Sundar Pichai’s Post

Charting the Cyber Frontier: A Student’s Perspective 🌐 As I embark on my journey as a cybersecurity intern, I’m inspired by leaders like Sundar Pichai who are paving the way for a safer digital tomorrow. Google’s Cybersecurity Clinics Fund is more than an investment—it’s a beacon of hope for communities and a launchpad for aspiring tech professionals like myself. Reflecting on the $20 million initiative that has already empowered 10 clinics and over 450 students, I see a future where technology and community service converge. These clinics are not just educational hubs; they’re the battlegrounds where the next generation of cybersecurity warriors are forged. With the fund now expanding to $25 million, I’m excited about the broader horizons and the new opportunities it will bring to students across the US. This is where our theoretical knowledge meets practical challenges, where we learn to protect not just data, but lives. As I step into the role of a penetration tester, I’m eager to contribute to this vision of a secure, inclusive, and technologically advanced society. Let’s collaborate and make the internet a safer place for everyone. #Cybersecurity #TechForGood #Innovation #FutureLeaders #CommunityImpact #CybersecurityPassion #FutureTechLeader #GoogleCyberClinics #SecureDigitalWorld Check out Sundar Pichai's full post here: https://lnkd.in/eJ9NiCtE

Big news: Google and The Consortium of Cybersecurity Clinics have announced the next 15 cybersecurity clinics receiving funding and volunteer mentorship from the Google Cybersecurity Clinics Fund! Cybersecurity clinics equip students with in-demand skills while helping vulnerable organizations like nonprofits, small local businesses, and critical public infrastructure protect themselves from cyberattacks. (For example: one clinic at Indiana University worked with the Bloomington Fire Department to prepare employees for an emergency situation in which radio or cell phone networks went down.) The 15 new clinics include minority-serving institutions, rural-serving institutions, and both 2 and 4 year institutions. They’re part of a $25 million collaboration with the Consortium of Cybersecurity Clinics to establish clinics that will serve a diverse range of students and communities across the US. Tides Center is a strategic thought partner to Google.org, managed the Google Cybersecurity Clinics Fund open call and stakeholder collaboration, and is excited to welcome this new cohort and support their journeys of shifting power. Learn more about the Fund and new clinics here: bit.ly/4dVwtBG

Thrilled to share an exciting update on Google's Cybersecurity Clinics Fund! This initiative is close to our hearts as it aims to bolster the cybersecurity workforce and provide more Americans with pathways into rewarding tech careers. Last year, we announced $20 million to support 20 cybersecurity clinics across US higher education institutions. Modeled after law or medical school clinics, these programs offer students invaluable hands-on experience while serving their local communities. We've already seen incredible progress, with 10 clinics funded and 450+ students working with 80 community organizations in their first semester alone. The demand and diversity of applications have been inspiring, which is why we're increasing our commitment to $25M+ and announcing 15 more clinics to receive funding, bringing the total to 25! These schools, selected from across the nation, will help expand access to cybersecurity education and services for diverse communities. It's truly exciting to see this initiative train the next generation of cybersecurity leaders while making a real impact on community safety. #GoogleCloud #Google #Alphabet #Cloud

❗ Attention to all educational institutions and parents ❗ As August marks the return to classrooms, it's crucial to ensure our K-12 schools are cyber-safe havens for everyone. The pandemic-induced expansion of school networks has left many K-12 institutions vulnerable. That's why the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency recently hosted "Back to School Safely: Cybersecurity for K-12 Schools" to raise awareness and provide resources. At Pinnacle IT, we recognize the growing importance of cybersecurity in K-12 schools. With valuable student data and the rise of remote learning, the need for robust protection has never been greater. We're offering a FREE cybersecurity assessment to schools that might be unsure about their next steps. Our experts will evaluate your current cybersecurity measures and provide tailored recommendations to enhance your defenses. Let's work together to safeguard the future of education. Reach out to me at jshofner@pinnacleit.com to schedule your free assessment today! https://lnkd.in/gcV7_39u

