Cyber Florida at USF and FloridaMakes Forge Partnership to Bolster Cybersecurity and Economic Resilience in Florida
August 30, 2024—Tampa, Fla—In a strategic move to fortify local economies across the Sunshine State, Cyber Florida at USF and FloridaMakes proudly announce a collaborative partnership aimed at amplifying economic growth and resilience while bolstering cybersecurity measures and awareness. The pervasive and costly cybersecurity threats facing businesses in Florida pose a significant challenge, particularly for small businesses with limited resources to recover from cyber incidents such as data breaches, ransomware attacks and business email compromise. Moreover, critical infrastructure businesses, including critical manufacturing and defense industrial base (DIB) companies, have increasingly become targets for threat actors due to their substantial impact on state and national security.
“This partnership with FloridaMakes is a significant step forward in our mission to help protect and empower Florida’s critical industries,” said Ernie Ferraresso, Director of Cyber Florida at USF. “By combining our cybersecurity expertise with FloridaMakes’ deep industry knowledge, we are not only enhancing the resilience of our manufacturing and defense sectors but also ensuring that businesses across the state can thrive in a more secure digital environment.”
Cyber Florida at USF, dedicated to advancing cybersecurity training and awareness initiatives across the state, offers an array of resources ranging from research and development to community grant programs and training opportunities. Central to its mission is the Critical Infrastructure Risk Assessment (CIRA) platform, a vital tool developed in partnership with the Department of Energy’s Idaho National Lab (INL) and based on the Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity Evaluation Tool (CSET) and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Cybersecurity Framework (CSF).
FloridaMakes has experience working with the state’s manufacturing and defense industries to provide awareness training on information security vulnerabilities and best practices. FloridaMakes also has substantial experience facilitating assessments of information security posture, policies and preparedness of Florida manufacturers and defense contractors in relation to federal and customer requirements.
“This partnership exemplifies the synergy between industry and government in addressing cybersecurity challenges head-on,” said Kevin Carr, President and CEO of FloridaMakes. “By joining forces, we are not only bolstering the security of Florida’s manufacturing and critical infrastructure sectors but also positioning the state as a national leader in secure manufacturing and critical infrastructure protection.”
Cyber Florida at USF, in collaboration with INL, integrated the new NIST CSF 2.0 update earlier this year into the CIRA platform. This integration represents a significant update to the cybersecurity assessment capabilities available to enterprises and institutions across the state and will be made available to manufacturing and DIB companies statewide through the joint efforts of Cyber Florida and FloridaMakes.
For additional information or to arrange an interview, please contact Cyber Outreach Manager Jennifer Kleman, APR, CPRC at jennifer437@cyberflorida.org.
ABOUT CYBER FLORIDA AT USF
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 to inspire and educate both current and future cybersecurity professionals, advance applied research, and enhance cybersecurity awareness and safety of individuals and organizations. Visit cyberflorida.org for more information and valuable resources.
ABOUT FLORIDAMAKES
FloridaMakes is a statewide, industry-led, public-private partnership operated by an alliance of Florida’s regional manufacturer associations and organizations that serve manufacturers. FloridaMakes’ sole mission is strengthening and advancing Florida’s economy by improving the competitiveness, productivity and technological performance of its manufacturing sector, with an emphasis on small- and medium-sized firms. It accomplishes this by providing services focused on three principal value streams: technology adoption, talent development, and business growth. FloridaMakes is the representative of the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) National Network in the state of Florida, a program of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, an agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce. For more information, visit www.FloridaMakes.com.
