Prescription for Cybersecurity:
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Prescription for Cybersecurity:

GlaxoSmithKline Enlists its Staff in Forge Institute Cyber Training BootcampThe pharma industry bears all the characteristics of a primary target for cyberattacks: high revenues and intellectual property, including trade secrets and more. In fact, the “life sciences” industry was rated the fourth most “at risk” industry in terms of valuation impacts arising from cyber security issues, according to a Delotte survey.

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“What’s Your Emergency?”
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“What’s Your Emergency?”

The National Day of Civic Hacking is reimagining the 911 emergency system

At Forge Institute think this is an exciting opportunity to change the conversation about cybersecurity and hacking. Traditionally everyone is up-in-arms trying to destroy hackers, this day brings forth a call to use your hacking skills for good. It will be exciting to see the innovation that comes from this day. It really is amazing to see what we come up with when we all work together for good.

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"Data plays a crucial role in every aspect of our lives."
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"Data plays a crucial role in every aspect of our lives."

Renowned Data Scientist Dr. Elizabeth Parker Joins the Forge Institute Advisory Board

Forge Institute, the Arkansas-based provider of cyber defense workforce training and threat analytic capabilities, announced today the addition of Dr. Elizabeth Parker to its Advisory Board. Dr. Parker serves as Sr. Director – Principal Data Scientist at Arkansas Blue Cross Blue Shield (ABCBS).

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Spikes in E-Crime has Companies Turning to the Offensive Cyber Approach
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Spikes in E-Crime has Companies Turning to the Offensive Cyber Approach

In May of this year, President Biden responded to a rash of high-profile cyber attacks by issuing an Executive Order on Improving the Nation’s Cybersecurity1. Attacks on energy, health care, financial services and more are costing U.S. companies billions of dollars and threatening the nation’s security. This is compelling the U.S. government to become more proactive in its efforts to counter cyber terrorism.

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Forge Institute has partnered with UA Little Rock’s Cyber Arena to support an NSA-sponsored Cybersecurity Summer Camp in Arkansas
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Forge Institute has partnered with UA Little Rock’s Cyber Arena to support an NSA-sponsored Cybersecurity Summer Camp in Arkansas

The Forge Institute has announced a partnership with the University of Arkansas at Little Rock’s Cyber Arena, the cybersecurity-focused lab within the Department of Computer Science. The initiative will support the first National Security Agency (NSA)-sponsored GenCyber Summer Camp in Arkansas for 7-12th graders.

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Governor Asa Hutchinson appoints Lee Watson, CEO of Forge Institute, to the Arkansas Cyber Advisory Council
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Governor Asa Hutchinson appoints Lee Watson, CEO of Forge Institute, to the Arkansas Cyber Advisory Council

In response to the growing threat of cyberattacks, Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson announced the formation of the Arkansas Cyber Advisory Council (ACAC), intended to identify and manage the risk of cyberattacks and enhance the response to those threats for the State.

Among the twelve persons named to the council is Lee Watson, founder and CEO of Forge Institute and advocate for establishing Arkansas as the Cyber Defense State.

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Forge Institute Cyber Training Bootcamp to provide Arkansas’ workforce with a cyber upgrade
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Forge Institute Cyber Training Bootcamp to provide Arkansas’ workforce with a cyber upgrade

Forge Institute announced today that new openings are available for its next Cyber Training Bootcamp. The availability of enrollment is a response to a string of highly publicized cyberattacks that have targeted the nation’s energy, beef and other critical infrastructure organizations.

Following a rash of highly publicized cybercrimes, including attacks on Colonial Pipeline and Solarwinds, cybersecurity has become a national and international concern and challenge.

Highly trained and certified cybersecurity professionals are in demand in the private and public sectors. In fact, according to Cybersecurity Ventures, it is estimated that 3.5 million jobs in cybersecurity will be unfilled by the end of this year.

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Forge Institute trainees to receive certified digital resumes through partnership with SmartResume
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Forge Institute trainees to receive certified digital resumes through partnership with SmartResume

Forge Institute has partnered with SmartResume®, a provider of certified resumes, to provide all Forge Institute trainees with a free SmartResume® profile to enhance professional visibility to authenticated Forge Institute cybersecurity trainees.

Following a rash of highly publicized cybercrimes, including attacks on Colonial Pipeline and Solarwinds, cybersecurity has become a national and international concern and challenge.

Highly trained and certified cybersecurity professionals are in demand in the private and public sectors. In fact, according to Cybersecurity Ventures, it is estimated that 3.5 million jobs in cybersecurity will be unfilled by the end of this year.

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Forge Institute Response to Recent Ransomware Attacks Against Major American Infrastructure
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Forge Institute Response to Recent Ransomware Attacks Against Major American Infrastructure

The ransomware attacks against Colonial Pipeline and JBS show a disparity in America’s private infrastructure cybersecurity capabilities. In a time where everything electronic in households is part of the Internet of Things (IoT), cybersecurity should be at the forefront of everyone’s mind from the presidential level down to the end-user.

