News

NIST Report Progress
NIST Report Progress

NIST Report Progress

Sustainable, Hands-on and Multi-disciplinary Cybersecurity Skills Training to Meet Workforce Needs of Critical Infrastructure Sectors in Florida

A Report of Project Progress by Cyber Florida at USF

In Spring 2024, Cyber Florida was awarded a two-year, $200,000 grant from National Institute of Standards and Technology for their project – “Sustainable, Hands-on and Multi-disciplinary Cybersecurity Skills Training to Meet Workforce Needs of Critical Infrastructure Sectors in Florida” as part of their Regional Alliances and Multistakeholder Partnerships to Stimulate (RAMPS) Cybersecurity Education and Workforce Development (RAMPS Program).

The overall goals of the project are a) solicit core cybersecurity workforce needs both within and across various critical infrastructure (CI) sectors in Florida; b) analyze and summarize findings across entry level workforce needs; c) design a semester-level and practical/ hands-on cybersecurity training program for students that is to meet entry-level CI workforce needs; d) connect the first cohort of trained students to critical infrastructure sectors via interns and full-time positions; e) evaluate outcomes across multiple metrics including student self-assessment, industry expert assessment, program sustainability and scalability across institutions and CI sectors in FL.

Based on survey responses, we identified tangible gaps in entry level workforce needs across CI sectors in Florida in a broad sense, and started designing a 14 weeks hands on training program for students. The program was also designed keeping in mind the components of the Workforce Framework for Cybersecurity (NICE Framework) published on March 5, 2024 by NIST. The framework is publicly available at and contains Task, Knowledge, and Skill (TKS) Statements; Work Role Categories and Work Roles; and Competency Areas in the realm of cybersecurity workforce. The framework is available at https://www.nist.gov/itl/applied-cybersecurity/nice/nice-framework-resource-center.

We recruited our first cohort of five students for this semester-level program from the newly formed Bellini College of AI, Cybersecurity and Computing (CAICC) at the University of South Florida in January 2025. The five students went through our 14 week program centered on three foundational pillars – a) Basic Security Blue Team Level 1 (BTL1) Training for one month; b) Industrial Control Systems Foundational Course via the Aligned Realistic Cyberattack Simulation (ARCS) platform offered by SimSpace for one month; and c) ICS/SCADA Security Essentials course offered by the SANS institute. Students are eligible for a BTL1 certificate, and a Global Industrial Cyber Security Professional Certification (GICSP) in Industrial Control Systems upon completing a) and c). In addition, throughout the program, students are exposed to backdoors and breaches exercises, participate in mock security operations center (SOC) intelligence briefs, and also read state of the art research papers and trends in cyber centered critical infrastructure protection.

Multiple critical infrastructure entities in Florida participated in student engagement activities in Spring 2025. These include Tampa Airport, Tampa General Hospital, Talquin Coop and Seminole Electric. We have our next cohort of students starting in Fall 2025, and you are welcome to engage with Cyber Florida/ our students in the program. Post training, we expect our students to meet internship and entry-level workforce requirements in cybersecurity for critical infrastructure sectors in Florida.

NIST Report ProgressJennifer Kleman2025-06-04T13:01:30-04:00

CIPP Update: June 2025
CIPP Update: June 2025

CIPP Update: June 2025

CI Mapping

Cyber Florida has employed geospatial analytics and cybersecurity assessments to improve visibility into Florida’s vital infrastructure, enabling more effective coordination, risk mitigation, and rapid response efforts across state agencies.

Leveraging advanced technology to identify critical infrastructures significantly improves state leadership’s situational awareness and decision-making in all-hazards planning and preparedness.

Critical Infrastructure Protection Program Timeline

CIPP Update: June 2025Jennifer Kleman2025-06-04T12:43:42-04:00

Cyber Florida Partners with Idaho National Laboratory
Cyber Florida Partners with Idaho National Laboratory

Cyber Florida Partners with Idaho National Laboratory

Strategic partnership between Idaho National Laboratory and Cyber Florida bolsters cybersecurity, nurtures talent

May 20, 2025—Tampa, Fla—The Center for Cybersecurity at the University of South Florida, commonly known as Cyber Florida, and the Idaho National Laboratory (INL) have agreed to collaborate on critical infrastructure cyber mitigation and workforce development.

