SAINT PAUL, Minn. — As the news of cyber-attacks continues to mount across various industries, experts say small businesses and nonprofits are especially vulnerable because they often don't have the resources to protect themselves.
The National Security Agency (NSA) is working to change that.
The agency recently awarded three grants to help bring cybersecurity training to small businesses, school districts and non-profits across the country.
Metro State University in Saint Paul was one of the lucky recipients who received a $1.45 million grant to start a cybersecurity clinic on campus.
“Most of the time small businesses either have no one to take care of cybersecurity or only one person who takes care of everything,” Professor Faisal Kaleem said.
Kaleem teaches cybersecurity classes at Metro State University, and he is one of the professors who will be leading the clinic this year.
“The whole idea of the clinic is to recruit some students, train them, and then these students are going to after small businesses, K-12 schools, non-profits, underserved cities and counties, and help them with their cyber needs,” Kaleem explains.
Metro State student Phoenix Bloksberg is interested in joining the program.
“I really like to help my community and I’m really into this idea,” Bloksberg said.
“When I started with this program here, I didn’t know the threat was as big as it was. I didn’t know there was so much I didn’t know.”
The Metro State University cybersecurity program graduated around 40 students last year.
Leaders say there are nearly 300 students currently enrolled in the program.
Kyle Swanson is the dean of the College of Sciences, which oversees the cybersecurity program.
“We launched the cybersecurity program here at Metro State in 2019 and we have seen a lot of growth since then. It’s probably our 3rd largest major in the college right now and I wouldn’t be surprised if it was number one someday.”
Professors are already receiving interest from local school districts, non-profits, and small business owners who want to sign up for the cybersecurity clinic.
Kaleem says the university is currently working on a website that will allow local leaders and small business owners to submit an application.
They’re hoping to launch that website soon.
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