Uncategorized

The Making of a Defender: A Cyber Florida Documentary

The Making of a Defender is a yearlong chronicle of USF’s CyberHerd, a cybersecurity competition team rising from ambitious challengers to national contenders. Tampa has always celebrated its underdogs and champions (“ChampaBay,” anyone?), and the CyberHerd embodies both. This is more than a competition story. The Making of a Defender reveals how tackling the nation’s cybersecurity challenges is becoming a defining strength of the Tampa Bay community. As CyberBay grows, this story stands at its foundation.

CyberHerd

Photos from the CyberHerd documentary premiere at USF on September 24, 2025.

The Making of a Defender: A Cyber Florida Documentary2026-07-15T15:14:25-04:00

USF Reception & Fireside Chat, May 13, 2026

We are pleased to invite you to a reception co-hosted by the University of South Florida’s Global and National Security Institute (GNSI) and Cyber Florida as part of their student DC Experience.

The reception will feature a fireside chat with Douglas Silliman, former ambassador to Kuwait and Iraq, and current President of the Arab Gulf States Institute, and Karen Sasahara, former ambassador to Kuwait, and a distinguished Fellow at AGSI. It will convene leaders, professionals, and students from across the national security, cyber, and policy enterprise to discuss the most pressing strategic challenges of our time.

Date: Wednesday, May 13, 2026
Time: 5:00 – 7:00 PM
Location: The Florida House, 1 2nd St NE, Washington, DC 20002
Kindly RSVP by May 1st

USF Reception & Fireside Chat, May 13, 20262026-04-14T12:09:34-04:00

CISSP Certification Boot Camp

The Cyber Florida FirstLine Program, in partnership with the Florida Digital Service, is proud to offer a CISSP Certification Boot Camp delivered by The Knowledge Academy. This training is designed to equip participants with the knowledge and preparation needed to pursue the Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) credential. Participants who complete the boot camp are expected to take the certification exam within 30 days of finishing the course.

Class Date: May 4th -May 8th
Location: Capital Circle Office Complex (specifics will be sent to approved registrants)
Registration is now closed. Please contact FirstLine@cyberflorida.org for additional information.
CISSP Certification Boot Camp2026-05-04T09:52:22-04:00

SEC+ Certification Boot Camp

The Cyber Florida FirstLine Program, in partnership with the Florida Digital Service, is proud to offer a SEC+ Certification Boot Camp delivered by The Knowledge Academy. This training is designed to equip participants with the knowledge and preparation needed to pursue the Security Plus (SEC+) credential. Participants who complete the boot camp are expected to take the certification exam within 30 days of finishing the course.

Class Date: May 11 – May 14
Location: Capital Circle Office Complex (specifics will be sent to approved registrants)
Please note this bootcamp requires approval. Complete the form below to request your seat, and our team will confirm your eligibility.
SEC+ Certification Boot Camp2026-04-11T09:14:59-04:00

Jack Voltaic: City Cyber Incident Exercise

Thank you for your interest in the Jack Voltaic exercise. Registration has reached maximum capacity and is now closed.

Protecting Critical Infrastructure Together

Join the Army Cyber Institute, Cyber Florida, and partners for an immersive, multi-sector cyber exercise that follows a coordinated cyberattack on the Tampa water sector.

Dates: May 18 – 20
Location: USF Marshall Student Center, Tampa, FL
Cost: FREE

What is Jack Voltaic®?

United States military installations and their surrounding communities share an interest in the resiliency of cyber-critical infrastructure systems. In addition to civil-military interdependencies, a failure in one critical infrastructure sector can cause cascading effects across others. The Army Cyber Institute (ACI) launched the Jack Voltaic® (JV) initiative to address gaps and build resilience.

Who Should Participate?

Utility operators, IT/OT security personnel, emergency managers, city/county leaders, and military base personnel.

Why Attend?

Realistic Scenario: A high-stakes, simulated cyberattack affecting local businesses, public sector infrastructure, and nearby military bases.

Build Relationships: Enhance collaboration between public, private, and military entities to build regional resilience.

Parallel Training Platforms

  • Managers/Executives use NUARI’s DECIDE® Platform for strategic decision-making and crisis management tabletop exercises.
  • Cyber Responders use SimSpace’s Cyber Range for hands-on, live-fire incident response and IT/OT defense.
Jack Voltaic: City Cyber Incident Exercise2026-04-07T13:17:19-04:00

CyberLaunch Virtual Qualifiers- Important Info

CyberLaunch Logo 2025

Learn more about the virtual qualifiers platform and hear from the team

Recap: Cyber Launch Familiarization Session on ARCS Range – Teachers Wednesday, October 29 | Meeting | Microsoft Teams

Requirement for the Virtual Qualifiers:

Make sure your school/district whitelists the following domains in order to get access to the Virtual Qualifiers and receive communication about the events.