INL and Cyber Florida signed a memorandum of understanding to formalize the collaboration late last month.

One of INL’s primary focus areas is securing the nation’s critical infrastructure, while Cyber Florida positions Florida as a national leader in cybersecurity through education, research and outreach.

This agreement allows the state to use INL’s world-class critical infrastructure resiliency and cybersecurity capabilities focused on enhancing local, state and national preparedness in alignment with the Trump administration’s executive order titled, “Achieving Efficiency Through State and Local Preparedness.” The collaboration will focus on cybersecurity risk mitigation, operational technology and industrial control systems, defense industrial base sector cyber risk, workforce development and more.

“Cyber Florida is committed to fostering innovation and developing the next generation of cybersecurity professionals,” said retired Marine Corps Gen. Frank McKenzie, executive director of Cyber Florida. “This partnership with the Idaho National Laboratory underscores our shared dedication to strengthening our nation’s critical infrastructure and advancing the workforce needed to meet emerging cyber threats. Together, we are preparing for the future of cybersecurity in both the public and private sectors.”

INL and the state of Florida have previously collaborated to enhance cybersecurity for critical infrastructure sectors such as energy and transportation. In 2023, Cyber Florida and INL implemented the Critical Infrastructure Risk Assessment, leveraging the Department of Homeland Security’s Cyber Security Evaluation Tool, developed by INL, to analyze the cyber readiness of Florida’s 16 critical infrastructure sectors. The study, conducted on behalf of the Florida Legislature, offered recommendations to improve risk-based decision-making, inform state-level policy and support funding. The same year, INL signed a separate agreement with the state of Florida’s Department of Management Services alongside Florida Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nuñez.

“As states increasingly take on the responsibility of protecting both physical and cyber infrastructure, INL is poised to support local risk-informed decision-making across the country,” said Zach Tudor, associate laboratory director for National and Homeland Security at INL. “Florida’s critical infrastructure network is vast and expansive, and our collaboration aims to enhance its resilience and security ensuring the state’s critical functions remain dependable.”

About Idaho National Laboratory
Battelle Energy Alliance manages INL for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Nuclear Energy. INL is the nation’s center for nuclear energy research and development, and also performs research in each of DOE’s strategic goal areas: energy, national security, science and the environment. For more information, visit www.inl.gov. Follow us on social media: Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and X.

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 current and future cybersecurity professionals, advance applied research, and enhance cybersecurity awareness and safety of individuals and organizations.

Media Contacts
Jennifer Kleman, 863-398-5610, jennifer437@cyberflorida.org
Lisa Wilmore, 616-540-8348, lisa.wilmore@inl.gov

Cyber Florida Partners with Idaho National LaboratoryJennifer Kleman2025-05-21T08:23:45-04:00

Cyber Florida Partners with CyberUSA
Cyber Florida Partners with CyberUSA

Cyber Florida Partners with CyberUSA

Cyber Florida at USF Partners with CyberUSA, Strengthening National Cybersecurity Collaboration

May 20, 2025—Tampa, Fla—Cyber Florida at USF has partnered with CyberUSA, marking a significant step toward enhancing national cybersecurity coordination and resilience. This partnership will focus on information sharing, workforce development, and critical infrastructure protection.

Cyber Florida at USF, established by the Florida Legislature and housed at the University of South Florida’s Tampa campus, is dedicated to positioning Florida as a national leader in cybersecurity through comprehensive education, cutting-edge research, and extensive outreach. The organization works across public and private sectors to lead workforce development programs, advance applied research, and conduct outreach to enhance cyber safety and resiliency throughout the state.

