Understanding Device Compromise
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Understanding Device Compromise

The Arkansas Cyber Defense Center (ACDC) is dedicated to bolstering cybersecurity across the state, and offers crucial support and resources to organizations seeking to enhance their digital defenses. Understanding how to protect against device compromise is more important than ever. In this blog you can learn some of the methods threat actors use to compromise your organization’s devices and some proactive strategies to help protect your organization from these breaches.

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Forge Institute’s Commitment to Military Veterans Earns National Recognition from the U.S Department of Labor
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Forge Institute’s Commitment to Military Veterans Earns National Recognition from the U.S Department of Labor

Forge Institute, a leading national provider of cybersecurity training and workforce development solutions, has been recognized with the prestigious 2023 HIRE Vets Medallion Award Platinum Level from the U.S. Department of Labor. This distinguished honor acknowledges Forge Institute's exceptional commitment to recruiting, upskilling, and employing veterans.

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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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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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Forge Institute Strikes Strategic Partnership with CareerScore
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Forge Institute Strikes Strategic Partnership with CareerScore

Forge Institute announced today a strategic partnership with Quotanda’s CareerScore. The alliance was created to enhance job placement opportunities for graduates of the Forge Institute Training Academy.

“Our academy is committed to not only providing valuable cyber professional development skills, but to also provide a capability to streamline and assess candidates’ job search and application efforts. This enables our team to focus on high-impact engagements and better positions our graduates to succeed,” said Lee Watson, Founder and CEO of Forge Institute.

“Our academy is committed to not only providing valuable cyber professional development skills, but to also provide a capability to streamline and assess candidates’ job search and application efforts. This enables our team to focus on high-impact engagements and better positions our graduates to succeed,” said Lee Watson, Founder and CEO of Forge Institute.

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Forge Institute And University Of Arkansas Little Rock Expand Partnership To Grow Skilled Cybersecurity Workforce
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Forge Institute And University Of Arkansas Little Rock Expand Partnership To Grow Skilled Cybersecurity Workforce

UA Little Rock will recognize certain Forge Institute professional development courses and provide academic credit hours towards a Computer Science and Cybersecurity Bachelor's degrees at UA Little Rock for those who successfully complete the training. Each institution has thoroughly reviewed curriculum and mapped academic requirements to corresponding aspects of Forge Institute’s professional development program.

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AR Division Of Workforce Services (ADWS) & Forge Institute Complete First Cycle Of IT/Cyber Fundamentals Course, Trained Under Or Unemployed Arkansans For A Future Career In Technology
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AR Division Of Workforce Services (ADWS) & Forge Institute Complete First Cycle Of IT/Cyber Fundamentals Course, Trained Under Or Unemployed Arkansans For A Future Career In Technology

Forge Institute and the Arkansas Department of Commerce, Division of Workforce Services, recently partnered to provide eligible Arkansans in the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program with the opportunity to participate in workforce-readiness training, designed to help them move towards a higher-paying job in information technology.

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