, the CIAS will work with multiple communities to help develop a community-wide K-12 cybersecurity program, support local industry and government in becoming more cyber resilient, and help local academic institutions develop cybersecurity programs for students. Dr. Greg White, director of the CIAS, emphasized that the increased targeting of communities nationwide by both domestic and foreign cyber threats calls for a whole-community approach to be taken to protect citizens, organizations, and infrastructures from cyberattacks. The NSA grant will enable the CIAS to work with Angelo State University in implementing a cybersecurity program that starts with K-12 education and continues into local businesses, government, and the general public. The two-year pilot program will establish a K-12 cybersecurity initiative for elementary, middle, and high schools in which cybersecurity lesson plans, tools, and resources are provided to students, teachers, and counselors during the school year. The program will also expand upon cybersecurity summer camps and promote the establishment of CyberPatriot teams as well as Cyber Threat Defender tournaments. This grant will help establish a Culture of Cybersecurity program geared towards K-5 students. It will also help develop certification training, assist 2- and 4-year institutions meet the requirements for an NSA/DHS Center of Academic of Excellence designation, and more. This article continues to discuss the NSA grant aimed at helping communities become more cyber secure.