The rapid growth of Utah’s workforce has led to an increasing demand for cybersecurity professionals throughout the state. There are over 400,000 open cybersecurity jobs nationwide, 5,000 of which are based in Utah. To meet surging demand, our partners at Southern Utah University (SUU) have created a new cybersecurity apprenticeship program to provide cyber workforce support to employers throughout the state. SUU established the program following a $4 million grant awarded by the US Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration. The apprenticeship program is built to provide cybersecurity to small businesses that need access to additional cybersecurity resources at an affordable cost.
Small businesses are at a much higher risk of experiencing cyberattacks compared to their larger counterparts. According to a report by the Small Business Administration, in 2020 alone, small businesses faced over 700,000 cyberattacks resulting in 7.8 billion dollars in damages. Mitigating these risks does not have to involve radically changing your business. Many basic cybersecurity practices can be implemented by an employee with a few hours of training and a basic comprehension of network topology. SUU’s program helps businesses bring employees up to speed and increase their cyber readiness without breaking the bank.
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