Intelligence and Cybersecurity Diversity Fellowship Program Roundtable Event

August 15, 2024 @ 10am
Zoom: complete this form for Zoom link

The Intelligence and Cybersecurity Diversity Fellowship Program is designed to help DHS recruit, retain, and reward the best and brightest in the fields of intelligence or cybersecurity. The program provides qualified students opportunities to work alongside highly skilled intelligence or cybersecurity professionals at DHS, gain hands-on technical experience, interact with experts and peers at professional development events and expand their professional network at national conferences.

Please join us on August 15, 2024 @ 10am for a virtual Student Roundtable information session to learn more about this opportunity.

In this program, students may receive:

• A paid fellowship with potential eligibility for tuition assistance
• First-hand, practical experience in Intelligence and Cybersecurity disciplines
• Participation in high-priority challenge projects
• Training in core and technical competencies
• Advice and support from mentors
• Networking opportunities

Microsoft Cybersecurity Scholarship Program

The Microsoft Cybersecurity Scholarship Program - Last Mile Fund supports community college degree and industry certificate completion through financial assistance and subsidies for cybersecurity certification exam costs. Financial assistance is intended to cover short-term basic needs, such as food, rent, health-related, transportation/car issues, and/or a laptop/device.

Click here to learn more about this program, powered by Last Mile Education Fund. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

​​​​​​The Reboot Scholar Transfer Success Fund invests in striving Black, Latina, and Native American women transferring from community colleges and accepted into a bachelor's degree program for computing (e.g., computer science, information systems, data science, management information systems, etc.). The Fund aims to invest in high-potential transfer students with financial need, paving the way toward undergraduate computing degrees. 

Applicants must identify as a Black, Latina, and/or Native American woman or non-binary and be accepted into a bachelor's degree program for computing.​​​​​​​

Click here to learn more about this opportunity.

PC or computer technicians provide computer and network support within businesses, government offices and nonprofit organizations. They may also work for third-party computer support businesses. Computer technicians are responsible for installing, maintaining and troubleshooting hardware and software as well as answering computer-related questions from employees and customers. Some of their specific responsibilities include:

• Setting up new computer systems and installing, maintaining and troubleshooting the software
• Ensuring that internet security software is up-to-date and running smoothly
• Repairing hardware and servers as necessary
• Testing, troubleshooting and implementing new software programs within a company
• Providing technical assistance and identifying solutions as necessary
• Participating in onboarding for new hires and training non-IT professionals on computers and software

_{Information provided via Indeed}

Help desk technicians are vital to the IT workforce, as they keep the technologies that organizations rely on to do business up-to-date and running smoothly. IT help desk technicians provide technical support and troubleshooting services to end-users who need assistance with their computer hardware or software. There are two chief types of help desk technician: In-house and Remote. Remote help desk technicians support technology customers via phone, online and occasionally on-site. In-house technicians only provide support for internal employees.

Help desk technicians need a deep understanding of computer hardware and software. Strong communication skills are also essential, as help desk specialists must effectively communicate solutions to both technical and non-technical individuals.

_{Information provided via IT Career Finder}

Computer support specialists provide help and advice to computer users and organizations. These specialists either support computer networks or they provide technical assistance directly to computer users. 

Typical duties include:

• Test and evaluate existing network systems
• Perform regular maintenance to ensure that networks operate correctly
• Troubleshoot local area networks (LANs), wide area networks (WANs), and Internet systems

Computer network support specialists, also called technical support specialists, analyze, troubleshoot, and evaluate computer network problems. They play an important role in the routine maintenance of their organization's networks, such as performing file backups on the network. Maintenance can be performed daily, weekly, or monthly and is important to an organization's disaster recovery efforts. Solving an information technology (IT) problem promptly is important because organizations depend on their network systems. Network support specialists may assist computer users through phone, email, or in-person visits. They often work under network and computer systems administrators, who handle more complex tasks.

_{Information provided via U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics}

Computer networks are critical parts of almost every organization. Network and computer systems administrators are responsible for the day-to-day operation of these networks. They organize, install, and support an organization's computer systems, including local area networks (LANs), wide area networks (WANs), network segments, intranets, and other data communication systems.

Typical duties include:

• Determine an organization's system needs and install network hardware and software
• Make needed upgrades and repairs to networks and ensure that systems are operating correctly 
• Maintain network and computer system security
• Evaluate and optimize network or system performance
• Add users to a network, and assign and update security permissions on the network
• Train users in the proper use of hardware and software
• Interpret and solve problems when a user or an automated monitoring system alerts them that a problem exists

Administrators manage an organization's servers and desktop mobile equipment. They ensure that email and data storage networks work properly. They also make sure that employees' workstations are working efficiently and stay connected to the central computer network. Some administrators manage telecommunication networks.

Administrators may help network architects design and analyze network models. They also participate in decisions about buying future hardware or software to upgrade their organization's network. Some administrators provide technical support to computer users, and they also may supervise computer support specialists who help solve users' problems.

_{Information provided via U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics}

Computer hardware engineers research, design, develop, and test computer systems and components such as processors, circuit boards, memory devices, networks, and routers.

Typical duties include:

• Design new computer hardware, creating schematics of computer equipment to be built
• Test the computer hardware they design
• Analyze the test results and modify the design as needed
• Update existing computer equipment so that it will work with new software
• Oversee the manufacturing process for computer hardware

Many hardware engineers design devices used in manufactured products that incorporate processors and other computer components and that connect to the Internet. For example, many new cars, home appliances, and medical devices have Internet-ready computer systems built into them.

Computer hardware engineers ensure that computer hardware components work together with the latest software. Therefore, hardware engineers often work with software developers. 

_{Information provided via U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics}

Network Security/Information Security Analysts plan, implement, upgrade, or monitor security measures for the protection of computer networks and information. May ensure appropriate security controls are in place that will safeguard digital files and vital electronic infrastructure. Information Security Analysts may respond to computer security breaches and viruses.

Typical duties include:

• Develop plans to safeguard computer files against accidental or unauthorized modification, destruction, or disclosure and to meet emergency data processing needs
• Monitor current reports of computer viruses to determine when to update virus protection systems
• Encrypt data transmissions and erect firewalls to conceal confidential information as it is being transmitted and to keep out tainted digital transfers
• Perform risk assessments and execute tests of data processing system to ensure functioning of data processing activities and security measures
• Modify computer security files to incorporate new software, correct errors, or change individual access status
• Review violations of computer security procedures and discuss procedures with violators to ensure violations are not repeated
• Document computer security and emergency measures policies, procedures, and tests
• Confer with users to discuss issues such as computer data access needs, security violations, and programming changes
• Monitor use of data files and regulate access to safeguard information in computer files
• Coordinate implementation of computer system plan with establishment personnel and outside vendors 

_{Information provided via O*NET OnLine}