CyberStart Georgia is a statewide initiative to enable all students in the more than 800 high schools in Georgia to discover their talent in cybersecurity.
The CyberStart Georgia initiative features a free, learn-as-you-go, online game designed to help high school students explore cybersecurity and compete for the opportunity to earn college scholarships in cyber studies.
Founded by the SANS Institute, CyberStart America helps to identify high school students with the potential to help meet our nation’s critical need for cybersecurity professionals. The University of North Georgia is spearheading the statewide CyberStart Georgia initiative to help identify and encourage the state’s top student talent in cybersecurity.
Supported by Governor Brian Kemp and the Georgia Department of Education.
CyberStart is a gamified, easy-to-follow online platform provides students with hands-on experience solving real-world cybersecurity tasks by unlocking fun and interactive challenges designed to ignite their interest in the field.
If you know students who love solving puzzles or strategizing victory in role-playing games; students who are tenacious, self-motivated, curious and eager to tackle new challenges, they could have the right stuff to be the next generation of cyber professionals.
No prior experience in computer science is required by teachers or students to get started!
The CyberStart game runs October 5, 2021 through March 31, 2022.
Students who score at least 15,000 points in the game will be eligible to participate in the National Cyber Scholarship Foundation competition for high school students and to earn matching scholarships from local donors.
Register your interest for the 2021/22 program.
Get updates on the program and be the first to hear when the next CyberStart America intake is open for registration.
Visit CyberStart America for additional information and resources for teacher and advisors.
Benefits to Teachers & Advisors
Benefits to Students
To keep them excited about learning new skills, students earn task completion badges, progress awards and eligibility for college scholarships in cyber. Learn more about CyberStart America opportunities for awards and recognition.
Contact us at at CyberStartGeorgia@ung.edu Visit CyberStart America for additional information and resources for teacher and advisors.
Learn More
Imagine the outcome of the COVID-19 pandemic with a shortage of 500,000 doctors in the U.S.
How would California fare with a shortage of 500,000 fire fighters?
Although the United States has not faced these hypothetical crises, cyber crimes are a growing threat to our national welfare, in part, because of the critical shortage of cybersecurity professionals.
With nearly 500,000 cybersecurity jobs currently unfilled in the U.S., 17,000 of them in Georgia alone, shortage of cybersecurity professions affects everyone, with more frequent and damaging cyber attacks on food and fuel supplies, water and utilities, government agencies and corporations in nearly every business sector.
Georgia’s high schools play an essential role in helping students explore their potential in this crucial career field. CyberStart Georgia helps high schools meet the challenge of preparing the next generation of cyber professionals.