The anniversary event highlights the clinic’s accomplishments in workforce development and supporting local organizations
SAN DIEGO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–In an event at Snapdragon Stadium, elected officials, and industry leaders from the cybersecurity sector and academia gathered to celebrate the first anniversary of the San Diego Cyber Clinic. Launched in summer 2024 by the Cyber Center of Excellence (CCOE), Cal State San Marcos (CSUSM), National University, and San Diego State University (SDSU) with support from Google’s Cybersecurity Clinics Fund and The Consortium of Cybersecurity Clinics, the clinic has quickly become a vital resource for the region – working to grow a skilled cyber workforce, increase digital security for all, and serve as a model for regional collaboratives around the world.
In its first year alone, the San Diego Cyber Clinic has supported more than 30 local businesses, 18 faculty members, and 170 students by providing free cybersecurity services to the community while offering invaluable hands-on training to the next generation of cyber professionals.
“The San Diego Cyber Clinic is thrilled to celebrate one year of advancing the cyber workforce while safeguarding small businesses and under-resourced organizations across our region. CCOE is proud to partner with CSUSM, National University, and SDSU to deliver a wide range of free cybersecurity services to the community — all made possible through support and mentorship from Google.org and The Consortium of Cybersecurity Clinics. Together, we’re training more students, bolstering more organizations, and forging new partnerships to seed the talent pipeline and strengthen regional resiliency,” said Lisa Easterly, President & CEO, CCOE.
Cybersecurity clinics at higher education institutions provide free digital security services to under-resourced organizations, similar to how law or medical schools offer free community clinics. The San Diego Cyber Clinic provides CSUSM, National University and SDSU students the opportunity to learn cybersecurity and AI skills in an effective, hands-on manner while simultaneously helping to protect vulnerable organizations and critical infrastructure, such as local small businesses, hospitals, schools, and energy grids, from cyberattacks.
According to the World Economic Forum’s 2025 Global Risks Report, cyber insecurity remains one of the top 10 global risks over the next 10 years. Currently, there are nearly 514,000 open cybersecurity jobs available in the U.S., including 44,000 in California and 5,500 in the San Diego region, and demand for cyber professionals is projected to grow 32% by 2033. To ensure that communities, critical infrastructure and businesses, both big and small across the U.S. are secure, there is a distinct need for a skilled, diverse and AI savvy cybersecurity workforce.
“Navigating the recent increase in disruptive cyber attacks on essential services—from local power grids to hospitals—will rely on a strong cyber workforce capable of defending against everyday threats,” said Maab Ibrahim, Head of Economic Opportunity for the Americas, Google.org. “The San Diego Cyber Clinic is a crucial part of this effort: it gives students the hands-on experience they need to start careers, while at the same time providing vital, no-cost security services to local organizations that need them most. It’s a smart investment in both our workforce and the critical infrastructure that communities depend on.”
The San Diego Cyber Clinic is the only multi-institution clinic in the Consortium of Cybersecurity Clinics with a nonprofit industry partner leading the charge, training students to service clients across the public and private sectors in the San Diego region. Through engagement of key industry, academic, and government stakeholders, including the city-led San Diego Regional Cyber Lab, the San Diego Cyber Clinic aims to grow an inclusive cyber workforce, increase digital security for all and serve as a model for regional collaboratives.
“The San Diego Cyber Clinic is advancing our mission to train the next generation of cyber leaders while safeguarding community organizations. They join 56 Clinics worldwide that have already mobilized more than 3,500 students in service of more than 850 community organizations since our founding in 2021,” said Matthew Nagamine, Membership Director at the Consortium of Cybersecurity Clinics. “We applaud their impressive first year and look forward to celebrating their continued impact as we work toward the Consortium’s vision of establishing a cybersecurity clinic in every U.S. state by 2030.”
