News

CyberBay Summit to Spark the Next Digital Defense Movement

CyberBay 2025 Tampa Florida Oct. 13-15

Tampa Bay conference unites cybersecurity, AI, national security leaders

 July 15, 2025—Tampa, Fla— CyberBay2025, a high-impact summit uniting the nation’s leading minds in cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and national security, is launching in Tampa Bay this fall. The event will engage leaders in business, investment, education, and the military with a bold agenda focused on redefining the front lines of digital defense.

Set for October 13–15, 2025 at the Tampa Marriott Water Street, the event is hosted by Cyber Florida, University of South Florida (USF), The USF Bellini College of AI, Cybersecurity and Computing, USF Institute for AI+X, and Bellini Capital. Registration is now open at CyberBay.org.

“Tampa Bay is the hub of America’s cyber resilience. Established companies, startups, investors, educators, and the military are building a next-generation cybersecurity ecosystem that outpaces threats and serves as an economic engine for the country,” said Arnie Bellini, Managing Partner at Bellini Capital. “CyberBay 2025 will ignite innovation and action from classrooms to corporations to command centers.”

Content at the summit will mobilize a new era of cyber readiness capable of safeguarding infrastructure, protecting free enterprise, and defending digital borders. The agenda will focus on cybersecurity, AI+X, national security, the start-up/VC ecosystem, research and development, and education, talent recruitment, and retention.

In addition, a cybersecurity Capture the Flag competition will feature rising talent, and an AI and Cyber Talent Showcase will bring graduating students and job seekers together with leaders from Tampa’s tech industry.

Current speakers include:

  • Jen Easterly, former director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, combat veteran, cybersecurity pioneer
  • General (Ret.) Frank McKenzie, Executive Director, Cyber Florida at USF and the Global and National Security Institute, USF
  • Patrick McDaniel, Professor of Computer Sciences, University of Wisconsin–Madison
  • Arnie Bellini, Tech Entrepreneur & Managing Partner, Bellini Capital
  • Gayle Sheppard, Board of Directors, Nutanix
  • Elisa Bertino, Samuel D. Conte Distinguished Professor of Computer Science, Purdue University

Early bird ticket pricing is available until July 31, 2025.

Ticket Early Bird Price Regular Price after July 31
General Admission $200 $250
Gov/Academia/Military/Nonprofit $150 $200
Student $20 $40

Sponsors for the event include ConnectSecure, ThreatLocker, and CyberFOX, among other Tampa institutions and cybersecurity organizations.

For sponsorship information, please contact Andrew Morgan at andrew@rightofboom.com.

Journalists interested in attending should contact Jennifer Kleman, APR, CPRC, Cyber Outreach Manager at Jennifer437@cyberflorida.org for a complimentary ticket.

About The University of South Florida (USF)
The University of South Florida is a top-ranked research university, serving approximately 50,000 students from across the globe at campuses in Tampa, St. Petersburg, Sarasota-Manatee and USF Health. USF is recognized by U.S. News & World Report as a top 50 public university and the best value in Florida. U.S. News also ranks the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine as the No. 1 medical school in Florida and in the highest tier nationwide. USF is a member of the Association of American Universities (AAU), a group that includes only the top 3% of universities in the U.S. With an all-time high of $738 million in research funding in 2024 and as a top 20 public university for producing U.S. patents, USF uses innovation to transform lives and shape a better future. The university generates an annual economic impact of more than $6 billion. USF’s Division I athletics teams compete in the American Athletic Conference. Learn more at www.usf.edu.

About USF Bellini College of AI, Cybersecurity and Computing
The Bellini College of AI, Cybersecurity and Computing at the University of South Florida is the first named college for AI, cybersecurity, and computing, dedicated to advancing education, research and ethical innovation. The College is designed to foster interdisciplinary innovation and technology development through strong industry and government partnerships, serving as a critical talent center for CyberBay and the cybersecurity sector as a whole.

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.

About USF Institute for Artificial Intelligence (AI+X)
The USF Institute for Artificial Intelligence (AI+X) is a university-wide research and education center for Artificial Intelligence. It conducts externally-funded research in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and associated areas (X = Healthcare, Medicine, Biology, Cybersecurity, Finance, Business, Manufacturing, Transportation), using a transdisciplinary approach across Neuroscience, Cognitive Science, and Computer Science, and work with industry to transition them into products that benefit humanity in an ethical and responsible manner.

About Bellini Capital
Deploying capital through a blend of seed investment and philanthropy, Bellini Capital is seeking to create an unbreakable ecosystem of cybersecurity innovation, talent development, and ecological stewardship. The firm was founded by technology entrepreneur, investor, and philanthropist, Arnie Bellini, and is based in Tampa, Florida (a.k.a. CyberBay).

Media contact:
Jennifer Kleman, APR, CPRC
Cyber Outreach Manage
Jennifer437@cyberflorida.org

CyberBay Summit to Spark the Next Digital Defense Movement2025-07-15T09:10:09-04:00

Career Launch Series: From Apprentice to Advisor

Erika Delvalle

How Cyber Florida’s SOCAP Helped Erika Delvalle Launch Her Cybersecurity Career

When Erika Delvalle crossed the stage to receive her diploma from the University of South Florida in December, she wasn’t just closing a chapter; she was already deep into the next one. Now a full-time cybersecurity advisor at Rapid7, Erika helps organizations strengthen their security postures using tools like InsightIDR and InsightVM. However, she credits much of her early success to the experience and exposure she gained through Cyber Florida’s SOCAP (Security Operations Center Apprenticeship Program).