“CyberUSA is thrilled to partner with Cyber Florida,” said Adam Rak, executive director of CyberUSA. “Their leadership in cybersecurity education and innovation will greatly enhance our collective efforts to strengthen the nation’s cyber defenses.”

James Jacobs, director of partnerships & policy at Cyber Florida, emphasized the significance of the collaboration: “Partnering with CyberUSA enables us to collaborate across the country in efforts to enhance cybersecurity. We are excited to share our expertise with CyberUSA.”

Ernie Ferraresso, senior director of Cyber Florida, emphasized the strategic importance of the partnership. “In our interconnected world, cybersecurity is a shared responsibility. Our partnership with CyberUSA underscores our commitment to collaborative solutions that protect our state and nation’s digital infrastructure.”

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 current and future cybersecurity professionals, advance applied research, and enhance cybersecurity awareness and safety of individuals and organizations.

For more information about Cyber Florida, visit https://cyberflorida.org/

About CyberUSA
CyberUSA is a trusted forum where American organizations can collaborate on solutions to protect us all. By transcending local, state, and national security silos, we ensure that leaders and practitioners have the best possible resources to safeguard their assets.

CyberUSA membership amplifies cyber defense effectiveness through a community of communities that scales and accelerates information sharing to an unprecedented level. Membership provides access to reliable resources available nowhere else, including a national threat-sharing platform. The organization is dedicated to proactive coordination of public and private efforts to shape the education, innovation, and policy landscapes at the regional and federal levels.

For more information about CyberUSA, visit https://www.cyberusa.us/

Media Contacts

Cyber Florida: Cyber Outreach Manager Jennifer Kleman, APR, CPRC jennifer437@cyberflorida.org

CyberUSA: ‍CyberUSA Public Relations Jennifer Priest jpriest@virtualinc.com

Cyber Florida Partners with CyberUSAJennifer Kleman2025-05-21T08:24:04-04:00

USF Muma College of Business Offering In-Person Cybersecurity Training
USF Muma College of Business Offering In-Person Cybersecurity Training

USF Muma College of Business Offering In-Person Cybersecurity Training

Now Available In-Person: Cybersecurity Awareness Certificate Training for Florida State and Local Government Employees

This in-person option offered by the USF Muma College of Business meets the Cybersecurity Awareness Training requirement outlined in the Florida Digital Service’s Local Government Cybersecurity Resource Packet, and it brings the learning experience directly to your team.

Rather than completing the training online at your own pace, your organization can now engage USF instructors for on-site, instructor-led sessions. This format allows your entire workforce to receive the same curriculum at once, fostering a shared understanding of cybersecurity best practices and creating space for real-time questions and discussion.

Topics covered in the course include:

Phishing and common email scams
Password security and safe online behavior
Ransomware, scareware, viruses, and malware
Social engineering tactics
Best practices to protect sensitive information

This course empowers state and local government employees to recognize and respond to cyber threats—helping them serve as the first line of defense against cyberattacks.

In-person training is available to eligible Florida state and local government organizations.

Register

USF Muma College of Business Offering In-Person Cybersecurity TrainingSarina Gandy2025-05-05T12:50:52-04:00

CyberLaunch 2025
CyberLaunch 2025

CyberLaunch 2025

Florida’s Largest High School Cyber Competition Breaks Records, Inspires Futures

Nearly 1,000 high school students, teachers, and chaperones from across the state descended on the Caribe Royale Resort in Orlando on April 4 for Cyber Florida’s annual CyberLaunch, the nation’s largest in-person, state-sponsored high school cybersecurity competition. And the excitement on the competition floor? Unmatched!

Hosted by Cyber Florida, CyberLaunch 2025 brought together students from 99 schools across 49 districts, including Florida’s five largest school districts and its smallest—LaFayette. In just its second year, CyberLaunch has grown into a premier showcase of talent and opportunity, offering a platform for students to shine and discover future careers in cybersecurity.

