Cybersecurity & AI

Every generation faces new technology challenges and opportunities. The Internet created a level of global connectivity the world has never known. The private sector has grown to new heights of productivity and prosperity because of that network. Now the private sector stakeholders along with their cloud providers need to lean forward to strengthen integrated deterrence of cyberattacks.
Community-led Cyber Defense engages three types of private sector stakeholders:

1. Small Businesses and their Industry Ecosystem Leads
2. Local Chambers of Commerce and other Business Associations locally and nationally
3. Higher education institutions for upskilling businesses through Peake Fellows in the field





“We’re big proponents of Community-led Cyber Defense as a 35-person business with no IT staff at all. Meanwhile, we use all three of the largest cloud providers because that’s what our systems and applications run on. Without our virtual CISO, local chamber of commerce, and recent graduates from higher ed institutions working alongside us, we would never be the world class company we are. Their support for us adopting the NIST 800-171 cyber controls positioned us to turn our response to cyber threats into a competitive advantage for potential customers and suppliers.”

— John Biagioni, CEO of Lampin Corporation, a 35-employee machining supplier to a leading reusable rocket & space logistics provider, explaining his company’s needs to Microsoft EVP Jason Zander





“The Peake Fellowship let me learn cybersecurity and supply chain skills with small business leaders in the field that I didn’t learn in the classroom. Next year I’m starting a Master’s in Cyberpsychology that could never have happened for me without the one year Peake Fellowship.”

—Tyler Holloway, Peake Fellow ’23 and recent graduate of Savannah State University, who served as a cybersecure collaboration facilitator with Lampin’s CEO, John Biagioni.



Peake Fellows recommend that each community stakeholder aligns its cybersecurity procedures with DoD’s evolving Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC). This starts with the stakeholder confirming that it addresses 110 controls across each of the 14 cyber control families as defined by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) 800-171. These 110 controls form the basis of CMMC compliance.

Beyond NIST cyber controls, the Peake Fellowship supports assessment and mitigation of the 124 (draft) U.S. risk sub-categories which the DoD established in 2022 and continues to refine. Peake addresses each of these sub-risk categories within the DoD’s overall 12 categories:

I. Financial
II. Foreign Ownership Control or Influence (FOCI)
III. Political & Regulatory
IV. Compliance
V. Technology & Cyber Security
VI. Manufacturing & Supply
VII. Transportation & Distribution
VIII. Product Quality & Design
IX. Economic
X.Environment
XI. Human Capital
XII. Infrastructure

i-HELP

(Higher ed Enterprise Leadership Program)
Funded by the U.S. Department of Commerce
National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA)
and led by Fayetteville State University

i-HELP stands for the Higher ed Enterprise Leadership Program. The small “i” in i-HELP reflects the internet-based expertise of the Community Navigators. That small “i” also represents the necessary humility of the Community Navigators as they learn from the industry expertise of the business leaders they serve. Community Navigators are typically new to each industry they support, but the Peake Fellowship provides them with training and certifications on helping each business with essential tools for cybersecure growth in an AI & Big Data-driven economy.

Specifically, i-HELP:
  • Nominates and selects top flight higher ed students.
  • Trains and certifies Navigators in professional skills.
  • Guides Navigators to analyze businesses on collaboration best practices.
  • Supports Navigators to work directly with community business leaders.

Community Navigators earn certifications which demonstrate that the Community Navigator created measurable value for a small business by applying that particular skill. Beyond any technical skills, all of these microcredentials rely on how to facilitate progress with a small business leader in the context of Cybersecurity & AI ethics.