SOCORRO, N.M. — NMT’s Cybersecurity Center of Excellence has announced that the inaugural cybersecurity training workshop for high-tech companies is now open for registration.

The CyberReady workshop, jointly developed by the NMEDD and NMT’s Cybersecurity Center of Excellence, will focus on Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification guidelines and aims to help businesses prepare for required practices set by the federal government, Office of Science and Technology director Myrriah Tomar wrote in a news release announcing the event.

The online workshop is open to all New Mexican businesses and will take place May 12 to 14. Businesses must register by May 3. Click here for more information and registration details.

"This grant is a first step in moving New Mexico from a state with a history of having cybersecurity challenges to becoming a leader in cybersecurity" Lorie M. Liebrock, Ph.D., Director of the New Mexico Cybersecurity Center of Excellence and the New Mexico Tech Cybersecurity Education Center, said. "Working with our New Mexico companies will connect our Center of Excellence with industry to develop better cybersecurity and funding for our companies and more opportunities for cybersecurity students."

The training will include information on the regulatory context for government contracting, an overview of the CMMC model, and how to prepare for the certification process. With the help of MEP and CCoE, companies will be evaluated for individual security needs and be provided with one-on-one assistance, connecting each business with one or more cybersecurity experts in New Mexico.

Up to 10 companies in the photonics/optics sector may be granted up to $10,000 per company to help them upgrade policies, systems, and certifications.

“As one of Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham(‘s) targeted industries, cybersecurity is an essential component for small businesses in today’s digital age,” said Alicia J. Keyes, EDD Cabinet secretary. “With efforts like CyberReady, the state can leverage statewide partnerships and assist small businesses as they develop the next generation of workforce and foster high-tech economic development.”

In addition to helping businesses with cyber-resiliency, this initiative will result in the development of a statewide cybersecurity training plan that will include input from statewide stakeholders, including the Governor's Office, EDD, Councils of Governments, MEP, Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC), NMT’s Cybersecurity Center of Excellence, and others.

Tomar said the training is based on CMMC accreditation, which is the new cybersecurity standard and all DOD contractors and subcontractors must have this accreditation by 2025. All government contracts are expected to require CMMC by 2030.

“The training will include information on the regulatory context for government contracting, an overview of the CMMC model, and how to prepare for the certification process,” Tomar said.

The New Mexico Economic Development Department, through its Office of Science and Technology, has received a $771,000 grant from the Department of Defense in August 2020 to pioneer a cybersecurity awareness and preparedness training initiative.

Liebrock said the new grant, “is part of ramping up the Center of Excellence through external funding. We are leveraging the expertise we have in New Mexico to help businesses meet the security requirements of the Department of Defense.”

New Mexico Tech has added a position for cybersecurity outreach coordinator for the Cybersecurity Center for Excellence. The outreach coordinator will assist with contacting companies and coordinating this work, which will allow Liebrock and her colleagues to focus on this project.

Liebrock said the project has already brought on two graduate students to work on implementing the training workshops, web design, and database management. NMT will hire more undergraduates to assist in the program.

All Department of Defense contractors must adhere to the new Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) guidelines and this grant focuses on educating and preparing New Mexico businesses to meet the requirements.

The online workshop is open to all New Mexican businesses and will take place May 12 to 14. Businesses must register by May 3.

Companies interested in participating in the first cohort should contact Tisha Webb, Outreach Coordinator of New Mexico Tech Cybersecurity Centers, at 575-835-5558. Though there will be a special focus on photonics/optics technology companies, all businesses with a need for compliance assistance are welcome to attend. Participants should register for the workshop by May 3, in order to receive print materials in time.

– NMT –