Real-World Skills, Real-World Confidence

SOCAP gave Erika more than just a preview of what life in cybersecurity could look like; it gave her a running start. During her time in the program, Erika helped write and distribute monthly threat hunting reports to government agencies, gaining valuable experience in technical analysis and professional communication.

“That experience gave me the confidence to write full reports and share them with external partners,” she recalled. “That was the moment I felt ready for the real world. It showed me I could handle the technical side and clearly explain what I found.”

She also became familiar with industry-standard tools like Splunk, CrowdStrike, and Recorded Future—knowledge that has translated directly into her current role.

“Much of what I do now is rooted in what I learned in SOCAP. The hands-on practice helped me hit the ground running.”

A Day in the Life at Rapid7

In her new role at Rapid7, no two days are the same. Erika works closely with clients to ensure they understand how to get the most out of their security tools while staying on top of constant product updates and industry developments.

“I spend a lot of time answering questions, helping clients troubleshoot, and collaborating with our SOC team to resolve any concerns,” she said. “There’s also a lot of learning—our tools evolve quickly, and I’ve had to develop strategies to keep up.”

Erika said she uses many methods to stay current, including watching videos, reading documentation, asking coworkers, and simply following her curiosity.

Building a Strong Foundation

While many of the incidents she deals with—such as phishing attempts or user authentication issues—may seem routine, Erika knows how critical the fundamentals are.

“Most challenges I see are about getting the basics right,” she said. “Things like user awareness, multi-factor authentication, and general security hygiene go a long way. My job is to help clients improve those areas and get more out of the tools they’re using.”

SOCAP’s emphasis on foundational skills made that transition smoother.

“If there’s one thing I wish I had done differently,” she reflected, “it’s diving deeper into the tools we had access to. There’s so much more under the surface, and those extra layers of understanding would be even more useful now.”

Advice for the Next Generation

To current SOCAP students and aspiring cybersecurity professionals, Erika offers practical advice: keep an open mind.

“Say yes to new opportunities even if they aren’t your dream job right away,” she said. “Everything teaches you something. Use outside resources like CTFs, certifications, or conferences to determine what you enjoy.”

And don’t underestimate the human side of the job.

“One thing that surprised me was how important it is to build personal connections. Before we dive into technical problems, we always check in and ask how the client’s day is going. It sets the tone.”

Looking Ahead

Erika sees herself continuing to grow within the blue team, focused on defense, incident response, and helping others understand the value of strong security practices. She’s also eyeing certifications from CISA and SANS as part of her professional development.

“I feel good about where I’m at, but there’s always room to grow,” she said. “I’d like to eventually move into a more technical SOC or support role and keep impacting that way.”

Life Outside the SOC

When she’s not helping organizations defend against cyber threats, Erika finds a different kind of freedom on two wheels.

“I got into motorcycles last summer after seeing a bunch of videos in my feed,” she said with a laugh. “It’s such a fun and relaxing way to take a break from work. Plus, it’s a great excuse to explore Florida and find new food spots.”

Erika Delvalle’s journey—from SOCAP apprentice to trusted cybersecurity advisor—is a testament to the power of experiential learning and the importance of mentorship, tools, and real-world practice. Her story is a shining example of how Cyber Florida’s mission to develop a skilled cyber workforce is making a tangible difference, one career at a time.

Career Launch Series: From Apprentice to Advisor2025-07-01T11:23:19-04:00

CIP Flash Bulletin | Heightened Iranian Cyber Threat Activity

This special Critical Infrastructure Protection Flash Bulletin outlines increased cyber threat activity linked to Iran amid rising regional tensions. It highlights Iran’s history of targeting U.S. infrastructure, current threat actors and tactics, key vulnerabilities, and priority mitigation strategies. Critical infrastructure sectors are advised to stay vigilant and implement immediate protections. The bulletin also includes federal resources and recommendations to strengthen preparedness.

CIP Flash Bulletin | Heightened Iranian Cyber Threat Activity2025-06-23T14:22:51-04:00

NIST Report Progress

Photo of Dr. Sriram Chellapan

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 Progress2025-06-04T13:01:30-04:00

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 20252025-06-04T12:43:42-04:00

Cyber Florida Partners with Idaho National Laboratory

General McKenzie and Zach Tudor

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 Laboratory2025-05-21T08:23:45-04:00

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 CyberUSA2025-05-21T08:24:04-04:00

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 Training2025-05-05T12:50:52-04:00

CyberLaunch 2025

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

2nd 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)

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

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

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

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

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

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

3rd 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 20252025-04-11T14:50:59-04:00

CONTACT US

Cyber Florida at USF
4202 E. Fowler Avenue, ISA7020
Tampa, FL 33620

Office meetings by appointment only

PRIVACY POLICY

Copyright 2026 The Florida Center for Cybersecurity at the University of South Florida. 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.