Gov. Kim Reynolds has announced a new partnership to enhance cyber training for the young women of Iowa. GirlsGoCyberStart is a joint project with SANS (SysAdmin, Audit, Network and Security) Institute and the State of Iowa offering a free, online game of discovery for young women in grades nine through 12. They will utilize the platform to learn basic cybersecurity skills and to test their cyber aptitude. No prior cybersecurity or IT experience is needed to participate, they need only have access to a computer and an internet connection. The Iowa students will be competing against others from 16 states and territories. “The nation desperately needs more highly-skilled cyber professionals,” SANS Institute Director of Research, Alan Paller, says. “And we have new evidence that CyberStart radically improves the preparation and quality of those entering the cybersecurity field. Women are underrepresented in the technical side of cybersecurity, but by opening CyberStart to tens of thousands of young women in high school, we may be able to help the nation identify the next generation of female talent to excel in this critical field.” Registration will begin Monday, Jan. 29 and run through Friday, Feb. 16. The first 10,000 to register will play from Tuesday, Feb. 20 through Sunday, Feb. 25. A link to more information can be found below.
____________________________________
For more information or to register:
Log on to: https://girlsgocyberstart.com
