News

North Dakota Chief Information Officer Shawn Riley today announced the availability of CyberPatriot, an online cybersecurity competition for middle and high school students. CyberPatriot is the National Youth Cyber Education Program created by the Air Force Association to inspire K-12 students toward careers in cybersecurity or other science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines critical to our nation's future. 

North Dakota Chief Information Security Officer Kevin Ford announced today that anti-malware software is available to all counties in North Dakota at no cost to their agencies. 

North Dakota Chief Information Security Officer Kevin Ford announced today that anti-malware software is available to all K-12 schools in North Dakota at no cost. NDIT is able to provide installation, licenses and self-service access for schools due to enhanced capabilities and a unified, statewide approach to cybersecurity strategy. Previously a small fee was required per device; however, that requirement is being removed due to increased threats tied to the pandemic and more widespread virtual learning.

State Superintendent Kirsten Baesler and EduTech Director Rosi Kloberdanz today announced a Code.org Professional Learning Program beginning in June for middle school teachers and July for high school teachers. There is also a program available for elementary teachers.

Gov. Doug Burgum today congratulated the 290 high school women from 21 schools who participated in this year’s Girls Go CyberStart competition sponsored by the SANS Institute. This program is designed to help young women develop creative thinking and problem-solving skills through a series of online cybersecurity challenges.

Chief Information Officer Shawn Riley today congratulated ten North Dakota students who received national recognition by the National Center for Women & Information Technology (NCWIT), as well as Valley City State University student Shane Hitch who was a top-five finisher in a Capture the Flag cybersecurity competition hosted by NICERC, the National Integrated Cyber Education Research Center. The CTF was held in conjunction with the first-of-its-kind technology focused, multi-industry career expo, Dakota Strike, scheduled for April 8 at the Fargodome, which was cancelled due to COVID-19.

Chief Information Security Officer Kevin Ford and State Superintendent Kirsten Baesler today alerted the public to new cybersecurity threats tied to video conferencing platforms, like Zoom, which are becoming increasingly popular given the global increase in remote work and learning environments. 

Chief Information Security Officer Kevin Ford, along with North Dakota’s Joint Information Center leadership team, today provided information regarding widespread phishing and social engineering attacks malicious actors are using to exploit the coronavirus pandemic.

NDIT’s Lucas Pippenger, Tony Aukland, serve as judge and advisor. BSC students Jacob Langeurd and Ian Johnson also work on the NDIT Security team.

North Dakota Chief Information Officer Shawn Riley will be speaking at several local and national events highlighting the state’s unified cybersecurity approach and statewide K-20W cybersecurity education initiative.