In case you missed it, this past Thursday the FCC approved a cybersecurity pilot program for K - 12's schools and libraries that will provide $200 million in grants over the next three years! Some quick facts on why this is important: 🤔 80% of K-12s have been targeted by ransomware in the past year (higher than any other industry). 🤔 Cybersecurity has been identified by district tech leaders as the top priority. 🤔 Cyberattacks can cost MILLIONS. 🤔 This program will lay the groundwork for future federal cybersecurity funding. Funding is approved for: 💲 Advanced firewalls (Cisco Secure Firewall and licensing). 💲 Anti-virus protection technology (Cisco Secure Endpoint). 💲 Identity authentication (Duo, ISE). 💲 Monitoring and Response (XDR, ThousandEyes, AppD). 💲 Other cybersecurity equipment (i.e.- Cisco cloud-based security solutions). How will this go down? 👨🏭 Program will be managed by USAC. 👨🏭 Separate from eRate but has a similar application process. 👨🏭 Similar competitive bidding, discount requrests, and invoicing. 👨🏭 Streamlined allocation of funds. 👨🏭 Schools can receive $15,000 to $1.5M! What's next? ✔ Prior to program launch, a report and order will be sent to the Fed Registry to be published. ✔ Rules will go into effect within 30 days of being published. ✔ USAC will prepare their systems and tools and announce the application window. Read more in the article below 👇 👇 👇 https://lnkd.in/gnWqzQj6.

------ 25 Ideas for Promoting Cybersecurity Awareness Among High School Students ----- In an increasingly digital world, high school students are becoming more tech-savvy and reliant on technology for education and social interactions. With this growing reliance on digital platforms, it is crucial to raise cybersecurity awareness among high school students. By instilling good cybersecurity practices and knowledge early on, we can help them navigate the digital landscape safely. This technical note presents a range of ideas and strategies to promote cybersecurity awareness in high schools. Click below to read about the 25 ideas that you can implement for high school children… https://lnkd.in/gfaxKDn2

I was thrilled to attend the White House's event, Back to School Safely: Cybersecurity for K-12 Schools, hosted by the First Lady of the United States, Dr. Jill Biden. The summit (delayed to this morning due to weather) brought together government and industry leaders to announce new actions and private commitments to bolster the nation’s cyber defense at schools and protect hard-working American families. I feel especially impassioned about this issue as the Administration convened the summit to discuss enhancing cybersecurity for schools in the wake of growing ransomware attacks. While at the NSC, I helped stand up coordinated whole-of-government efforts to disrupt and defend against ransomware, a despicable crime that hurts critical infrastructure, businesses, and Americans. I applaud the commitments made today by government bodies and the private sector to enhance American cybersecurity and defend our schools and students from cybercrime. Select examples of commitments made today: - The FCC is proposing establishing a pilot program under the Universal Service Fund to provide up to $200 million over three years to strengthen cyber defenses in K-12 schools and libraries. - The U.S. Department of Education will establish a Government Coordinating Council (GCC) that will coordinate activities, policy, and communications between, and amongst, federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial education leaders to strengthen the cyber defenses and resilience of K-12 schools. - CISA is committing to providing tailored assessments, facilitating exercises, and delivering cybersecurity training for 300 new K-12 entities. - The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the National Guard Bureau are releasing updated resource guides. - Amazon Web Services (AWS) is committing $20 million for a K-12 cyber grant program to schools; free security training offerings tailored to K-12 IT staff; and no-cost cyber incident response assistance through its Customer Incident Response Team in the event a school district experiences a cyberattack. - Cloudflare, through its Project Cybersafe Schools, will offer a suite of free Zero Trust cybersecurity solutions to public school districts. - PowerSchool will provide new free and subsidized “security as a service” courses, training, tools and resources to all U.S. schools and districts. - Google released an updated “K-12 Cybersecurity Guidebook” for schools on the most effective and impactful steps education systems can take to ensure the security of their Google hardware and software applications. - D2L committed to providing access to new cybersecurity courses; extending its information security review for the core D2L integration partners; and pursuing additional third-party validation of D2L compliance with security standards. Press Release: https://lnkd.in/ewFp8_Hg

As the U.S. Administration invests further in cybersecurity for K-12 schools, it’s important to remember that traditional endpoint and perimeter tools can only do so much. Successful strategies must start with securing data and identity. https://lnkd.in/dGAgrh7F #seclore #datasecurity #education #security #data

The importance of cybersecurity education cannot be overstated. Recognising this imperative, IBM has embarked on a collaborative journey with schools worldwide to empower students with the knowledge, skills, and resources needed to defend against cyber threats effectively. For more information, click here: https://ibm.co/3UdJAVU #IBM #Cybersecurity #IBMCollaborations #SecurityEducation

First Lady Jill Biden, Education Secretary Miguel Cardona and Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas will meet with school administrators, educators, private sector companies and nonprofit organizations such as CompTIA on actions to counter the increase in cyberattacks that have targeted schools in recent years. "Putting schools in the best position to avoid ransomware attacks requires a combination of robust technologies and the skilling and reskilling of staff," said Kardel. "Equally important, we can educate students on best practices in good cyber hygiene." "Focusing on cybersecurity in schools has the added benefit of piquing students' interest in the many career opportunities in technology generally, and cybersecurity specifically" #cyberresiliency #educationalleadership #collaborationiskey