Technology
Albuquerque Joins 12 Federal Tech Hubs With Mandatory Cybersecurity Programs
Mandatory city training and local meetups add a practical layer to Albuquerque's standing as one of 12 federal Tech Hubs.
How we reported this
The City of Albuquerque requires all employees with Active Directory accounts to finish annual cyber security awareness training that includes the Phishing Foundations and Creating Strong Passwords modules through the Enterprise Learning Management portal within 60 days of the fiscal year start.
Rising ransomware cases in New Mexico have drawn federal attention to the same workforce that supports Sandia National Laboratories and other major employers. The FBI Albuquerque Division has run outreach sessions for local businesses after documenting an increase from 10 ransomware incidents in 2020 to 19 in 2021, while national complaints grew 82 percent between 2019 and 2021.
Meetups and Conferences Build Daily Skills
Security BSides Albuquerque holds its annual conference at UNM Continuing Education, and the Phish-Proof Founders ABQ meetup gathers small-business owners and nonprofits to practice data-defense steps. These sessions sit alongside professional courses that teach social engineering tactics such as phishing, whaling and vishing, with the Certified Cybersecurity Awareness Professional certificate offered at prices from $99 to $175.
Albuquerque was chosen as one of 12 national Tech Hubs and received $41 million in federal funding expected to support 10,000 new jobs. The same designation covers sectors anchored by Sandia National Laboratories and the Air Force Research Lab, where many positions list requirements for Security+ or similar credentials.
October Focus Ties Into National Push
Cybersecurity Awareness Month, led each October by CISA and the National Cybersecurity Alliance, supplies the city with ready materials on enabling automatic updates and avoiding public Wi-Fi for sensitive work. City employees already follow the same core modules that the national campaign promotes.
Businesses can register for the next Phish-Proof Founders ABQ session through the group's Meetup page or check the Eventbrite listing for Security BSides Albuquerque dates. The FBI Albuquerque Division continues to schedule outreach visits for any New Mexico firm that requests them.