I would like to take this opportunity and thank all of Cyber Florida for putting this together.
It really is a wonderful opportunity and platform for the cybersecurity students of Florida to shine.
— Maria Halley Hernandez, John A. Ferguson Senior High School

The Ultimate Cyber Kickstart

Designed to familiarize high school students with the exciting world of cybersecurity, CyberLaunch featured a hands-on capture-the-flag (CTF) style challenge, inspiring keynotes, breakout sessions for educators, and opportunities for students to interact with industry professionals to gain insights into cybersecurity careers.

This year’s event also welcomed 18 career and technical education administrators from 12 school districts, highlighting growing support from school systems eager to expand cybersecurity learning in classrooms.

CyberLaunch 2025 wasn’t just about what happened in one day—it was the culmination of weeks of preparation. Participating teachers and students received access to a library of practice materials and classroom-ready activities that helped demystify cybersecurity concepts and build skills leading up to the big day.

Thank you for an amazing event. My students smiled the entire way home.
We plan on starting an IT Club next Sept.
– Capt. Tim McAllister, Orange Park High School

A Mission in Motion

CyberLaunch is more than a one-day event—it’s a key part of Cyber Florida’s mission to cultivate a robust cybersecurity workforce and create opportunities for every Florida student. Thanks to support from the Florida Legislature and private donors, Cyber Florida ensured that access to this event was obtainable by making the event free to all students and schools.

And the outcomes speak for themselves: students walked away energized, curious, and, in many cases, ready to learn more about the field, and start IT/cybersecurity clubs if they didn’t have one in place already. Teachers gained tools to help bring cybersecurity into their classrooms. And Florida took another big step forward in building digital resilience from the ground up.

And the Winners Are…

After an intense day of solving puzzles, cracking codes, and working as a team under pressure, a few schools rose to the top. We’re proud to announce the winning teams of CyberLaunch 2025:

Advanced level
1^st Place: John A. Ferguson Sr High, Miami-Dade
Teacher: Maria Halley Hernandez
Students: Michael Lopez, Sabrina Chile, Rachel Diaz

2^nd Place: 2: East River/Boone High Schools, Orange
Teacher: James Mitchell
Students: Zane Strait (Boone), Brady Graham (Boone), Jamal Santiago (Boone), Bi Trinh (East River)

3^rd Place: John A. Ferguson Sr High, Miami-Dade
Teacher: Maria Halley Hernandez
Students: Fabio Martin, Gabriel Barreto Otero, Dominic Hung, Angelo Isasi

Intermediate level
1^st Place: Hialeah Gardens, Miami-Dade
Teacher: Rein De Armas
Students: Daniel D. Alvarez, Jean M. Hernandez, Luis E. Lovera

2^nd Place: Crooms Academy of Information Technology, Seminole
Teacher: Halima Fisher
Students: Mikhail Tyukin, Anish Miryala, Alyssa Durand, Zane DeReamer

3^rd Place: Suncoast Polytechnical High School, Sarasota
Teacher: Stephen McCormack, Lucinda Schlotterback
Students: Lucas Mattos, Maria Kadochnikova, Ben Kuzmik, Szymon Stead-Topor

Beginner level
1^st Place: Angeline Academy of Innovation, Pasco
Teacher: Michael Marchesano
Students: Chris Workentin, Logan Prescott, Malakai Jefferson, Christopher Devoe

2^nd Place: Timber Creek High School, Orange
Teacher: Daniel Foster
Students: Eoghan Riley, Tomas Lopez Devia, Matthew Nguyen

3^rd Place: iPrep Academy North, Miami-Dade
Teacher: Yoel Monzote
Students: Raiya Cohen, Brianna Louissaint, Ariadna Monzon

These standout students demonstrated critical thinking, collaboration, and technical excellence under pressure—and we can’t wait to see where their cyber journeys take them next.

We are so grateful for all the time, energy, and care you put into making this event such a meaningful experience for the students.
It was truly impressive, and very much appreciated.
– Christine Ackerman, Middleburg High School

Looking Ahead

CyberLaunch will return with even more opportunities, more resources, and more students ready to make their mark. Whether you’re a teacher looking to bring cybersecurity into your classroom or a student curious about coding, hacking, and solving digital problems, Cyber Florida’s Operation K12 is your starting point.

