Jennifer Kleman, Author at Cyber Florida at USF

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So far Jennifer Kleman has created 43 blog entries.

Student Spotlight: Ramón González Fernández

Meet Ramón González Fernández, a recent graduate of John A. Ferguson Senior High, Miami, Florida. Born and raised in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Ramón moved to the USA at the age of 5. He always had a passion for computers, and from a young age was fascinated by the way they worked and the endless possibilities they offered.

It wasn’t until 4th grade that Ramón really began to dive into the world of computer science. He joined a programming club in 5th grade and quickly fell in love with the problem-solving and satisfaction that came with getting a program to work. He found great inspiration in learning from Coding Train, a popular online coding YouTube channel, and decided to pursue a career in computer science.

Ramón’s dedication to computer science ended up paying off. He gained a strong foundation in many programming languages including EcmaScript, C++, and Rust, and is always eager to learn more. During his sophomore year he earned the Unity Artist industry certification, in his junior year, he earned his Unity Programmer, Unity VR Developer, Java, JavaScript, and Python certifications. In addition, this year he earned the HTML 5 Applications Development certification. during his senior year, he took AP Computer Science: A, Multi-User Game and Simulation Programming, Introduction to Computer Programming Dual Enrollment with FIU, along with AP Calculus BC, IB Physics SL, and AP Physics C: Mechanics. His Unweighted GPA is 4.0 and his Weighted GPA is 5.014.

In March, Ramón won 1st place in the advanced track in the Cyber Launch competition, presented by Cyber Florida in Orlando, Florida.

During his free time, Ramón enjoys playing FPS games, like Valorant, and heavily modded Minecraft. Recently, he has been using the mod CC: Tweaked to play more efficiently by programming machines in game.

In five years, Ramón sees himself in a junior system programming job, working with a team to design, develop, and maintain complex computer systems.

Ramón’s advice to other young students interested in computer science is to try and connect their interests to programming. Whether it’s music, video games, or art, there are always ways to incorporate programming into their passions. By doing this, they will be able to see the potential of programming beyond just coding, but as a tool to create something unique and interesting. “Programming is a versatile tool, but it’s easier to learn if you’re invested.”

Ramón is an excellent example of how dedication and passion can lead to a successful career in computer science. His journey from a young student in Buenos Aires to John A Ferguson Senior High School in Miami-Dade County, Florida is a testament to the opportunities available for those who pursue a career in computer science. If a student is interested in computer science, they should take Ramón’s advice and connect their interests to programming and see where it takes them.

Student Spotlight: Ramón González FernándezJennifer Kleman2024-07-08T11:40:13-04:00

CodeBreakHERs Camp: Empowering Future Women in STEM Careers
CodeBreakHERs Camp: Empowering Future Women in STEM Careers

CodeBreakHERs Camp: Empowering Future Women in STEM Careers

As the digital world expands, so does the need for skilled cybersecurity and other STEM-based professionals. Recognizing the importance of fostering interest and expertise in this crucial field, Cyber Florida proudly sponsors numerous youth summer experiences, including CodeBreakHERs, a free summer camp for girls in grades 8-12. Held annually at the University of South Florida (USF), this year’s camp took place June 24 – June 28, 2024.

Professor Ruthmae Sears, a passionate advocate for women in STEM from USF’s College of Education, emphasizes the camp’s impact, “CodeBreakHERs provides opportunities for students to actively engage in cybersecurity and coding, and also increases interest in STEM as a whole, developing networks to grow academically, personally, and professionally.”

The camp’s success is bolstered by the dedication of instructors, teacher assistants, guest speakers, and volunteers who generously donate their time and expertise. Their commitment ensures that each participant receives a rich, hands-on learning experience.

The camp has a lasting effect on its attendees. Alysa, a local high school student, attended CodeBreakHERs last summer and was so inspired that she returned this year as a camp assistant, eager to pass on her knowledge and enthusiasm. Candy, another remarkable participant, has attended the camp for the past three summers. This fall, she begins her college journey at USF as an early admit student, a testament to the camp’s role in shaping her academic path.

The CodeBreakHERs curriculum is designed to be both comprehensive and engaging, covering a wide range of cybersecurity topics, including:

Hardware Security

Campers learn to use a Linux system with Raspberry Pis, which they get to keep after the camp. They explore cyberattacks that leverage hardware vulnerabilities, such as bypassing password protection using a USB stick. The hands-on activities ensure they grasp these concepts thoroughly.

Internet Security

Understanding network connections and the associated cybersecurity risks is crucial. Campers delve into the basics of network security, learning about injection attacks, Denial of Service attacks, and more.

Information Encoding and Error Correcting Codes

Participants study various encoding methods, including binary, hexadecimal, ASCII, and UTF8. They learn how to protect data from transmission errors through fun classroom games and, time permitting, explore the ubiquitous QR codes.

