{KXLG – Madison, SD} Dakota State University (DSU) has been selected to receive $1 million in grant funding from Google’s Cybersecurity Clinics Fund. This funding will establish the Dakota State University Cybersecurity Clinic, benefiting students and under-resourced organizations nationwide.
The new DSU Cybersecurity Clinic will offer free digital security services to under-resourced organizations, similar to how law or medical schools offer free community clinics. This initiative will provide students with the opportunity to learn cybersecurity and AI skills in a hands-on manner. At the same time, it will help protect vulnerable organizations and critical infrastructure, such as local small businesses, hospitals, schools, and energy grids, from cyber-attacks.
According to the World Economic Forum’s 2024 Global Risks Report, cyber insecurity remains among the top 10 global risks over the next ten years. With nearly 450,000 open cybersecurity jobs in the U.S., including over a thousand in South Dakota, the demand for cyber professionals is projected to grow 32% by 2033. The DSU Cybersecurity Clinic aims to contribute to the development of a skilled, diverse, and AI-savvy cybersecurity workforce to meet this demand.
Dr. Ashley Podhradsky, Vice President for Research & Economic Development at DSU, expressed her excitement about joining the prestigious consortium of universities and non-profits dedicated to bolstering community cybersecurity. “With this new award, we will enhance support for our existing partnerships and forge new collaborations,” she stated.
The DSU Cybersecurity Clinic will enhance cybersecurity for small businesses, local and state governments, and critical infrastructure partners by identifying vulnerabilities and recommending actionable, low-cost improvements. In addition to providing assessments and implementing strategies to improve security, the clinic also focuses on education, offering training sessions to teach best practices and raise awareness about cybersecurity threats.
Dakota State is one of 15 new clinics set to launch in 2024 at higher education institutions nationwide, thanks to a collaboration from Google and the Consortium of Cybersecurity Clinics. In addition to $1 million in Google.org funding, the tech company offers DSU volunteer mentorship from Google employees, Google Titan Security Keys, and the Google Career Certificate in Cybersecurity scholarships.
The announcement builds on Google’s 2023 support for ten clinics, part of a combined commitment to launch 25 Google-supported cyber clinics nationwide by 2025. With the latest round of funding, Google.org has now committed more than $25 million toward creating the diverse and AI- and digital-security savvy workforce needed to protect critical U.S. infrastructure from cyberattacks.
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