Protecting Nebraska’s Digital Infrastructure
by YAHYA SHEMA
Marketing and Communications Specialist, UNO College of Information Science & Technology
Technology continues to reshape how Nebraskans live and work — from drones surveying farmland to healthcare systems safeguarding sensitive patient data. As reliance on digital systems grows, so do the threats against them. Cyber threats now put at risk the systems communities rely on, creating an urgent need for skilled defenders who understand both the technology and the place they are protecting. The Nebraska Cyber Matrix program provides homegrown solutions to strengthen digital resilience across the state.
The program launches at a critical time. The demand for qualified cybersecurity professionals in the U.S. far exceeds the available talent pool, while cybersecurity attacks are increasing in both volume and sophistication as digital adoption and emerging technologies accelerate across all economic sectors.
The program addresses a need in both workforce development and cybersecurity defense, said Matt Hale, Ph.D., Nebraska Cyber Matrix Program director, director of the School of Interdisciplinary Informatics, and UNO associate professor of cybersecurity.
“It’s about students getting to learn by doing,” Hale said. “It’s about local companies having home-grown access to talent, and it’s about building Nebraska’s digital resilience together for the public good and for the career pathways it advances for students.”
The Nebraska Cyber Matrix will provide more hands-on learning opportunities to complement the academic rigor of its cybersecurity programs.
An inaugural cohort of UNO students and industry partners have been collaborating on pilot projects prior to the ribbon-cutting ceremony, working with real-world data and threats that local businesses are currently facing.
Jack Misbach, a UNO sophomore cybersecurity major and member of the inaugural cohort of students, has seen immediate career benefits.
“All of the skills gained are exactly what employers are looking for,” he said.
During recent job interviews, employers emphasized his experience in the Nebraska Cyber Matrix makes him ready to impact their teams from day one.
Sam Woolery, cybersecurity engineer at Trexcel Corporation, an Omaha-based cybersecurity company, has been working directly with the inaugural cohort of students in the program. Woolery says the collaboration has been great and that he has enjoyed being part of the pilot partnership.
“Students who enter the program as early as sophomore year will graduate with close to three years of real-world experience,” Woolery said.
This advantage will set them apart upon graduation.
In an ever-evolving digital landscape, the Nebraska Cyber Matrix is ultimately about people — protecting people’s data and privacy, and training Nebraska’s future workforce to combat serious threats.
“The work we begin here today is not only about cybersecurity,” said Martha Garcia-Murillo, Ph.D., dean of the College of Information Science & Technology. “It is about the future of learning, the evolution of protection, and the continuing story of how humanity meets each new challenge.
“The program was made possible as part of a $14 million grant from the Weitz Innovation Excellence Fund, created to support initiatives that address critical needs in Omaha and across Nebraska.
To learn more about the initiative, engage with the internship program or explore other partnerships, visit nebraskamatrix.com.
