Idaho National Laboratory (INL) will collaborate with government, academia, and private sector organizations to seek and validate solutions to improve the cybersecurity workforce development pipeline and address the needs of the nation’s cyber workforce. This research will include potential employees from high school thru retirement age. By incorporating multi-discipline cohort teams, ICRP proposes an adaptive methodology to bridge the gap between employer cybersecurity needs and the career goals of employees and the evolving needs of the industry.
The Idaho Cyber Research Project (ICRP) aims to solve the disconnect between employers, academia, and potential employees with regard to the knowledge, skills, and abilities an industrial cybersecurity role requires and how that transfers to potential employee qualifications. This project takes a hands-on approach by meeting with employers to determine what tasks a cybersecurity role would perform and determine the hands-on training needed and apprenticeship opportunities.
In the summer of 2021, the first cohort of interns began research. These cohorts include students from across the State of Idaho. Each team is assigned one of the following research topics to focus on and discover and address their findings to designated mentors and the ICS Community of Practice. The research will be perpetual and is handed onto the next cohort of interns year after year.
Primary Areas of Cybersecurity Research
This project is creating a centralized repository of state and national educational and training resources for individuals and businesses interested in cybersecurity. This includes degree programs, certifications, workshops and camps available throughout the State.
The community of practice (COP) brings together professionals focused on industrial cybersecurity (ICS) education, training and workforce development efforts throughout government, academia, and industry. The foundation of the group leverages INL’s existing ICS experience, research and training to:
To meet the increasing threat and leverage Idaho’s resources and expertise, the Governor is convening a Cybersecurity Task Force to focus on identifying cybersecurity assets, resources, public-private partnerships; promoting improved business, government, and personal cybersecurity procedures; ensure secure, transparent and resilient election infrastructure; and enhancing the educational pipeline for cybersecurity workforce needs.
The Task Force is co-chaired by Idaho Department of Commerce Director, Tom Kealey and Idaho National Laboratory Associate Laboratory Director, Zach Tudor.