IBM In response to the growing threat of ransomware attacks against schools around the world, IBM (NYSE: IBM) announced it will provide in-kind grants valued at $5 million to help address cybersecurity resiliency in schools. The deadline to apply is June 23, 2023.
Since its creation in 2021, the IBM Education Security Preparedness Grants program has expanded globally, and this year will also include enhanced offerings from IBM SkillsBuild on topics including AI and cybersecurity.
Ransomware is unfolding faster than ever, with attackers managing to cut down the time required to deploy ransomware attacks from over two months to just under four days between 2019 and 2021, according to IBM’s X-Force Threat Intelligence Index 2023. In fact, the share of cybersecurity incidents observed in the education sector more than doubled in 2022 compared to the year prior, experiencing the largest increase year over year than any other industry.
Andy Piazza
“Time and time again attackers go after the education sector, yet many of these institutions remain constrained in their security resources,” said Andy Piazza, Global Head of Threat Intelligence, IBM Security X-Force. “To date, this program has helped more than 350,000 students across schools in the US and abroad, with IBM Service Corps helping them recover from ransomware attacks, strengthen their security posture against future attacks, and prevent further disruption.”
Applications for schools are now open globally. Grants valued at $500,000 each ($5 million in total) will be awarded to six school districts in the US with an additional four around the world. Volunteers, through IBM Service Corps, will use their professional skills to help schools establish programs to address cybersecurity resiliency. Hear more from Andy here.
Each selected school will receive:
- incident response plans and ransomware playbooks,
- programs to help address the need for updating operating systems,
- strategic communication plans to use in response to cyber incidents, and
- training and digital credentials through IBM SkillsBuild on topics including AI and cybersecurity, and additional benefits such as enhanced access to IBM mentors, teacher training and toolkits, and customized learning pathways.
Justina Nixon-Saintil
“The global skills gap across cybersecurity and AI is a growing challenge that demands immediate attention,” said Justina Nixon-Saintil, IBM Chief Impact Officer. “To address this challenge, IBM awards Education Security Preparedness Grants to drive impact with schools worldwide. This year, we’re excited to expand the program to bring the benefits of IBM SkillsBuild training on topics like AI and cybersecurity for students and teachers.”
Robert Losinski, Manager of Information Security at Denver Public Schools, stated that “With IBM’s assistance, we improved our cybersecurity incident response plan and used it to better prepare us for handling incidents in the future.” He continued , “Attackers are targeting schools because many do not have mature security frameworks to effectively defend against ransomware and other cybercrime. Getting professional assistance in expanding your cybersecurity program will really help you identify the most critical areas to protect.”
Since its inception in 2021, IBM has received hundreds of applications for this award-winning program from school districts seeking to strengthen their security postures in response to the growing threats in the education space. Past recipients of the IBM Education Security Preparedness Grants have encouraged other schools to apply.
The 2022 and 2021 Grantees included:
- Brevard Public Schools in Viera, FL
- City of Dublin Educational Training Board in Ireland
- Cupertino Union School District in Sunnyvale, CA
- Denver Public Schools in Denver, CO
- East China School District in East China, MI
- Goffstown School District in Goffstown, NH
- KIPP Metro Atlanta Schools in Atlanta, GA
- Mohamed Bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence in United Arab Emirates
- Newburgh Enlarged City School District in Newburgh, NY
- Newhall School District in Valencia, CA
- Poughkeepsie City School District in Poughkeepsie, NY
- Prince William Country Public Schools in Manassas, VA
- Rossville Cons. School District in Rossville, IN
- Sheldon Independent School District in Houston, TX
Awards were allocated based on cybersecurity needs, experiences, community resources, and potential risks.
K-12 public schools and educational institutions/organizations that are interested in applying for IBM’s education cybersecurity grant can apply via IBM.com here: https://www.ibm.com/impact/initiatives/security.
For more information about IBM’s cybersecurity grants for schools, visit: https://www.ibm.com/impact/initiatives/security.
For more information about IBM Security X-Force’s services and capabilities, visit: https://www.ibm.com/security/xforce.
The 2023 grant cycle is now open. Apply by June 23, 2023 to receive one of ten available grants.