IBM is stepping up its game to combat the growing menace of ransomware attacks on schools worldwide.
In a bold move, the tech giant has announced an in-kind grant of $5 million, aimed at bolstering cybersecurity resilience in educational institutions. The initiative, known as the IBM Education Security Preparedness Grants program, has gained global recognition since its inception in 2021. This year, IBM is ramping up its efforts by offering enhanced support through IBM SkillsBuild, focusing on cutting-edge topics like AI and cybersecurity.
Ransomware has been running rampant, escalating at an alarming pace. According to IBM’s X-Force Threat Intelligence Index 2023, attackers have drastically reduced the time it takes to launch ransomware attacks, slashing it from over two months to under four days between 2019 and 2021. Shockingly, the education sector witnessed a staggering surge in cybersecurity incidents in 2022, more than doubling the previous year’s figures. This drastic increase surpassed the growth observed in any other industry.
“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.”
Now, schools worldwide have a golden opportunity to apply for these sought-after grants. IBM will bestow six school districts in the US and an additional four from around the globe with grants valued at a staggering $500,000 each, totaling an impressive $5 million. Skilled volunteers from IBM Service Corps will lend their expertise to assist schools in establishing comprehensive cybersecurity resilience programs. The chosen schools will receive a suite of invaluable resources, including incident response plans, ransomware playbooks, programs to update operating systems, strategic communication plans for cyber incidents, and top-notch training through IBM SkillsBuild. The training will cover essential topics like AI and cybersecurity, providing participants with digital credentials. Moreover, the selected schools will enjoy enhanced access to IBM mentors, teacher training, toolkits, and customised learning pathways.
“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 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.”
Since its inception two years ago, IBM has witnessed an overwhelming response to this acclaimed program. Countless school districts have submitted applications, driven by the urgency to fortify their security defences in the face of escalating threats in the education space. Previous recipients of the IBM Education Security Preparedness Grants have encouraged other schools to seize this opportunity for transformation.
For K-12 public schools and educational institutions interested in applying for IBM’s education cybersecurity grant, the application process is now open. Visit IBM.com to apply and seize this chance to fortify your institution’s security. The application deadline is July 24, 2023, so act swiftly to secure your spot in the race against cyber threats.
