Small Business Solutions

A new partnership between William Jewell College and private cybersecurity firm Hilltop Technologies is protecting schools and companies from cyberattacks worldwide.William Jewell students are gaining hands-on experience at a real-world cyber defense company while preparing for their future careers.Former CIA operations officer and Jewell alumnus Nick Gicinto leads Hilltop Technologies along with Jewell Unlimited Executive Director Conner Hazelrigg.The partnership idea began last year after Jewell experienced its own cyberattack.Gicinto consulted with William Jewell on recovery strategies, eventually forming Hilltop Technologies. The company protects William Jewell, other higher education institutions, and small and medium-sized companies.Gicinto also serves as William Jewells chief information security officer and a cybersecurity professor.We can make it really hard for a thousand other schools to be hit if we can provide protection that they can actually afford, he said.Students receive paid internships at Hilltop Technologies in addition to credit for classes during the school year.William Jewell student Grady Blair spent the summer developing a mobile app for Hilltops clients to see threats in real time. He has since moved into a part-time data scientist position with the company.Theres so much confidential data between faculty, students, and staff, Blair said. Its so important, and I think it needs to be protected.Jewell student Amberlyn Hoeper is also working with Hilltop Technologies in various roles, including business operations, customer success, marketing, and social media.The bad actors are throwing darts at a dartboard and hoping something sticks, Hoeper said. Were trying to make that dartboard a little harder to hit.Gicinto will also teach the introductory course and capstone of the cybersecurity program at William Jewell. He said the partnership with Hilltop Technologies allows students to learn how to do good and make money.Were really bought into this concept of venture meeting mission, Gicinto said. Where you can have a company, the private sector, partnering with higher education in a learning environment to give students the opportunity to realize that you can do both of those things.At Jewell, students can also earn their Certified Information Security Manager certification upon graduating from the cybersecurity program.William Jewell and Hilltop Technologies have also partnered with SET University in Ukraine. Students there work with Hilltop to ensure 24/7 threat coverage for the company.To learn more about William Jewells cybersecurity program, click here.