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Retired CIA Senior Intelligence Service Officer Terry Burruss Joins the Forge Institute Advisory Board
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Retired CIA Senior Intelligence Service Officer Terry Burruss Joins the Forge Institute Advisory Board

Forge Institute added more senior-level expertise today by announcing the addition of former CIA Senior Intelligence Services (SIS) officer Terry Burruss to its Advisory Board.

“Terry built the CIA’s first combined mission unit focused on understanding and countering the foreign cyber threat,” said Lee Watson, Chairman, and CEO of Forge Institute. “We’re fortunate to have his experience and insight on what is already a deep advisory board.”

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Retired Major General Joseph Wilson Joins the Forge Institute Advisory Board
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Retired Major General Joseph Wilson Joins the Forge Institute Advisory Board

Forge Institute announced today the addition of Retired Major General Joe Wilson to the organization’s advisory board. Gen. Wilson bears more than three decades of experience as a leader in the United States Air Force, holding numerous assignments in maintenance and logistics both at home and abroad. He has held staff positions at three Major Commands and Air Force Headquarters.

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Lee Watson Leads the Charge on Cybersecurity in Arkansas
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Lee Watson Leads the Charge on Cybersecurity in Arkansas

Amid a world rife with threats to cybersecurity, Lee Watson has positioned himself as a key leader in ensuring that both the public and private sector stay ahead of the dangers that affect everything from the nation’s supply chains to the safety of private health-care information. As the founder and CEO of the Little Rock-based Forge Institute, which creates private-public collaborations that support economic and national security initiatives, the 35-year-old native Arkansan has a unique vantage point to address these ever-growing concerns.

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Forge Institute and The University Of Arkansas Announce Partnership To Advance Applied Research In Cybersecurity To Support National Defense
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Forge Institute and The University Of Arkansas Announce Partnership To Advance Applied Research In Cybersecurity To Support National Defense

Today the Forge Institute, along with the University of Arkansas Fayetteville (UA-Fayetteville) and University of Arkansas Little Rock (UA-Little Rock), jointly announce a partnership to advance applied research in areas that support our national defense, including cybersecurity. This collaboration brings together the best resources, research and capabilities of UA-Fayetteville and UA-Little Rock, along with the unique capabilities & relationships of the Forge Institute.

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Forge Institute joins UA Little Rock Coalition to Launch Health Care Cybersecurity Curriculum and Pilot Focused on Veterans and First Responders
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Forge Institute joins UA Little Rock Coalition to Launch Health Care Cybersecurity Curriculum and Pilot Focused on Veterans and First Responders

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock is part of a coalition of universities and industry partners that are developing a curriculum to increase cybersecurity talent focused on health care with $6.3 million in funding from the National Security Agency.

UA Little Rock will work with the University of Louisville, the University of North Florida, Bluegrass Technical and Owensboro Technical, the Forge Institute, and a coalition of industry partners to develop a training curriculum focused on health care cybersecurity. UA Little Rock will receive $640,000 for the three-year grant.

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Forge Institute To Bring Cyber Leaders Together To Discuss Career Opportunities And Workforce Needs In Arkansas As Part Of National Cybersecurity Career Awareness Week
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Forge Institute To Bring Cyber Leaders Together To Discuss Career Opportunities And Workforce Needs In Arkansas As Part Of National Cybersecurity Career Awareness Week

Forge Institute in collaboration with the National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education, announces that it will host a virtual event on November 9th, to kick off National Cybersecurity Career Awareness Week (NCCAW). During the week individuals(educators, employers and members of the community) are encouraged to get involved in national recognition of how cybersecurity plays a vital role in the lives of Americans and how building a national cybersecurity workforce enhances America’s national security and promotes economic prosperity.

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Two-day Cybersecurity Course To Help It Professionals Increase Security & Operational Resiliency During Covid-19
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Two-day Cybersecurity Course To Help It Professionals Increase Security & Operational Resiliency During Covid-19

Today Forge Institute announced it will be offering a two-day training course “Cybersecurity for IT Professionals” to provide IT professionals with the cybersecurity fundamentals they need to better protect the technology they manage. Participants will understand how their decision impacts the security and operational resiliency of the organization.

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Cybersecurity Training Program Expands To Prepare Arkansans For High-demand, High-paying Jobs
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Cybersecurity Training Program Expands To Prepare Arkansans For High-demand, High-paying Jobs

Today Forge Institute has announced the start dates of its next two ACA Cybersecurity Training Bootcamps. The Fall 2020 program starts on 10/19/20 and the Spring 2021 cycle begins on 01/20/21. Each bootcamp will provide the perfect on-ramp from an IT generalist position to a Cybersecurity Defense Analyst or SOC Analyst I position. This program is a fantastic way to on-board a new employee or upskill existing team members. Those interested in participating but don’t have an IT background may be eligible for the pre-bootcamp training “IT FUNDAMENTALS.”

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