DETROIT – Continuing with our interviews from the North American International Cyber Summit, we spoke with Merit Network communications director Pierette Templeton explains how 97 high school teams competed for the High School Cyber Challenge.

The winner on Oct. 17 was Clinton High School, second place went to Airport High School in Carleton and third place to Cadillac High School.

By 2020, 2 million cyber jobs will be open in Michigan so developing the talent needed to fill these positions is critical, she said. So thousands of people will receive cybersecurity training next year, thanks to a new education collaboration announced by Michigan Governor Rick Snyder Oct. 17 at the 2016 International Cyber Summit at Cobo Center.

A  new educational partnership, the Regional Cybersecurity Education Collaboration, works to boost the pool of available cybersecurity workers in Michigan and beyond.  Central Michigan University, Northern Michigan University and Wayne State University are the initial partners, led by the Michigan Cyber Range, powered by Merit Network in Ann Arbor.

The aim is to provide cybersecurity curriculum and certification courses that train students and IT professionals on the latest in cybersecurity skills and techniques, while forging a larger cybersecurity ecosystem in Michigan.   

To learn more, click on https://soundcloud.com/podcastdetroit/m2techcast-54-pierette-templeton-merit-net