MN Cyber Clinic

Client Testimonials

100% satisfaction rate

This is such a great program. It gives me the ability to run my business knowing that I was taking all the necessary steps to keep my clients PHI safe. The Cyber Clinic brought awareness to me about items that I had never even thought about that were easy fixes that could have left my business and staff in a very vulnerable situation.

— Small Business Owner

"The team was exceptionally well-trained and did a thorough job understanding our organization. The feedback we received was well-organized and actionable. This is definitely a great exercise, and I highly recommend it not only as part of an initial assessment, but also routine maintenance.”

— Lao Thao
Neighborhood Development Center, nonprofit organization in Saint Paul, Minnesota

Cyber Clinic student testimonials

“As someone currently working in cybersecurity, the cyber clinic is a rare and invaluable opportunity to experience what a real-world cyber position is like. The hands-on experience provided by the clinic bridges the gap between what you learn in school and what you’ll face in the industry.”

William Lee, CISSP GSEC, GCLD, Sec+
Metro Cyber Clinic student, fall 2024

“Cyber clinic is a game-changer! It gives me a sneak peek into the real world of cybersecurity, and trust me, it’s exciting! The hands-on experience was super fun, especially learning how to apply the NIST frameworks while helping companies stay safe. The best part? Knowing that your work actually makes a difference. If you are into tech and want some real-world action, this is where you want to be!”

Annicette Ndjonti, Sec+
Metro Cyber Clinic student, fall 2024

“My experience at the Metro State University Cyber Clinic has not only shaped my growth as a cybersecurity expert but also impacted my role as a high school computer science teacher. The clinic provided me with the skills and knowledge to obtain my Security+ certification, perform risk assessments, and mentor others.”

Mohamed Mohamed, Sec+, CCNA, CEH
Metro Cyber Clinic student, fall 2024

“One of my biggest concerns about the cybersecurity journey was where I got experience and how to test my ability to work with clients. Cyber Clinic provided me with a sense of comfort and confidence in my cybersecurity journey. It was at Cyber Clinic that I began to understand the importance of teamwork and realized the pressing need for more cybersecurity experts in our field.”

Liban Galgalo, Sec+
Metro Cyber Clinic student, fall 2024

“The Cybersecurity Clinic gave me the kind of experience I was looking for real clients, real challenges, and real impact. Collaborating with peers and engaging directly with client management pushed me to think critically, communicate clearly, and lead with confidence. The clinic challenged me and helped me grow as a cybersecurity professional."

Foad Ali, CCNA, MCSA, Security+
Metro Cyber Clinic student, spring 2025

“My involvement in Metro States Cyber Clinic has provided an invaluable opportunity to engage with a variety of real clients, helping them understand the gaps in their security posture. This experience has contributed to helping me develop practical, real-world skills. The Cyber Clinic has helped me establish a strong foundation for my future career in cybersecurity.”

Amber Jarvis, Sec+
Metro Cyber Clinic student, spring 2025

“Cyber Clinic has been one of the most valuable networking opportunities I’ve had at Metro State. It’s where I connected with some of the sharpest minds on campus and learned how to translate my experience into job interviews and applications. The hands-on work, combined with that strong community, gave me the confidence and clarity I needed to succeed in the cybersecurity field.”

Jiuma Elhshik, Sec+, Net+, AWS
Metro Cyber Clinic student, spring 2025

“The Cyber Clinic gave me a unique opportunity to apply what I’ve learned in class to real-world cybersecurity challenges. Conducting risk assessments using the NIST framework helped me develop both technical and consulting skills. It’s an experience that’s built my confidence and prepared me for a career in the field.”

Esmail El-shekeil, Sec+, AWS Cloud Solutions Architect – Associate
Metro Cyber Clinic student, spring 2025

The National Security Agency (NSA) has awarded Metro State University $1.45 million to launch a cybersecurity clinic that will help Minnesota organizations respond to cyberattacks.

Small businesses, nonprofits, schools and government organizations in the state will be able to access the clinic for free cybersecurity vulnerability assessments from students at Metro State starting in early 2024.

What is a Cybersecurity Clinic?

For decades, schools of law and medicine have operated “clinics,” where students work with real-world clients with limited resources and gain valuable hands-on experience.

The Metro State Cybersecurity Clinic adapts this model for the field of cybersecurity. The clinic seeks to train students from diverse backgrounds and academic expertise to strengthen the digital defenses of nonprofits, hospitals, municipalities, small businesses, and other under-resourced organizations in our communities, while also developing a talent pipeline for cyber civil defense.

Services

Our approach is to work directly with organizations to assess their vulnerabilities and suggest low-cost improvements they can make. We believe that having a review of the status-quo is the first step in figuring out a plan of action that will prevent unwanted incidents. Teams from the clinic typically work with clients for two months to gather and analyze relevant information. Other services may be provided based upon initial findings.

Risk assessment delivered at a glance

Client categories	Numbers
K-12 schools	4
Cities	2
Counties	4
Nonprofits	3
Tribal organizations	2
Small businesses	14
Total Minnesota organizations served	29

Is your organization interested in a free Cybersecurity Risk Review? Please contact cyber.clinic@metrostate.edu!

High school engagement sessions

Explore cybersecurity: High school visits to Metro State University—inspire the next generation of cyber professionals!

Bring your students for an unforgettable hands-on cybersecurity experience. Don't miss the chance to spark their interest in one of today's most exciting and in-demand fields!

Metro State University Cyber Clinic high school engagement sessions offer a 2–3 hour hands-on cybersecurity experience for grades 10 through 12 at no cost. Accommodating 20 to 60 students per session, each visiting group will get:

TryHackMe demos
OSINT challenges
Lockpicking station
Cyber Center campus tour
Student Q and A panel
Exposure to real tools, real skills, and real inspiration!

Want to bring your students? Reach out today!

High school sessions hosted

School	Students visiting	Date of visit
Anoka-Hennepin School District	26	April 3, 2025
Wayzata High School	29	April 9, 2025
Metro Schools College Prep	20	April 9, 2025

Who are we?

The clinic is a group of faculty and students helping under-resourced organizations defend themselves against cyber-attacks by using an approach called Defensive Social Engineering (DSE). Cyber defenders can use DSE along with other technical tools to defeat or compromise attackers. The clinic works with the management, IT staff and cybersecurity specialists in these organizations to help assess their vulnerabilities. All student participants are upper division cybersecurity majors, have completed industry recognized certifications, and have completed a training program on Cybersecurity for Critical Urban Infrastructure including role-playing simulation exercises.