⭐ Encourage High School Students to Apply to ICN's Youth Broadband Council ⭐
ICN invites all Iowa 10th - 12th grade high school students to apply for our Statewide Youth Broadband Advisory Council (SYBAC). This is an opportunity for students to discuss broadband/technology topics and learn about Iowa companies. ⭐ Apply Today!
ICN Gives Cable Students Exclusive Telecom Experience
On April 22, Network Cable Installation (NCI) students from the Ottumwa Job Corps received hands-on training from telecom specialists from ICN.
During the session, students interacted at different stations with ICN staff and representatives from Fiber Network Services (FNS). This exclusive mentoring opportunity allowed the students to experience a range of demonstrations, which included:
Looking at fiber optic cables and noticing a few that were damaged.
Learning how to use different tools for the job.
FNS rolled in a work truck that showcased all the tools ready for use on job sites to assist ICN customers.
Revamping a Security Platform to Safeguard State Government
Moving from a one-size-fits-all approach to a customizable security solution.
ICN has successfully completed a major upgrade to its Firewall platform. The upgrades include new firewall hardware, firewall segmentation, and enhanced security capabilities for Iowa’s state government agencies.
Over the years, the security landscape has changed, and customer needs have expanded. This led to ICN’s decision to shift from a one-size-fits-all approach, for the State Firewall, to a more tailored and customizable security solution for each government agency. To better serve our users and protect government data, ICN decided to implement a platform that segments each customer's network, moving away from the previous centralized State Firewall system.
Students from Urbandale's Cyber class visited ICN's office to explore fiber optics, engineering, and cybersecurity.
Our team discussed their roles and responsibilities, along with ways to network for future jobs. The students wrapped up the session with a tour of our Broadband Information Center (BRIC), where the experts explained how the network operates and how we ensure its security.
Service Highlight
Customer Service Kudos
Here's a fantastic testimonial from a customer highlighting our dedication to meeting their needs and exceeding their expectations.
K-12 Education Update
Free Resources
CISA has compiled a list of free services and tools provided by private and public sector organizations across the cyber community.
National Cyber Awareness System
The National Cyber Awareness System provides situational awareness to technical and non-technical audiences by providing timely information about cybersecurity threats and issues and general security topics.
Highlights from Social Media
Forwarding Wisdom
During the month of May, our leadership team is "Forwarding Wisdom" to the graduates of 2025.
Kate is stepping in as our new Accounting Technician 2. She brings with her 18 years of experience in business management and will be supporting our accounts payables and receivables teams.
It’s easy to focus on technology when talking about cybersecurity. However, the best prevention measures rely on the education of those who use technology. Organizations training their employees is the first step. But the industry needs to expand the concept of a culture of cybersecurity and take it from where it currently stands as an organizational responsibility to a global perspective.
📣 Shout Out to the Iowa Cyber Hub referenced in this article.
Iowa CIO Matt Behrens explains how his team spent the past two years completely reorganizing how the state runs IT, with a four-phased approach that eliminated redundancies, streamlined systems, and made state government more efficient and effective.
This great online portal helps students explore the nursing education options available right here in Iowa and offers a selection of over 30 nursing programs.
The Cedar Rapids Police Department recently finished installing stationary license plate reader cameras, which scan plates and run them through national crime databases.
