In his announcement, Google and Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai said the funding will “help thousands of students get hands-on experience in cybersecurity” and support cybersecurity clinics at 20 colleges and universities in the U.S.
Google’s new program is a collaboration with the Consortium of Cybersecurity Clinics.
Founded in May 2021, the group says it “serves as a forum for clinicians, trainers, students and advocates to share knowledge, expand the reach of cybersecurity clinics and lower the barriers for other institutions to establish their own clinics.”
As Pichai put it, the clinics offer “free security services,” similar to how some law and medical schools offer no-cost services to communities.
“They give students the opportunity to learn and improve their skills, while helping to protect critical infrastructure such as hospitals, schools and energy grids,” he wrote in his announcement. “At many of the clinics, Google employee volunteers will serve as mentors, providing expertise from the field.”
The new funding from Google comes not only as local and statement governments weather various digital attacks but as cybersecurity officials and researchers point out the need for more professionals in this space. Meanwhile, other organizations and public agencies offer more cybersecurity training of their own.
This new funding also brings Google closer to the world of government technology. Google Public Sector, a cloud computing service for agencies, recently launched and put in place its first board of directors.
