“This is really focused on the layperson, the average citizen in Iowa,” said Doug Jacobson, executive director of the Iowa Cyber Hub.
The Iowa Cyber Hub is the co-creation of Iowa State University and Des Moines Area Community College, intended to support residents interested in cybersecurity and cyber careers. It started its Cybersecurity Ambassador program on Oct. 31.
“People in rural settings, in general, don't have much exposure to cybersecurity. And they don't always see themselves as a potential victim,” Jacobson said.
Nearly 20 percent of Iowa’s population is over 65 years old, per the Census, and Jacobson said the elderly population face many online scams. Meanwhile, businesses like those in Iowa’s important agricultural and small manufacturing industries are often targeted with business email compromise (BEC). And ransomware continues to threaten schools and large organizations.
Iowa Cyber Hub’s Cybersecurity Ambassador Program aims to mobilize students in high school, 4-H programs, community colleges and the like to learn about cybersecurity and then share their knowledge locally, by giving talks at middle schools, senior living centers and other places in their communities.
The program also looks to connect and support cybersecurity professionals who already give community outreach talks. Iowa Cyber Hub intends to hold an annual October celebration for all ambassadors, creating an opportunity to network and share tips. Plus, a forthcoming online portal will give a streamlined way for organizations to reach out when they want to request cyber professionals to give a talk.
“It’s really all part of making cybersecurity just part of general conversation,” Jacobson said.
The initiative comes at a time when the federal Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has been emphasizing the need to reach the general public, with the launch of its Secure Our World initiative.
The Iowa Cyber Hub is creating online informational resources to support ambassadors. In part, the site will compile and curate existing materials from the likes of CISA and the FBI, making them easy to find. The Hub also may provide advice for ambassadors hosting discussions with the community. And it hopes to have ambassadors contribute new materials as well.
One of the early-stage efforts is Cyber House Rock, a collection of educational songs, some with animated videos, in the vein of School House Rock. (“I’m Just a Bill,” meet “I’m Just a URL.”)
The Ambassador program is just getting started. This month is the start of efforts to establish membership chapters, with Jacobson hoping to get at least a dozen formed and active by the end of the academic year. Jacobson hopes that by next fall the number will grow to include several dozen chapters at high schools and about half a dozen at community colleges.
The youth chapters will provide structure and guidance for student members. Chapters comprising cyber professionals, meanwhile, will be more loosely organized and largely aim to help them work together and receive requests for help via the forthcoming portal.
“We had the kickoff event about a week ago, and we’ve gotten dozens of emails already from people wanting to be involved,” including from businesses wanting employees to participate and libraries wanting to host chapters, Jacobson said. “… The number of opportunities are bigger than what we first thought. People have been coming to us with ideas on new types of ways to engage ambassadors.”