*simspace.com

*cyberflorida.org

Include the wildcard asterisk to allow subdomains.

CyberLaunch Virtual Qualifiers- Important Info2025-10-30T09:25:56-04:00

Resources for CyberLaunch

Pre-Event Read-Aheads

Links open in a new tab.

REMINDER: Faculty advisors and chaperones are responsible for their respective students AT ALL TIMES. Cyber Florida cannot accept responsibility for student safety. Please ensure your students treat the event team, the hotel, and other guests respectfully.

Join us on WhatsApp:
Cyber Florida CyberLaunch

We have created an optional WhatsApp Community to connect the event administrators with team faculty leads in case you have questions or problems during the event (i.e, running late, can’t find the venue, etc.). It is not required, just an option to help you connect with the event team. Please do not share the link with students; this is intended for event staff and faculty leads only. Thank you!

Agenda

  • 8:00-9:00 AM: Check-In + Breakfast Grand Sierra Ballroom + Hallway
  • 9:00–10:00 AM: Welcome Remarks + Keynote Address Grand Sierra Ballroom
  • 10:00 AM–12:00 PM:
    • Competition Grand Sierra Ballroom
    • Faculty Breakout Sessions: Antigua Rooms 1-3
  • 12:00–1:00 PM: Lunch Grand Sierra Ballroom
  • 1:00-3:00 PM:
    • Competition Grand Sierra Ballroom
    • Faculty Breakout Sessions Antigua Rooms 1-3
  • 3:00-3:30 PM: Break
  • 3:30-4:00 PM: Awards Ceremony Grand Sierra Ballroom
  • 4:00 PM: Event Concludes

Students and faculty advisors are encouraged to visit with exhibitors and cyber mentors throughout the event to learn more about cyber careers.

Faculty advisors may check in on their teams anytime, but we ask that you do not assist with the challenges. Trained volunteers will be available to assist teams as needed while keeping a fair playing field for all participants.

Resort Map

Resources for CyberLaunch2025-03-31T17:20:42-04:00

Key Requirements & Resources for Cybersecurity Compliance

Florida Statute 282.3185 outlines important cybersecurity requirements for local governments. The table below highlights key focus areas and provides valuable resources to support compliance efforts.

Florida Statue Requirement Resources
282.3185(3)(a)1 Develop a basic cybersecurity training curriculum for local government employees. All employees with access to the local network must complete training within 30 days of employment and annually thereafter. Florida Digital Service Locals-Resource-Packet-2023v1.1.pdf

Cyber Florida’s FirstLine Flexible No-Cost Training Options
282.3185(4) Adopt cybersecurity standards consistent with best practices, such as the NIST Cybersecurity Framework. Cyber Florida’s NIST CSF 2.0 Risk Assessment
If your organization doesn’t have on-staff expertise, Cyber Florida will connect you with an expert who can help you complete the assessment. Attend a Cyber Florida virtual or in-person workshop. Email outreach@cyberflorida.org for upcoming dates and times.Attend a Cyber Florida virtual or in-person workshop.

18 Feb 2025 Virtual Workshop

14 March 2025 In-person Workshop
282.3185(4)(d) Notify the Florida Digital Service of your progress on cybersecurity standards. Florida Digital Service Attestation Form

These resources are designed to make meeting the requirements straightforward and achievable. Cyber Florida’s expertise and tools can help you identify opportunities, develop strong practices, and ensure your cybersecurity goals are aligned with our state’s cybersecurity goals.

If you have any questions or need further support, please don’t hesitate to contact Cyber Florida at https://cyberflorida.org/connect/ or email outreach@cyberflorida.org.

Thank you for your ongoing efforts to strengthen cybersecurity!

Key Requirements & Resources for Cybersecurity Compliance2025-02-05T12:11:21-05:00

CyberSecureFlorida Final Report Appendix

CyberSecureFlorida Final Report (June 2023) Digital Appendix
CyberSecureFlorida Preliminary Analysis (January 2023) Digital Appendix

NIST Cybersecurity Framework: https://nvlpubs.nist.gov/nistpubs/CSWP/NIST.CSWP.04162018.pdf

CSET: https://cybersecureflorida.usf.edu

DHS Critical Infrastructure Sectors: https://www.cisa.gov/critical-infrastructure-sectors

CyberSecureFlorida Final Report Appendix2024-09-25T13:34:10-04:00

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.