To stay informed about next year’s competition, resources, and updates, follow Cyber Florida on social media and visit cyberflorida.org.

A HUGE thank you to our generous and amazing sponsors for supporting this important event!

Universe Sponsor
USF Youth Experience

Orbit Sponsors
AFCEA Central Florida chapter
Bluum
Certification Partners
CompTIA
HP
Prodigy Learning
Teaching Digital Natives

Liftoff Sponsors
EC-Council
Knowledge Pillars

Launchpad Sponsors
Certiport
Dark Enterprise Inc
Guardian Cyber
Marcraft
Siemens
UTeach UTexas

Starbase Supporters
Crespo AI
EDVision
Jamal Rodman
USF World
Zscaler Inc

CyberLaunch 2025Jennifer Kleman2025-04-11T14:50:59-04:00

Putts & PD 2025
Putts & PD 2025

Putts & PD 2025

Putts & PD 2025Leigh Anne Blackwell2025-04-10T15:07:49-04:00

MEDIA ADVISORY: Nation’s largest (state-wide, state-sponsored) in-person high school cyber competition
MEDIA ADVISORY: Nation’s largest (state-wide, state-sponsored) in-person high school cyber competition

MEDIA ADVISORY: Nation’s largest (state-wide, state-sponsored) in-person high school cyber competition

WHEN: April 4, 2025, from 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

WHERE: Caribe Royale Resort, Orlando

WHO: Nearly 1,000 high school students, teachers, and chaperones from 90 schools in 49 Florida school districts

The five largest school districts in Florida are attending
The smallest district in Florida is attending (LaFayette)
18 CTE admin attending from 12 districts

WHAT: CyberLaunch, Florida’s annual statewide high school cybersecurity competition

CyberLaunch introduces high school students to the exciting world of cybersecurity through an engaging capture-the-flag style cyber competition, inspiring speakers, and opportunities to interact with industry professionals.

In its second year, the CyberLaunch program includes resources for teachers and students new to cybersecurity, offering classroom activities and practice tools to help competitors familiarize themselves with the platform before the competition.

Media representatives are invited to cover this event to capture high-energy moments from the competition floor, educator breakout sessions, and keynote presentations by industry leaders, including Michael Melore, CISSP, Public Sector Security Evangelist, Ambassador and Chair of Nationwide SecRT – Security Leaders Round Table & Sr Associate Partner, IBM.

Upon conclusion of the competition, Cyber Florida can provide:

High-resolution photos of teams, speakers, and key moments
Video footage, including B-roll of the event atmosphere and competition highlights
Video interviews with student competitors, educators, and Cyber Florida leadership

WHY: This event aligns with Cyber Florida’s mission to cultivate a robust cybersecurity workforce and support innovative solutions that enhance Florida’s digital resilience.

HOW: CyberLaunch is provided free to students and schools via funding from the Florida legislature and generous donors.

Please contact Cyber Outreach Manager Jennifer Kleman, APR, CPRC, at Jennifer437@cyberflorida.org to arrange to attend in person or access assets after the event. For more information about Cyber Florida and its mission to advance cybersecurity in the state, visit cyberflorida.org.

Registered Florida School Districts:
Alachua
Baker
Brevard
Broward
Charlotte
Citrus
Clay
Collier
Columbia
Dade
Dixie
Duval
Escambia
FAU Lab School
Flagler
Gadsden
Gilchrist
Gulf
Hamilton
Hardee
Hendry
Hernando
Highlands
Hillsborough
Indian River
Jackson
Lafayette
Lee
Manatee
Marion
Martin
Nassau
Okeechobee
Orange
Osceola
Palm Beach
Pasco
Pinellas
Polk
Putnam
Santa Rosa
Sarasota
St. Johns
Seminole
Suwannee
Tallahassee State College – Academy
Florida Virtual School
Volusia
Washington

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 current and future cybersecurity professionals, advance applied research, and enhance cybersecurity awareness and safety of individuals and organizations.