Cryptography and Blockchain

Cryptography, a cornerstone of cybersecurity, is a major focus. Campers learn about encryption, digital signatures, and hashing, with historical examples like the Caesar cipher. A highlight is the cryptocurrency challenge, where participants apply their knowledge in a competitive, blockchain-based environment.

Capture the Flag Competitions

To bring it all together, campers engage in Capture the Flag (CTF) competitions, tackling problems related to the concepts they’ve learned. Utilizing the CyberHub platform maintained by the Florida Center for Cybersecurity, they solve CTF challenges with assistance from the Whitehatters Computer Security Club (WCSC), who regularly compete in such events.

CodeBreakHERs camp not only imparts technical skills but also fosters a supportive community where young women can grow and thrive. By providing a platform for girls to explore cybersecurity, Cyber Florida is helping to build a more inclusive and diverse future in STEM. If you know a young woman in grades 8-12 who is curious about cybersecurity, encourage her to apply for this transformative experience next summer.

Together, we can empower the next generation of female cybersecurity professionals. For more information, visit https://www.codebreakhers.org/.

CodeBreakHERs Camp: Empowering Future Women in STEM CareersJennifer Kleman2024-07-26T09:48:57-04:00

Update to Program to Enhance Cybersecurity
Update to Program to Enhance Cybersecurity

Update to Program to Enhance Cybersecurity

Cyber Florida Announces Update to Program to Enhance Cybersecurity for Critical Infrastructure Organizations

The Critical Infrastructure Protection program assessment aligns with the recently released National Institute of Standards and Technology Cybersecurity Framework 2.0

June 6, 2024—Tampa, Fla—Cyber Florida, in partnership with Idaho National Laboratory (INL), has updated its Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP) program to align with the recently released National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Cybersecurity Framework (CSF) 2.0, widely used to reduce cybersecurity risk across public and private sectors and subsectors. Cyber Florida’s multi-assessment platform leverages the Department of Homeland Security’s Cyber Security Evaluation Tool’s (CSET®) containing both the NIST 2.0 CSF Standard Question Set and Ransomware Readiness Assessment modules. The tools and resources available through the CIP program are state-funded and provided at no charge for Florida’s private and public critical infrastructure organizations.

NIST CSF 2.0 is designed for all audiences, businesses, critical infrastructure (CI) sectors, and organizations, regardless of their degree of cybersecurity sophistication. NIST CSF 2.0 has added governance to the CSF’s core guidance to help organizations assess and achieve their cybersecurity goals.

“Since October 2022, more than 655 Florida organizations, companies, businesses, and government agencies have participated in the CIP program,” said Bryan Langley, Lead Program Manager at Cyber Florida. “We continue to support, develop and adopt greater cybersecurity measures and services to support the State of Florida’s public and private sector CI owners and operators.”

The State of Florida’s Legislature funded the risk assessment effort to support the state’s public and private sector entities with numerous, no-cost benefits for participating organizations, companies, and businesses. The assessment covers the NIST CSF 2.0 desired outcomes and provides several reports detailing an organization’s strengths and weaknesses to determine and leverage cyber risk reduction resources from Florida agencies, universities, and colleges. Measuring success comes from both the improvements made by the participants based on their individual reports and using the customized statewide dashboard (visualization tool) developed by INL to analyze CI sector/subsector risk across the state.

The CIP program is intended to assist small and medium-sized enterprises and resource-constrained county and municipal government entities in implementing basic cybersecurity protocols and policies to achieve a fundamental cybersecurity posture. This comprehensive initiative is designed to fortify the cybersecurity resilience of public and private critical infrastructure across the state.

In an era of increasing cyber threats and incidents, safeguarding critical infrastructure is paramount. The CIP program aims to empower organizations by providing high-quality cybersecurity resources, training, and support to defend against evolving cyber risks and recover from incidents. The resources available on the platform include the following:

A 20-question NIST CSF and DHS Ransomware Readiness Assessment (RRA) aligned entry-level assessment based on the most-reported cybersecurity gaps from the initial statewide risk assessment period between October 2022 and June 2023.
A Cybersecurity Incident Response Plan Template to help organizations think through and plan how to recover from a cyber incident.
A 154-question assessment that covers key cybersecurity desired outcomes and practices outlined in the NIST CSF 2.0 and the DHS RRA.

To learn more about the CIP program and how your organization can participate, please visit the program’s official webpage: https://cyberflorida.org/cip or contact the program lead, Bryan Langley at [email protected].

ABOUT CYBER FLORIDA
The Florida Center for Cybersecurity at the University of South Florida, commonly referred to as Cyber Florida at USF, was established by the Florida Legislature in 2014. Its mission is to position Florida as a national leader in cybersecurity through comprehensive education, cutting-edge research, and extensive outreach. Cyber Florida leads various initiatives aimed at inspiring and educating both current and future cybersecurity professionals, advancing industry research, and enhancing cybersecurity awareness and safety of individuals and organizations.

Update to Program to Enhance CybersecurityJennifer Kleman2024-08-05T11:14:04-04:00