News

Developing Cybersecurity Curriculum with Cyber Threat Intelligence and Honeypot Platform

Join UNF on June 26, 2023 for a workshop on cybersecurity curriculum development!

With the rapid development of attackers’ Techniques, Tactics, and Procedures (TTP), it is necessary for cybersecurity analysts to develop cyber defense knowledge to protect cyber assets. The field of cyber threat intelligence provides a broad range of techniques for collecting useful information to analyze the attacker’s TTP. In this workshop hosted by the University of North Florida, instructors will discuss the development of a Cyber Threat Intelligence course. Moreover, they will discuss how the deployment of a Honeypot server can be used to improve students’ understanding of cyberattacks. Finally, they will discuss issues and considerations related to the development of cybersecurity curricula.

This workshop is open to all – click the link below to register!

Register Now
2023-07-31T13:16:55-04:00May 23, 2023|
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Tampa Bay Safety Summit

Port Tampa Bay and Tampa International Airport are proud to announce the 8th Annual Tampa Bay Safety Summit!

The 2023 Tampa Bay Safety Summit will include a vast range of local, state and federal representatives, as well as a variety of industry experts to engage you with presentations and panel discussions relating to safety, security and operational readiness, in an open forum setting.

This year’s keynote speaker will be General Kenneth F. “Frank” McKenzie, USMC, Retired. General McKenzie is the former Commander, United States Central Command (CENTCOM). His distinguished and highly decorated military career includes over 42 years of honorable service to our country. Today, General McKenzie serves as the Executive Director of Cyber Florida as well as USF’s Global and National Security Institute.

Additionally, Cyber Florida’s Emilio F. Salabarria will be presenting on the Critical Infrastructure Risk Assessment. If you want to learn more about this initiative and how your organization can help protect Florida, register now and ask your questions live!

Featured Speakers

  • General Kenneth F. “Frank” McKenzie, USMC, Retired – Executive Director USF Global and National Security Insitute & Executive Director Florida Center for Cybersecurity, aka Cyber Florida
  • Emilio F. Salabarria, Deputy Senior Executive Advisor, Cyber Florida
  • Paul Anderson, President and CEO, Port Tampa Bay
  • Dr. Yu Yu Zhang, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at University of South Florida (USF)
  • And more!

Agenda

  • Session 1 – Port Resiliencey (Maritime and Aviation)
  • Session 2 – Drones & Advanced Air Mobility
  • Session 3 – Current Challenges for CBP in the Maritime & Aviation Environment
  • Session 4 – Statewide Critical Infrastructure Risk Assessment

Event Details

  • When – Tuesday, June 06, 2023
    • Sign-in and Continental Breakfast starts at 7:45 AM
  • Where – Tampa International Airport, Main Terminal Event Space
    • Parking available in the Economy Parking Lot
    • Take SkyConnect Train to Main Terminal. Access station from elevators located on Level 1 of the garage
    • Event Space is located in between Airsides E & F on Level 3
    • Parking validation will be provided at sign-in
Learn more and register
2023-07-31T13:20:54-04:00May 22, 2023|
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The Ferré Institute CLASS: A Conversation about Cybersecurity Culture

Join us on June 8, 2023 for a conversation on promoting Cybersecurity Culture in your organization.

The Ferré Institute’s Civic Leadership and Service Series (CLASS) offers engaging discussions with public service leaders in the areas of civic engagement and leadership, community infrastructure, and social justice.

Co-Sponsored by: FIU Jorge M. Pérez

Metropolitan Center Partners:

  • Jack D. Gordon Institute for Public Policy
  • Department of Public Policy and Administration
  • The Children’s Trust of Miami-Dade County
  • Broward County Children’s Services Council American Society for Public Administration – South Florida Chapter
Register Now
2023-07-31T13:16:55-04:00May 18, 2023|
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Four States Passed Nearly Half of All New Cyber Laws in 2022

As employers in the private and public sectors adjust to the advent of flexible work over the last two years, they’re simultaneously trying to protect their organizations from attackers looking to steal and sell data.

2021 was a year defined by significant cyberattacks that crippled infrastructure and shut down hospitals, schools, and municipal governments. It’s the same year the Colonial Pipeline, which supplies gasoline to millions living in the Northeast U.S., was hobbled by a ransomware attack that triggered a gas panic and elevated prices for consumers.

