Cyber as a Service
Cyber as a Service supports students providing paid cybersecurity services to Virginia small businesses and nonprofits, building practical experience to prepare them for cybersecurity careers.
Funder: Commonwealth Cyber Initiative
Due Dates: Rolling (Proposals)
Funding Amounts: Up to $15,000 per project; minimum one-month duration; no contribution requirement
Summary: Supports paid, student-led cybersecurity services for local Virginia businesses and nonprofits while preparing students for cybersecurity careers.
Key Information: PIs must be eligible researchers or faculty at Virginia public higher education institutions; clients must be in the institution’s county.
Description
The Commonwealth Cyber Initiative (CCI) supports projects that help students enter the cybersecurity workforce after graduation while benefiting Virginia’s local economy. Students serve as the primary providers of services such as penetration testing and cyber risk analysis for nearby small businesses or not-for-profits. Students receive payment for their work, while participating businesses receive services at no charge.
The program connects practical cybersecurity experience with workforce development and Virginia workforce retention. Its priorities include adding value for students and employers, improving diverse and inclusive representation, and strengthening the Commonwealth’s competitiveness at the intersection of cybersecurity, autonomy, and data. Projects must define measures of success and track their impact on students.
