Fighting the Good Cyber Fight

When it comes to cyber security, Governors State University Lecturer Steve Hyzny is up for the fight.

A noted subject matter expert who holds highly sought-after CompTIA certifications, Hyzny has spent decades working with computers and complicated software. He takes prides in teaching the next generation to protect itself and others in unseen virtual spaces as the world of online hacking becomes more intimidating.

By September of 2019, there were 5,183 breaches, exposing 7.9 billion pieces of information – highly sensitive personal data such as social security number, date of birth, passwords, according to Security Magazine. This, compared to the 500 million records stolen in 2018.

“Everybody is doing everything online today, and there's so much information out there. What we are teaching our students is how to protect not only their information, but their company’s. Hacking is big business,” Hyzny said.

Part of his training for students is taking them to an annual Collegiate Cyber Defense competition where they spend the day fighting off three month's worth of hack attempts. The simulated attacks are coming from professionals working in the field.

"It's the student's job to keep systems up and running,'' said Hyzny, who is looking forward to the next competition on Feb. 15. The hack-a-thon provides valuable hands-on experience for students and sometimes comes with a bonus. In the past, Hyzny's students have been hired as a result of how well they performed in the event.