“What we’re really doing is establishing a workforce pipeline, and that pipeline needs to start in the K-12 space,” Grover said. “We want students excited about cybersecurity early so they can see what’s possible and be prepared to meet industry needs.”

“Cybersecurity is in everything and will be part of every aspect of life going forward,” Grover said. “In Texas alone, there are 42,000 open jobs in cybersecurity, with 514,000 open positions nationwide. There are opportunities in government, healthcare, insurance and every industry, so if you have an interest in computer systems or protecting data, cybersecurity is the way of the future.”

Cybersecurity Club at Baylor is a club that allows students to grow in their cybersecurity knowledge and skills while also providing mentorship opportunities to its members. The club also feeds into a competition team, the Baylor Cybersecurity Team, that is nationally ranked and competes against other schools across the country.

The Central Texas Cyber Range is a joint initiative between Baylor and McLennan Community College focused on cybersecurity education, workforce development, research and community engagement.