Rural Cyber Workforce Project

About the Project

The Rural Cybersecurity Workforce Project examines federal cybersecurity workforce programs and their effectiveness in supporting rural critical infrastructure. Our research focuses on how accessible and effective these federal programs are for the recruitment and placement of cybersecurity employees within rural critical infrastructure facilities and systems.

Why Focus On Rural Communities?

In the rapidly evolving digital landscape, rural communities across America face growing cybersecurity challenges with limited resources to address them. While urban centers benefit from robust security infrastructure and deep talent pools, rural areas often struggle with fundamental barriers to cyber resilience. This disparity creates not only localized vulnerabilities but systemic risks to our interconnected digital ecosystem and national security infrastructure.

The urgency of addressing rural cybersecurity gaps has intensified as critical infrastructure—including healthcare facilities, water systems, agricultural technology, local government operations, and essential public services—increasingly faces sophisticated cyber threats. 

Rural America is home to diverse populations—including significant Black communities throughout the Southeast, Hispanic/Latino communities in agricultural regions, Native American tribal lands, and growing Asian American and Pacific Islander populations. These communities face compounded challenges when cybersecurity vulnerabilities intersect with historical patterns of underinvestment in digital infrastructure and workforce development. Addressing rural cybersecurity workforce needs represents an opportunity to advance both security and equity goals while creating sustainable economic opportunities for historically marginalized populations.