EL PASO, Texas (KFOX14/CBS4) — The Borderland is set to get a significant cybersecurity boost thanks to a $1 million grant headed for the University of Texas at El Paso.
UTEP announced Monday that it has received a $1 million grant from Google’s Cybersecurity Clinics Fund, which will be used to establish the UTEP Miners Cybersecurity Clinic.
According to UTEP, the clinic and its $1 million grant will boost cybersecurity efforts in the Borderland community through curriculum and student development, as well as outreach events to increase awareness about cybersecurity threats.
UTEP’s clinic will be one of 15 established this year at higher education institutions across the country, meant to provide “free digital security services to under-resourced organizations, similar to how law or medical schools offer free community clinics,” UTEP said in a statement.
Likewise, the UTEP Miners Cybersecurity Clinic will assess the risks and vulnerabilities of the community’s critical digital infrastructure, including its small businesses, hospitals, schools and energy grids.
“The generous support from Google will enable us to set up a cybersecurity clinic in El Paso, which will be a vital resource in connecting UTEP students with critical infrastructures and enhancing local cybersecurity capabilities,” Monika Akbar, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Department of Computer Science, said. “This funding will enable us to train our students with the latest knowledge, tools, and techniques, ensuring our curriculum remains cutting-edge while closely reflecting the cybersecurity needs of critical infrastructures and small businesses. Through hands-on training and real-world applications, our students will deliver essential cybersecurity services to under-resourced areas and actively work towards safeguarding these systems. This UTEP Miners Cybersecurity Clinic marks an important step in our commitment to develop the next generation of cybersecurity professionals ready to detect, evaluate, and respond to emerging cybersecurity threats within our community and beyond.”
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