And lawmakers were paying attention—passing dozens of laws in 2022 aimed at training workers, securing government agencies, and funneling money into cybersecurity education programs.

Drata analyzed legislation across all 50 states tracked by the National Conference of Legislatures to identify the states where the most cybersecurity regulations were enacted in 2022. At least 25 states enacted 43 laws that address cybersecurity concerns, out of more than 250 bills proposed and considered by legislatures, including in U.S. territories.

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, part of the Department of Homeland Security, describes cybersecurity as the “art” of defending computers, electronic devices, and networks against malicious attacks seeking to compromise their function or data.

Companies and government organizations employ cybersecurity methods to keep people who aren’t authorized to see certain information out of those digital spaces and to secure private information or company trade secrets from prying eyes, including criminals.

The average cost of a data breach at a U.S. company in 2022 was $9.4 million, according to IBM’s annual report on cybersecurity threats. Ransomware is one of the most common forms of attack. In a ransomware attack, the offender gains access to a network, takes private information that can often be sensitive, and locks it up with a code only the attacker knows—demanding a ransom be paid to regain access. But access isn’t always granted after a ransom is paid.

Maryland and Florida passed the most new legislation of all states

Maryland’s newest cybersecurity-oriented laws expand on training programs and dedicate public money to protecting digital and information technology infrastructure throughout its state and local governments, including setting standards for its 911 emergency telephone system. It also places new requirements on health care and insurance providers.

In Florida, newly enacted laws will require municipalities to adopt cybersecurity standards, report incidents of ransomware, assess steep fines against perpetrators of attacks, and prevent government agencies from paying ransomware demands.

About half of the states in the U.S. did not enact any cybersecurity-related legislation in 2022. Some of those states may convene to make laws less frequently, like Texas, which has a state legislature that gathers every other year. Other states, including Oregon, proposed new laws but did not pass any of them through their legislatures.

Kentucky

– Enacted: 3
– Failed: None
– Vetoed: None

The Kentucky legislature passed three laws in 2022, one of which was a mostly ceremonial resolution urging Congress to take action to mitigate cyberattacks and specifically ransomware. The other two create cybersecurity regulations that apply to insurance firms and investment advisors.

Licensed insurers based in Kentucky will have to implement and report cybersecurity and data privacy standards annually to the state. It also requires organizations to report cybersecurity events to the state no less than three days from when they’re discovered. It carries a penalty of up to $10,000 per violation. The new law does not apply to any companies already in compliance with federal data privacy and breach laws like the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act of 1999 or rules issued by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

The other law simply requires all registered investment advisors to create and implement cybersecurity policies that “ensure the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of physical and electronic records and information.”

Virginia

– Enacted: 3
– Failed: 2
– Vetoed: None

In Virginia, lawmakers passed laws requiring public sector agencies to report all cybersecurity incidents to its Virginia Fusion Intelligence Center, and allocating funding to help employers in the state attract and retain cybersecurity professionals. The state is sending tens of millions to help recruit faculty at Virginia Tech.

Florida

– Enacted: 4
– Failed: 10
– Vetoed: None

Florida passed four laws related to cybersecurity in 2022, including a budget bill that allocates $20.5 million to higher education and workforce development in the industry. About half of that money was earmarked for the Florida Center for Cybersecurity at the University of South Florida while the other half will go to building a “Cyber Attack and Simulation Range” for “highly technical” training. The state is also dedicating $50 million to implement a 2021 task force’s recommendation for better cybersecurity protections for the state’s businesses and government agencies.

It also passed a law that exempted some aspects of cybersecurity attacks and data breaches from public records law, where the information would help criminals learn about “detection, investigation, or response practices.” It does not stop government agencies from reporting the number of incidents and general information about each.

A new Florida statute will also create a penalty for the perpetrators of attacks against government entities equal to twice the total of the ransom demanded.

Maryland

– Enacted: 8
– Failed: 17
– Vetoed: 2

The Modernize Maryland Act of 2022 included requirements for water and sewer systems to assess and report cybersecurity vulnerabilities to the government. It also created a commission and fund to support and implement state and local government cybersecurity investments before the end of 2030.

The state also passed a law setting cybersecurity standards for health care organizations, including most insurers and those that provide care to Medicaid patients. It requires organizations to issue thorough notifications about data breaches affecting more than 250 people in the state and carries a fine of up to $125,000 for each violation of the law.

