According to a joint study by cybersecurity software company McAfee and the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), cyber crime takes $600 billion toll on the global economy. Furthermore, it is estimated that cyber crime will cost the world $6 trillion annually by 2021 . With the proliferation of Internet of Things devices and our increasingly digital-dependent lives, cybersecurity has become a critical function, not only in software technology but in all aspects of our connected lives.
As cybersecurity threats increase protection against cyber crimes has become a core priority for all sectors of our economy. This demand is creating increased opportunities for startups that address cybersecurity. The 2018 Global Startup Ecosystem Report forecasts a 35% growth in early stage funding deals for cybersecurity startups and a 4.6% growth rate of cybersecurity startups. For communities like Sacramento that are working to expand our startup ecosystem and grow a cybersecurity as a core competency, the authors of the report recommend investing in cybersecurity training programs to grow a skilled cybersecurity workforce.
Against this backdrop, over 70 Sacramento and Elk Grove students spent their weekend at the first ever Code for Grove, two day bootcamp at Cosumnes River College that provided cybersecurity education and exposure to students ages 13 – 18.
A diverse mix of 70+ students participated in the first annual Code for Grove Cybersecurity Bootcamp, organized by Yellow Circle
The goal of the event, organized by local non-profit Yellow Circle, was to increase interest in cybersecurity careers and to increase diversity in the cybersecurity workforce. Recognizing the growing threat of cyber crime and the need to get kids interested in cybersecurity, Yellow Circle CEO Navneet Grewal saw an opportunity to bring his organization’s expertise in youth training programs to grow the workforce.
“With what’s happening these days, you hear it in the news, someone got hacked, someone got breached. There are so many things happening, it’s important to get our young kids interested in cybersecurity early on.” ~Navneet Grewal
Over the course of the two day bootcamp, students attended seven classes starting with introduction to cybersecurity. Each class built on concepts from previous classes and included topics such as authentication in computers security, encryption concepts, network security, and social engineering. Classes were taught by a group of volunteers consisting of cybersecurity professionals from Intel and the State of California. By the last class of the day on Saturday, the students were working on encryption, and even building an enigma machine using a Pringles can.
Though this particular event was focused on students in the Elk Grove Unified and Sacramento Unified school districts, Navneet and Yellow Circle already have plans to bring the program to other communities, hoping to launch a similar cybersecurity-focused Code for Folsom bootcamp in the Fall. Yellow Circle also plans to make Code for Grove an annual event though the theme of future events will be driven by changes in technology. Navneet cited Internet of Things (IoT) as a potential future theme.
Two Code for Grove students pose for a photo with Yellow Circle CEO Navneet Grewal, Congressman Ami Bera, State of California Chief Information Officer Amy Tong, and instructors from Intel
