State systems and Minnesotans’ data are increasingly under attack. Every day, state systems are targeted by new cyber-attacks that are intended to steal Minnesotans’ private data, disrupt government operations, or use government resources to conduct illicit operations. Not only have the number of attacks increased significantly, but those attacks are growing more sophisticated. With the ever-growing threats to state systems, the need for a highly skilled cyber-defense team has never been more of a necessity.

This is why Minnesota IT Services has partnered with several federal agencies to train and employ this next generation of cyber defenders through the Scholarship for Service (SFS) program.

This unique program, funded by the National Science Foundation, seeks to aid in the protection of America's critical information infrastructure by training college students in information security and information assurance related fields, and then placing them with federal and state agencies. The program provides scholarships to students that cover the cost of tuition and ancillary fees at institutions with accredited cybersecurity programs, for up to three years.  In exchange for these scholarships, students must agree to work for an equal number of years in government.

Minnesota IT Services benefits greatly from this highly successful program, having hired 5 student interns and one full-time employee.  These students came from St. Cloud State University, the only accredited school in the program in our state, as well as Dakota State University, University of South Alabama, and the University of Texas at San Antonio.

“These students and graduates are getting into an exciting and rewarding field,” said Aaron Call, the State of Minnesota’s Information Security Director. Call added, “Not only do they enjoy the work, the state [Minnesota] is a more secure place with these students and graduates on the job.”

To learn more about the Scholarship for Service (SFS) program.

Apply for a Spring semester 2017 student intern position. Applicants must be students but don’t have to be part of the Scholarship for Service Program.