Statewide Youth Broadband Advisory Council Update
 What happened at our January SYBAC Meeting:
Kyle Kuhlers, who teaches various cybersecurity and IT/STEM classes, joined us this month as our special guest. We discussed encryption, finding a baseline, and the importance of both in IT and cybersecurity.
Kyle organized some engaging activities that helped us identify the differences and similarities in number groups, illustrating the concept of establishing a baseline. Additionally, we took part in two steganography-focused exercises that illustrated how secret messages could be transmitted. The objective was to provide the group a basic understanding of cybersecurity and encryption while encouraging them to learn more about these topics and think about possible careers that use these skills.
Find out more about the SYBAC Council on our website.
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Allamakee High School Sessions
On January 10, the first virtual session with Allamakee High School kicked off. These sessions are based on our monthly SYBAC meetings. During this session, we offered an overview of the ICN, a free coding resource, and listened to insights from ICN's Security Architect regarding his professional journey in cybersecurity and his experiences.
If you're interested in learning more about this initial session, feel free to read our article on our website.
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Des Moines Business Record had a conversation with our Executive Director, Ryan Mulhall. During the interview, he shared his journey to his current position, including his time in the military. After spending eight years as the chief information officer, he took on the role of executive director at the ICN. The discussion highlights his aspirations, the mission of the ICN, and the importance of always putting your best foot forward.
Read the full interview on their website.
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ICN's Virtual Security Exchange Series
During this session, participants will enhance their networking and security skills, share best practices, and remain informed about the evolving security landscape. This is for the networking and security experts at any level who are currently employed at ICN's customer sites.
Next Session:
February 5 from 10 AM - 11 AM
Identifying Assets On Your Network
These workshops are free to all ICN’s customer base.
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HIGHLIGHTED SERVICE
 Structured Cabling
Every building has its own unique infrastructure. We understand this and when we evaluate a site, we examine the existing cabling routes to make sure they can support both current and future services. By predicting future needs, ICN can install cabling that supports various communication applications. Our TAC team is available to assist you with the planning, design, installation, and upkeep of all your LAN and WAN infrastructure needs.
If you are looking to address existing cable issues or plan for future needs, we've got you covered. Check out our structured cabling page for more information.
E-RATE Update
E-Rate News for K-12 Education & Library Customers
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Schools and libraries can improve their network technology through the federal E-rate program.
The E-Rate application filing window opened on January 15 and will close on March 26, 2025.
To access E-rate funding, institutions must complete a detailed application process, including competitive bidding for services to ensure transparency in provider selection. For more information on eligible services, see our E-rate Services article.
Do you need more assistance? Contact your Account Consultant for more info.
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Internet2's Presidential Primary Sources Project
 Embark on an adventure with your students to explore the sites that influenced our former presidents! The Presidential Primary Resources Project is a collaboration between Internet2, the National Park Service, and the National Archives. A 2025 series of FREE interactive webinars for grades 4-12 has begun, with more exciting sessions to come. These webinars promise to be both fun and informative!
Here are the first three sessions next year:
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Jan. 28 - How To Be First: General Washington and Williamsburg’s Presidential Proving Ground
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Jan. 30 - Camping and Tramping in New York, Maine, and North Dakota: Theodore Roosevelt’s Changing Concept of Wilderness
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Feb. 4 - The Unexpected Presidencies
Iowa Communications Network (ICN) is Iowa’s only authorized Research & Education Network giving our education customers exclusive access to Internet2 services.
Selling fear: Marketing for cybersecurity products often leaves consumers less secure
 The Conversation
By ISU Professor Doug Jacobson
It works like this: Cybersecurity companies often market their products using tactics that emphasize fear (“Hackers are coming for your data!”), blame (“It’s your fault if something happens!”) and complexity (“Only our advanced solution can protect you”). They perpetuate the idea that users are inherently not savvy enough to manage security independently and that the solution is to adopt the latest product or service.
As a cybersecurity researcher, I find that this approach often has unintended, harmful consequences for people. Rather than feeling empowered, users feel helpless, convinced that cybersecurity is beyond their understanding. They may even develop techno-stress, overwhelmed by the need to keep up with constant updates, new tools and never-ending warnings about threats...
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