Several universities and collaborative initiatives will receive $1 million from Google to establish the San Diego Cyber Clinic.
The San Diego Cyber Clinic is a collaboration between the Cyber Center of Excellence (CCOE), California State University San Marcos (CSUSM), National University, and San Diego State University (SDSU), which were chosen to receive $1 million in grant funding from Google.org, the tech company's philanthropic arm.
They will also receive additional support from Google's Cybersecurity Clinics Fund. This initiative, in collaboration with the Consortium of Cybersecurity Clinics, aims to provide free digital security services for under-resourced organizations in San Diego, similar to how medical or law schools offer free community clinics.
Google on Building the San Diego Cyber Clinic
The San Diego Cyber Clinic will stand as the sole multi-institution clinic within the Consortium of Cybersecurity Clinics, with a nonprofit industry partner leading the initiative.
This collaborative effort focuses on training students to serve clients in the public and private sectors across the San Diego region. The clinic aims to foster an inclusive cyber workforce, enhance digital security, and become a model for regional collaborations.
The San Diego Cyber Clinic will provide students with hands-on cybersecurity and AI training while assisting local small businesses, hospitals, schools, and energy grids to safeguard against cyber threats.
This endeavor aligns with the growing demand for cybersecurity professionals, as highlighted in the World Economic Forum's 2024 Global Risks Report, which identifies cyber insecurity as a top global risk.
With nearly 450,000 open cybersecurity jobs in the U.S., including over 37,000 in California and over 5,000 in the San Diego region, there is a pressing need for a skilled and diverse cybersecurity workforce.
The San Diego Cyber Clinic aims to address this demand by training students to service clients across the public and private sectors, contributing to the region's cybersecurity ecosystem.
Heather Adkins, VP of Security Engineering at Google, emphasized the importance of investing in cybersecurity education to protect critical infrastructure and businesses. Google's collaboration with higher education institutions aims to address emerging threats and empower students with the skills to combat cyber risks effectively.
15 New Cyber Clinics
The San Diego Cyber Clinic is part of a broader initiative to establish 15 new clinics at higher education institutions nationwide by 2024.
In addition to the $1 million funding, Google is also offering the San Diego Cyber Clinic volunteer mentorship from Google employees, Google Titan Security Keys, and scholarships for the Google Career Certificate in Cybersecurity.
Google's commitment to cybersecurity education extends beyond the San Diego Cyber Clinic as it vowed to launch 25 Google-supported cyber clinics nationwide by 2025.
With the latest round of funding, Google.org has allotted over $25 million toward building an AI and digital-savvy workforce needed to protect critical infrastructure from cyberattacks.
"It's essential that we invest in growing a strong, diverse and widespread cybersecurity workforce to help protect everyone - from critical infrastructure to small businesses and schools," Adkins said in a press statement.
"The 15 clinics that we're helping to establish serve a wide variety of students across all corners of the U.S. and we're excited to see the impact they'll have in their local communities," she added.
