Made Safe in Wyoming, a non-profit organization working to build cybersecurity, has coordinated with the University of Wyoming and the Laramie Soup Kitchen to enhance the cybersecurity and database structure of the Laramie Soup Kitchen and provide real-world opportunities for UW students.
“We want to do something new,” Made Safe in Wyoming co-founder Laura Baker said.
The driving force behind the new program is the statistics involving job openings.
“According to Cybersecurity Ventures, there will be 3.5 million cybersecurity job openings by 2021, up one million from 2016,” Baker said.
The University of Wyoming’s Computer Science Capstone Class is working with Made Safe in Wyoming the Laramie Soup Kitchen to improve cyber security and database development, currently tracked on paper records, according to Laura.
“The program is entirely voluntary and is currently being supported by the computer science department in two different ways,” Computer Science Professor Mike Borowczak said.
It will work with the Capstone Class and the RSO, Defense Against the Dark Arts (DATDA), which works to provide information and practice on cybersecurity. According to Mike, the program will also include the Cybersecurity Education And Research (CEDAR) Center in its development.
“After discussing the project with my professor, Dr. Borowczack who is also the faculty advisor for DATDA, the cyber security club, it changed into a low cost, penetration testing package for non-profits to utilize to secure their systems both physically and electronically,” student and officer of DATDA, Jacob Wild, said.
The real importance of the course involves ways to give back while gaining experience.
“What set this project apart from the others was the opportunity to help improve my community and to gain real world experience in the process,” Wild said.
Made Safe in Wyoming, is currently applying for grants for future projects, the University of Wyoming’s Computer Science Capstone Class, the Laramie Soup Kitchen, and the DATDA RSO, that meets at 6:00 p.m. every Tuesday, are working together to continue this project into the future.
“The club is currently discussing the possibility of philanthropically pen testing local business as a way to increase the businesses security and increase the club members knowledge through real world experience,” Wild said.
There is so much potential for the project, which benefits all the organizations involved.
“Non-profits in Laramie are already working well together, why not add UW so they don’t have to deal with a cyber-attack,” Baker said.
