Cybersecurity Clinic

Protecting Those Who Serve Our Community

Local governments and nonprofit organizations serve as the bedrock of civic life, weaving together public infrastructure and essential services that sustain thriving communities. Their daily operations are essential to communities, but cyberattacks can cause those operations to grind to a halt, locking computer systems and exposing sensitive data, while demanding costly ransoms that strain budgets.

Organizations face a growing barrage of cyberattacks that can cripple operations and compromise sensitive data. Ransomware attacks have become highly prevalent, with heavily resourced criminal organizations targeting small organizations specifically because they have fewer resources to secure their networks and systems.

This is where the Miami University Cybersecurity Clinic steps in. We partner with local governments and nonprofits to:

• Assess their cybersecurity risks and exposures,
• Provide expertise and support to help them navigate evolving cyber threats,
• Implement practical, cost-effective security solutions that work with limited resources.

Let us help protect your organization so you can focus on what matters most: serving our community.

Who We Are

The Miami University Cybersecurity Clinic is a faculty-led organization whose goal is to improve the cyber resilience of community organizations. Through a model like university clinics in law and medicine, we train students to work in faculty-led teams that help community organizations build the capabilities they need to defend themselves against cyber threats, including malicious hackers and organized cybercriminal groups.

What We Do

We perform nontechnical and technical security assessments, review security policies and procedures, and recommend low-cost improvements to an organization’s cybersecurity posture. We can also help to implement recommended improvements.

For more information on cybersecurity at Miami University, please visit: https://MiamiOH.edu/cyber

Student Experience

The Cybersecurity Clinic offers a dynamic, hands-on learning experience through two integrated components: classroom instruction and real-world client engagement.

In the classroom, students develop essential cybersecurity skills and knowledge, building both a strong professional foundation and specialized expertise for their project work. The clinical component puts this learning into practice, as students collaborate directly with community partners to:

• Assess their cybersecurity needs
• Evaluate existing security practices
• Identify vulnerabilities and gaps
• Develop and recommend tailored solutions

• CISA offers free vulnerability scanning services for local governments.
• Ohio Cyber Reserve provides cybersecurity incident response and training services.
• O-PCI offers online cybersecurity education for local government employees.