New York Cyber Academy trains 25 new graduates

New York City Chief Technology Officer (CTO) Matthew Fraser and Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) Kelly Moan marked the graduation of the latest NYC Cyber Academy cohort, consisting of 25 public servants trained to enhance cybersecurity across city agencies.

The graduates, representing 22 city entities, will serve as Cyber Command liaisons, reinforcing cybersecurity measures and enhancing coordination between their organisations and NYC Cyber Command (pictured).

“As cyber threats continue to pose real-world dangers, New York City remains committed to staying current and expanding the skills, knowledge, and coordination of its cyber professionals throughout city government to ensure the resilience of the critical services that New Yorkers depend upon,” said Fraser.

This latest class joins the ranks of NYC Cyber Academy graduates, bringing the total to 75 public servants from 61 city agencies since the programme’s inception in 2022. The four-week training programme, developed and led by NYC Cyber Command, focuses on expanding the city’s cybersecurity workforce, enhancing expertise, and fostering collaboration between agencies and Cyber Command.

“In just over two years, NYC Cyber Academy has helped produce a better-trained, more collaborative cybersecurity workforce across the city government landscape,” said Moan. “This class reflects the tremendous collaborative spirit of our city partners, both big and small, and the impressive talents of our dedicated cyber professionals.”

NYC Cyber Command, housed within the Office of Technology and Innovation, leads citywide cybersecurity efforts, setting security policies and collaborating with over 100 municipal agencies to mitigate and respond to cyber threats.

The agency also partners with state and federal entities at the Joint Security Operations Center (JSOC) in Brooklyn, a 24/7/365 hub for real-time cyber threat monitoring and incident response.

In 2022, the mayor mandated each city agency to appoint a Cyber Command liaison to facilitate information sharing and cybersecurity best practices. In response, NYC Cyber Command developed the Cyber Academy’s curriculum, a training programme focused on incident response, network security, and cyber threat intelligence.

“Today’s Cyber Academy graduates play a frontline role in our continuous efforts to keep our city and its government safe from constant online threats,” added Fraser. “I commend our graduates for completing this important programme and thank CISO Kelly Moan and her team for their tireless dedication to their public safety mission.”

NYC Digital Equity Roadmap

Additionally, Fraser announced a US$2.4 million capital investment to advance digital equity across underserved communities in the city. The investment will fund the renovation of computer labs in libraries and older adult centres, ensuring that New Yorkers of all ages have access to technology and digital literacy skills. Additionally, the “NYC Digital Equity Roadmap” was introduced to expand internet access and digital skills training, supporting broader efforts to close the digital divide.

As part of this initiative, the administration is launching 11 new projects, including the creation of an interagency Digital Equity Working Group and an expansion of the city’s mobile computer lab fleet within the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA). These initiatives complement existing efforts such as the Big Apple Connect programme, which provides free internet and basic cable TV to over 330,000 NYCHA residents.

Image: NYC