The San Diego Cyber Clinic is one of 15 new clinics that launched in 2024 at higher education institutions across the country, thanks to a collaboration from Google and The Consortium of Cybersecurity Clinics. In addition to $1 million in Google.org funding, the tech company has supported the San Diego Cyber Clinic with volunteer mentorship from Google employees, Google Titan Security Keys, and scholarships for the Google Career Certificate in Cybersecurity. Additional information on the initiative is available on Google’s blog and the Consortium’s website.
For more information about the San Diego Cyber Clinic, visit https://sdccoe.org/cyber-clinic/.
About Cyber Center of Excellence (CCOE)
Cyber Center of Excellence (CCOE) is a San Diego-based nonprofit that mobilizes industry, academia and government to grow the regional cyber economy and create a more secure digital community for all. CCOE is celebrating more than 10 years of cultivating a diverse workforce, promoting cybersecurity across all sectors, addressing infrastructure challenges and positioning San Diego as a global hub for collaborative cybersecurity innovation. sdccoe.org
About California State University San Marcos (CSUSM)
Building on a 35-year history, California State University San Marcos is a forward-focused institution, dedicated to student success fueled by innovation, education and community partnerships. Located on a 306-acre hillside overlooking the City of San Marcos, it is the only public four-year comprehensive university serving North San Diego, Southwest Riverside and South Orange counties. The university enrolls nearly 16,000 students. It ranks among the national leaders in social mobility, increasing the opportunities and improving the life trajectories of underrepresented students. As a recipient of the annual HEED Award since 2014 — a national honor recognizing U.S. colleges and universities that demonstrate an outstanding commitment to diversity and inclusion — CSUSM is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment. csusm.edu
About National University
National University, a Veteran-founded nonprofit, has been dedicated to meeting the needs of nontraditional, working, and military students by providing accessible, affordable higher education opportunities since 1971. As San Diego’s largest private nonprofit university, NU offers 190+ online and on-campus programs, including bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degree programs in cybersecurity, with flexible four-week and eight-week classes and one-to-one graduate education models designed to help students reach their goals while balancing busy lives. Since its founding, the NU community has grown to 130,000 learners served per year—50,000 degree-seeking students and 80,000 workforce and professional development students—and 230,000 alumni around the globe, many of whom serve in helping industries such as business, education, health care, cybersecurity, and law and criminal justice. Additionally, NU is recognized as a Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education by the National Security Agency. To learn more about National University’s new possibilities in education including next-generation education, value-rich education, and whole human education, visit NU.edu.
About San Diego State University (SDSU)
San Diego State University is a major public research institution and an R1 university, as designated by Carnegie. SDSU provides transformative experiences for its more than 40,000 students. SDSU offers bachelor’s degrees in 97 areas, master’s degrees in 88 fields and 29 doctoral programs. SDSU ranks as the No. 1 California State University in federal research support, and as one of the top public research universities in California. In addition to academic offerings at SDSU, SDSU Imperial Valley and SDSU Georgia, SDSU Global Campus offers online training, certificates and degrees in areas of study designed to meet the needs of students everywhere. Students participate in transformational research, international experiences, sustainability and entrepreneurship initiatives, internships and mentoring, and a broad range of student life and leadership opportunities. SDSU is nationally recognized for its study abroad initiatives and global footprint, veterans’ programs and support of LGBTQIA+ students, as well as its powerhouse Division I Athletics Program. The university was most recently recognized as an Asian American Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institution (AANAPISI), and is also a long-standing Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI). The university’s rich campus life and location offer opportunities for students to lead and engage with the creative and performing arts, career and internship opportunities with SDSU’s more than 500,000 living alumni, and the vibrant cultural life of the greater San Diego and U.S.-Mexico region. sdsu.edu
Contacts
CCOE: [email protected]
CSUSM: [email protected]
National University: [email protected]
SDSU: [email protected]
Google.org: [email protected]
Consortium of Cybersecurity Clinics: [email protected]