Another bill revised and expanded the state’s Cybersecurity Public Service Scholarship Program for students interested in pursuing a cybersecurity career. Previously the program supported students who went on to work for state agencies. Now it includes those who go to work for schools and colleges as well as county and municipal governments.

Among the 17 measures that failed in Maryland was one that would have given small businesses a state tax break for spending on cybersecurity measures.

Source: https://stacker.com/government/4-states-passed-nearly-half-all-new-cybersecurity-laws-enacted-across-us-2022
2023-09-16T17:38:36-04:00April 6, 2023|
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Cyber Florida to Host NCAE Cyber Games Finals

Cyber Florida at the University of South Florida is proud to host the national championship round of the NCAE Cyber Games on April 22 on the University of South Florida-Tampa campus.

Funded by a grant from the National Security Agency’s National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity (NCAE-C) program, NCAE Cyber Games is dedicated to inspiring college students to enter the exciting (and sometimes profitable!) realm of cyber competitions. Cyber competitions are a valuable addition to any college student’s resume, but they can be intimidating for first-timers. NCAE Cyber Games is creating a new style of collegiate cybersecurity competition for college students who have never competed before, where they can learn about cyber competitions in an environment focused on teamwork, building confidence, and growing their skills.

Now in its second year, the program has grown from about 500 competitors from 50 colleges and universities to 700+ competitors from more than 80 colleges and universities out of approximately 350 NCAE-C institutions.

Cyber Florida will host roughly 12o competitors from 11 regional winning teams to face off in a day-long competition to determine the Year 2 National Champions! The University of South Florida eSports crew will broadcast live the second half of the day on https://www.twitch.tv/ncaecybergames.

Learn more
2023-04-25T08:35:04-04:00April 6, 2023|
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Policy Paper: The National Cyber Strategy & Florida

2023-04-05T17:33:39-04:00April 5, 2023|
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Cybersecurity Spring Symposium 2023

Join us for a symposium hosted by Palm Beach State College (PBSC) in partnership with the School District of Palm Beach County (SDPBC) to bring together academic researchers, student ethical hackers, industry practitioners and professionals to engage in information sharing to examine the latest cyber-defense techniques and emerging cybercrime threats. The symposium will serve as a foundation for making cybersecurity connections, information exchange, and problem-solving as students and industry professionals—work together to form alliances for a stronger and more prepared cybersecurity workforce to address the demands of a constantly evolving cyber threat landscape.

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2023-05-02T11:00:15-04:00April 5, 2023|
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FAMU Receives $5M to Establish Cyber Policy Institute

Florida A&M University (FAMU) is among four schools, each receiving $5 million from the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation for the creation of a Cyber Policy Institute that will allow the University to develop scholars to address cyber policy issues especially for underrepresented communities.

FAMU, along with Spelman College, is one of two Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) to receive the funding to support the launch and expansion of interdisciplinary cyber policy programs. Florida International University in Miami, a Hispanic-serving institution, and Turtle Mountain Community College, a tribal college in Belcourt, North Dakota, are the other two grant recipients, the Hewlett Foundation announced Wednesday.

“We are proud to partner with the Hewlett Foundation to create the Cyber Policy Institute, an interdisciplinary collaboration between the University’s College of Science and Technology (CST) and the College of Social Sciences, Arts, and Humanities (CSSAH),” said FAMU President Larry Robinson, Ph.D. “This partnership will help students develop expertise and, ultimately, earn a master’s degree in cyber policy. Let me congratulate and thank the Hewlett team, and our team, for bringing this opportunity to FAMU. I am excited that through this initiative, we will produce cyber policy experts well-equipped to address the complex interactions of people, communities, and cyber policy.”

Launched in early 2014, the 10-year, $150 million Cyber Initiative’s goal has been to cultivate a field of institutions with experts capable of addressing society’s most pressing cyber challenges, from encryption policy to combating ransomware to establishing norms governing conflict between nations in cyberspace, among others.

“Because of the pivotal role digital technology plays in our society, it is critical that the cybersecurity field that protects computer networks and individual users can draw on the experience and expertise of people from diverse backgrounds – particularly those that have historically been underrepresented and excluded,” Eli Sugarman, who leads the Cyber Initiative for the Hewlett Foundation, said in a statement. “The work these institutions will do represents a key piece of the puzzle in the development of a more diverse cyber policy field that can keep us all safer in cyberspace.”

