Project Cyber Ready

Join us on LinkedIn Live for an exclusive session with Christopher Miller, VP of Sales & Marketing from ATB Technologies.

Are you a small business owner concerned about the growing threats of cybercrime? Don't miss this invaluable opportunity to gain insights from Chris Miller, an industry-leading cybersecurity professional. In this engaging LinkedIn Live session, Chris will share his expert knowledge and reveal essential tricks to protect your small business from malicious online attacks.

Key Highlights:

*Understanding the cybersecurity landscape for small businesses
*Identifying common vulnerabilities and potential risks
*Practical tips and tricks to fortify your digital defenses
*Cost-effective strategies for implementing cybersecurity measures
*Importance of employee training and awareness
*Responding to and recovering from cyber incidents

Don't let your small business become an easy target for cybercriminals. Join us for an interactive discussion, where you'll have the chance to ask questions directly to Chris Miller. Enhance your cybersecurity knowledge and empower your business to stay ahead in this digital age.

Save the date and mark your calendars now. We look forward to having you join us for this imperative LinkedIn Live session with Chris Miller from ATB Technologies. Stay tuned for updates and reminders. See you there!

In a post-COVID world, there are many aspects of our lives that have been impacted. One of the most significant industries affected is K12 education. Teachers are leaving in a mass exodus, students are still balancing online and in-person learning, and parents are often doing the best they can to support their children.

If we narrow that subject to computer science and STEM-related curriculum, it gets even tougher. There are several choices for learning but cost, the skill level of teachers, and the full participation of students play a major role in the efficacy of learning.

Looking ahead to the 2023-2024 school year our team is looking at new and exciting ways that we can IGNITE a students' interest in cybersecurity and help them make positive choices along the way.

Join Rachel Bracker, Youth Program Manager at CyberUp and a former educator herself, for a discussion on where we have been, where we are going, and how we will impact future cybersecurity professionals through volunteerism and modeling.

In this episode of LevelUp Cyber Live, we have Giovani Dambros with us, who will share his experience of transitioning from a career in parkour to the world of technology.

We'll delve into Giovani's journey of how he made the transition from parkour to technology. He'll talk about how he discovered his passion for technology and how he prepared himself for a completely new field.

As the host of this episode, Tony Bryan will facilitate the conversation and bring in his insights and experiences related to career transitions and how they can impact one's life. Together, they'll discuss the challenges they faced during their career transition, such as imposter syndrome and the fear of starting over. They'll also offer advice to listeners who are considering making a similar shift in their careers.

Join us as we explore the fascinating story of Giovani Dambros, a former parkour athlete who has successfully transitioned to the world of technology, and gain insights into making a successful career change.

In this week's podcast, we discussed why it was so hard to break into cybersecurity. With the increasing importance of cybersecurity, it was no wonder that more and more people were interested in pursuing a career in this field. Our guest today was Matt Peterson with Guidepoint Security, a cybersecurity professional with over two decades of experience.

Matt explained that one of the biggest challenges in breaking into cybersecurity was the ever-changing nature of the field. As new technologies and threats emerge, cybersecurity professionals must constantly stay up to date with the latest tools and techniques. This requires a significant amount of time and effort and can be daunting for those just starting out.

Another challenge is the lack of formal education and training programs specifically tailored to cybersecurity. While there are some degree programs and certifications available, they may not provide the practical experience and hands-on training that employers are looking for. This can make it difficult for new professionals to get their foot in the door and gain the necessary knowledge to advance in their careers.

Additionally, the cybersecurity field is highly competitive, with many qualified candidates vying for a limited number of job openings. This means that even those with the necessary skills and experience may struggle to find employment in the field.

Despite these challenges, Matt emphasized that breaking into cybersecurity is not impossible. Networking, gaining practical experience through internships or volunteer work, and continuing education and training can all help aspiring professionals stand out in a crowded field. With dedication and perseverance, it is possible to build a successful career in cybersecurity.

With all the buzz around Artificial Intelligence and chatbots, it's prime time to discuss cybersecurity concerns. A chatbot is a form of artificial intelligence that surveys previously posted content online to synthesize answers to questions placed in its terminal. Being a function of Internet commentary chatbots may provide erroneous information. to better facilitate accuracy some companies have integrated these chatbots to automate workflows that expose data to potential issues.

Chris Cockburn, cybersecurity advisor for CISA, discusses how to get into cyber with federal jobs. He explains how to match knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSA's) on your resume for USAjobs.gov. Networking with those in roles you want to be in is vital. Ask reqruiters plenty of questions to determine what you want to do and explore strategic partner universities to potentially get internship opportunities. Most importantly find a mentor.

Cybersecurity is more than SOC analysts and penetration testing. Popular culture may glamorize the two previously mentioned occupations but there are other cyber careers like cybersecurity awareness training, product management, network security, cloud security, governance & risk, privacy analysis, identity access management, and more. There are many parallels between SOC analyst and these other careers namely the investigation methodology. A good resource for risk management is following a cybersecurity framework.

Online safety is paramount for Amber as a mom of two small children. Parents and guardians of elementary students especially need to exercise parental controls like cutting off in-app purchases and chat features. Amber also discussed limiting physical access to devices by having blackout times and requiring devices to be used in common space areas. Offline activities for devices are preferential and maintaining open communication with your child is a must. Knowing that your child is properly equipped with online knowledge and prepared to tell you if anything concerning happens is the goal.

We all know the catch-22; I can't gain experience without a job, but the job requires experience. According to Brandt experience is the number one qualifier for a career and the proverbial silver bullet approach is networking. Given the large reset of the global economy due to the pandemic, layoffs have plagued every occupation. Brandt predicts tech jobs will be more layoff resistant but not completely immune. The idea of remote work also continues to be a way of lowering costs in terms of labor and office space.

The eco-system for cyber needs to be revamped for the future according to Eric Dunker Ph.D., Vice President of Workforce and Economic Development at Arapahoe Community College. Partnerships and pathways must be the new school approach. Colorado's bipartisan support of apprenticeship has propelled partnerships in the tech space with region-wide incentives. It's not a notion of either apprenticeship or college but how both can work in tandem.