WESTBOROUGH – The Massachusetts Technology Collaborative (MassTech), a public economic development agency for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, has hired career intelligence and cybersecurity expert John Petrozzelli as the new director of its MassCyberCenter division. Petrozzelli brings a strong background from previous roles with managed services provider Magna5’s Boston office, as well as strong cyber and defense roles with both the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the U.S. Air Force. His mix of private- and public-sector experiences aligns closely with the mission of the MassCyberCenter, which was launched in September 2017 to enhance economic opportunities for the Massachusetts cybersecurity ecosystem, to strengthen the talent pipeline, and to bolster the cyber resiliency of the Commonwealth’s public and private-sector communities.
On March 9th, the MassCyberCenter’s Resiliency Manager, Meg Speranza, presented to the METAA Cybersecurity Pre-Conference on the importance of strengthening cybersecurity posture through cyber incident response planning. Meg was joined by Susan Noyes, Acting Director of the EOTSS Office of Municipal and School Technology, and Sergeant Edward Keefe from the Massachusetts State Police/Commonwealth Fusion Center.
The Worcester Business Journal and reporter Livia Gershon recently covered the cybersecurity threats facing businesses in Central Mass and quoted MassCyberCenter director Stephanie Helm.
BRIDGEWATER – Today, the Baker-Polito Administration and the MassCyberCenter at the MassTech Collaborative announced two new initiatives to promote the development of a diverse cybersecurity workforce and improve local cyber resiliency in the Commonwealth, supported by over $3.7 million in state grants. The announcements were made during the 6th Massachusetts Cybersecurity Forum at Bridgewater State University, which brought together 100 executives from companies, municipalities, and leading universities.
BOSTON, MASS. – The Commonwealth of Massachusetts has officially declared October as ‘Massachusetts Cybersecurity Month,’ issuing an official proclamation signed by Governor Charlie Baker and Lt. Governor Karyn Polito. Governor Baker also taped a video message to celebrate the Month, and spotlighted the importance of cybersecurity to “citizens and communities throughout Massachusetts…businesses, schools, government agencies, and so many more organizations” that rely on safe and secure connections.
WESTBOROUGH –The Massachusetts Cybersecurity Mentorship Program, an effort to grow and diversify the cyber workforce in Massachusetts, has reached several critical program milestones, eclipsing 100 students supported through the program, including 41 in the current session, an increase of 16 from fall 2021.
Launched as a pilot in fall 2020, the Cybersecurity Mentorship Program pairs diverse undergraduate students from across the Commonwealth with mentors from the state’s cybersecurity sector. Of the 41 mentors in the spring 2022 session, 18 are new to the program, representing 10 new organizations committed to the initiative.
The Fall 2021 cycle of the MassCyberCenter’s Cybersecurity Mentorship Program kicked off in October during Massachusetts Cybersecurity Month. This cycle’s cohort pairs 25 undergraduate students studying cybersecurity at colleges and universities across Massachusetts with 24 mentors from world-class cybersecurity companies/organizations.
Six new schools and seven new companies have joined the Program this cycle. In total, 39 mentors from 24 companies/organizations and 60 students from 22 colleges and universities in Massachusetts have participated in the three cycles of the Cybersecurity Mentorship Program.
WESTBOROUGH – The MassCyberCenter at the MassTech Collaborative has selected the participants for the spring cohort of its Cybersecurity Mentorship Program, an effort that aims to increase diversity within the cybersecurity workforce in Massachusetts. A total of 25 undergraduate students from 14 different schools across the Commonwealth have been paired with 22 mentors from 14 different organizations.