As part of the initiative, Stanford University is a mentor for the FAMU group, led by an interdisciplinary team from CST and CSSAH. The partnership aims to integrate science-based and market-oriented domains of knowledge within the university to help students develop expertise in cyber policy and, ultimately, earn a master’s degree in cyber policy,  the announcement stated.

The FAMU Cyber Policy Institute (Cyπ) addresses challenges and opportunities presented by the development of cyber-enabled disciplines where market science fuses with the domain, their impact on society and human evolvement while creating a talent pipeline that produces experts with the necessary mix of non-technical and technical skills and knowledge to staff our institutions- academia, government and corporate, said Principal Investigator, FAMU CST Dean Richard Alo, Ph.D.

CSSAH Dean Valencia Matthews, Ph.D., Richard A. Long, Ph.D., CST associate dean for Research & Graduate Programs, and Kyle Eidahl, Ph.D., professor of social sciences, are co-principal investigators for the initiative.

“The institute will engage faculty and graduate student fellows and broaden collaboration between non-STEM and STEM disciplines,” Alo explained.

With the spectacular and fast-paced technological innovation, particularly within social media, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Data Sciences, there has been a corresponding growth in the cyber-attack threat, Alo added.

“There have been great strides in how we respond to the cyber threat from a technological perspective, but cyber issues cannot be addressed from a purely technological perspective,” Alo said. “Data Science and its tools have significantly influenced the workforce where our professions are rapidly being digitalized and demand the fusion of market science – psychology, policy, management, ethics, etc. There is a pressing need for experts in cyber/technology policy. Developing policies to address cyber/technology issues, whether in government or the corporate environment, significantly lags behind technological advances.”

Source: https://www.famu.edu/about-famu/news/famu-receives-5m-hewlett-foundation-grant-to-establish-cyber-policy-institute.php 

2023-04-04T10:41:01-04:00April 4, 2023|
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Tampa Bay Tech PoweredUP Tech Festival

Announcing the 4th Annual poweredUP Tech Fest, brought to you by Tampa Bay Tech!

This event features sessions on key trends to not only enlighten but inspire those working in tech in Tampa Bay, with tangible learnings to take back to their workplaces and amplify their projects and initiatives.

This year’s tracks will take a deeper dive into top trends in cybersecurity, the metaverse, blockchain, crypto, bitcoin, NFTs, sustainability in tech, tech for good, DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion,) leadership, the current state of our tech workforce and more!

Sessions include:

  • A Look into the Metaverse with Accenture
  • CISO Panel, moderated by Pam Lindemoen, CISO Advisor, Cisco
  • The Future is Female Led Panel, moderated by Lauren Coffey, TBBJ & Inno
  • Tech for Good: Purpose-driven Innovation with AWS

And, this year’s Keynote: Cathie Wood, CEO of Ark Invest, with Joe Hamilton, Founder of Catalyst and Metacity.

2023-07-31T13:24:46-04:00March 30, 2023|
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2023 Government Innovation Florida

Public Sector Network invites you to join the conversation at Government Innovation Florida. This one-day, in-person event will provide the ideal meeting place to learn, collaborate, and discuss current trends and innovations being advanced by public sector leaders across the Sunshine state. With Tracks dedicated to Digital/CX, Data & Technology – this event will offer inspiring cases of innovation from leaders representing a cross-section of State & Local departments and agencies – and underpinned by transformative efforts intended to offer attendees the opportunity to reframe their understanding of innovation for the year to come.

Cyber Florida’s own Deputy Senior Executive Advisor Emilio F. Salabarria will be presenting Innovation in Practice: Cyber Secure Florida Initiative.

Learn more
2023-07-31T13:31:35-04:00March 29, 2023|
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Hosted by the University of South Florida
4202 E. Fowler Avenue, ISA7020
Tampa, FL 33620
outreach@cyberflorida.org
813-974-2604

Office meetings by appointment only

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Copyright 2024 The Florida Center for Cybersecurity. Information on this website is made available for general educational purposes only and should not be used in lieu of obtaining competent legal advice from a licensed attorney or cybersecurity professional with sufficient expertise necessary to address your specific needs. Use of this website does not create any special or fiduciary relationship between you and the Florida Center for Cybersecurity or the University of South Florida.