cyber_security_tampa_datacorps_technology_solutions

The Girl Scouts are perhaps best known for their awesome cookies or character building curriculum, but like their brother organization, the Boy Scouts, the girls in uniform do a lot more than just that. For the past 105 years, both organizations have been issuing merit badges for camping, survival skills and a wide range of outdoor activities.

Not just camping anymore

Recently, though, the Girl Scouts have taken steps to modernize their program. To accomplish that goal, they went to their 1.8 million members and asked them what sorts of new merit badges they’d like to see, and what new skills they would like to learn.

An overwhelming number of Girl Scouts responded, expressing an interest in various things relating to technology, which is how the new Cybersecurity Badge came to be.

Younger scouts will be able to earn the badge by demonstrating an understanding of cyberbullying, basic data security and protecting themselves online. Older scouts will be able to learn coding skills, create and setup firewalls, work their way around firewalls, and learn how to become White Hat hackers. With more and more parenting groups and higher education institutions calling for greater emphasis on STEM programs for girls, this seems like a fantastic and logical new step for the Girl Scouts.

When will local girls begin to see these badges?

Over the next two years, a whole raft of new badges will be rolled out, most of them drawn from the suggestions given to them by the Girl Scouts themselves.

While this is an unconventional way of learning about cybersecurity, it’s a very welcome change. Too few people know enough about cybersecurity to mount a credible defense, and very few young people even give the issue much thought. If the Girl Scouts can help move the needle on this front and raise awareness, then good for them! Just like we're always reminding our Tampa IT Services clients, training is everything. Not just for leadership, but for everyone who has access to your technology.

AND in our Monday Ask DataCorps Live! training video, we continued our Expert Interview Series with tips on how to keep our kids safe online. One of the things we were reminded of on that video is that so often, our kids have access to our tech. If you're using your phone to conduct business, even email, and then occasionally hand that phone to a child... that child has access your your business network. Let's take a page from the Girl Scouts book and make sure we're having those conversations with our kids about how to keep safe out there in the digital world.

Great Work, Girl Scouts, USA!