MEDIA ADVISORY: Nation’s largest (state-wide, state-sponsored) in-person high school cyber competitionJennifer Kleman2025-03-28T08:50:33-04:00

Cybersecurity Fundamentals for Florida Manufacturers: FloridaMakes Webinar
Cybersecurity Fundamentals for Florida Manufacturers: FloridaMakes Webinar

Cybersecurity Fundamentals for Florida Manufacturers: FloridaMakes Webinar

This webinar will cover how to plan a simple roadmap and additional recommendations for getting started defending your company from Cybersecurity attacks.

For FloridaMakes clients working with Defense customers, provided is an overview of the Department of Defense Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) program, and recommendations for getting started and achieving this critical compliance requirement.

Speakers will present the no-cost programs and services available to Florida companies, including the Critical Infrastructure Risk Assessment.

The presentation will conclude with next steps and additional resources to get you on a path toward CMMC compliance.

Finally, extra time will be allocated for a robust Q&A starting with a review of the concerns posed at the prior webinar.

Key Takeaways:        

Briefly review the key concepts of cybersecurity, CMMC Level 1 and Level 2, DIB, FCRA and other pertinent acronyms;

Resume learning the roadmap for starting a Cybersecurity practice if you don’t already have one;

Overview and key steps for achieving CMMC compliance for Defense suppliers;

No-cost resources provided by Cyber Florida, including the Critical Infrastructure Risk Assessment.

register

Cybersecurity Fundamentals for Florida Manufacturers: FloridaMakes WebinarSarina Gandy2025-04-14T11:18:32-04:00

FEMA Offering “Recovering From Cybersecurity Incidents” Course in March
FEMA Offering “Recovering From Cybersecurity Incidents” Course in March

FEMA Offering “Recovering From Cybersecurity Incidents” Course in March

This 16-hour course provides guidance on building and executing a robust cybersecurity incident recovery program, covering both pre- and post-incident stages. It bridges IT and emergency management to help government, critical infrastructure, and private-sector personnel effectively respond to and recover from cyber disruptions.

Through interactive discussion and practical exercises, participants will learn best practices and tactical strategies for restoring operations following a cyber-attack. By the end of this course, you’ll be equipped to strengthen organizational resilience, manage cyber incidents more effectively, and build an action plan for continued readiness.

As part of a Department of Homeland Security/Federal Emergency Management Agency (DHS/FEMA) cooperative agreement training program, this course is available at no direct cost to state, county, and local government agencies.

Key Topics Include:

Understanding essential cyber terminology and the cyber incident life cycle
Recognizing threat levels and exploring emergency management practices
Examining the recovery continuum and government’s role in cybersecurity
Integrating cyber into the Incident Command System (ICS)
Leveraging federal resources and key programmatic elements that drive successful recovery
Learning how to plan, organize, equip, train, and exercise for cyber incidents
Implementing short-term and long-term recovery actions
Building a cyber incident recovery action plan tailored to your organization’s needs

Suggested Audience

Government and private sector IT staff
Local administrators and upper-level management personnel
System administration
Risk management personnel
Local government administration
Emergency management coordinators

Upon successful completion, you will be able to:

Describe fundamental concepts and resources related to cyber incident recovery.
Examine recovery preparedness for cybersecurity incidents.
Examine tactical, short-term and strategic, long-term recovery operations for cybersecurity incidents.
Produce a cyber incident recovery action plan based on the scenario information provided.

Enrollment Requirements

Participants must be U.S. citizens. A FEMA Student ID is required to register for and participate in any training provided by FEMA agencies. All FEMA training providers, registration systems, and enrollment procedures are required to use this FEMA SID, which can be obtained at the following website: https://cdp.dhs.gov/femasidopens in a new tab; or with TEEX assistance upon arrival for class.

more course information

FEMA Offering “Recovering From Cybersecurity Incidents” Course in MarchSarina Gandy2025-04-14T11:18:58-04:00