Cybersecurity Next Generation Gets Ready for the Challenge

CYBERSECURITY NEXT GENERATION GETS READY FOR THE CHALLENGE

Russian hacking, Chinese corporate cybertheft, malware that holds hospital computers for ransom - what can America do about the massive threat to our national and economic cybersecurity? The National Security Agency (NSA) and National Science Foundation (NSF) are turning to 15 year old Caroline Balick of Kinnelon and hundreds like her across the country, building the cybersecurity workforce of the future.

This summer Kinnelon High School sophomore Caroline Balick engaged in GenCyber at Dartmouth College, a week long program for students, increasing interest in cybersecurity and careers in the country’s cybersecurity workforce. Dartmouth’s GenCyber program is offered by the Institute for Security, Technology, and Society. The NSA and NSF are funding GenCyber programs at colleges across the country including in New Jersey, with the goal of inspiring the next generation of skilled cybersecurity professionals, for the benefit of national and economic security. Seeking talent and diversity, the GenCyber programs are offered at no cost to participants.

Caroline, who founded a Girls Who Code club in Kinnelon, and her GenCyber classmates from around the country, studied computer security, considered ethical questions (terrorism and “hacktivism”), security best practices and awareness, networks, and careers in cybersecurity. Balick enjoyed the discussion about the United States election and hacking into the Democratic National Committee, including a discussion of news reports from liberal and conservative perspectives, as compared to reports issued by unbiased cybersecurity companies. The students learned about cyberterrorism, networking, creating websites and computer coding. NSA personnel spoke with the students about the role of the NSA and the importance of cybersecurity. Balick and her classmates learned the ten major principles of cybersecurity. “The whole program was fascinating” said Balick “from learning about our own individual privacy and security, understanding how hacking works, how to stop it, and developing a cybersecurity workforce. I will definitely continue to develop my skills in this area."
For more information about the GenCyber program, visit https://www.gen-cyber.com/