University of Montana Launches Game-Changing Cybersecurity Education Partnership

University of Montana Launches Game-Changing Cybersecurity Education Partnership

• Partnership Announcement: The University of Montana and Blackfoot Communications announced a cybersecurity partnership on May 13, 2025.
• Innovative Curriculum: The program, called PISCES, gives students hands-on experience monitoring real threats.
• Broad Professional Appeal: UM and Missoula College offer cybersecurity paths from short certificates to two- and four-year degrees.
• Strategic Stakeholders: The partnership will provide analysis and training to local governments, public schools and utilities in rural Montana.
• Future-Ready Workforce: UM says the effort helps close Montana’s cybersecurity workforce gap.

UM and Blackfoot team up on rural cyber defense

The University of Montana and Blackfoot Communications have launched a partnership to strengthen cybersecurity in rural parts of the state. It is the first corporate partnership in Montana for the Public Infrastructure Security Cyber Education System, known as PISCES. Announced May 13, 2025, it will provide cybersecurity analysis and training to local governments, public school systems and local utility companies.

What students get from PISCES

PISCES puts students to work on real threat monitoring and management. Those are the skills high-tech employers like Blackfoot need. At UM and Missoula College, which the university calls Montana’s cybersecurity hub, students can choose paths ranging from a weeks-long certificate to two- and four-year degree programs. That range lets people enter at different stages, from new students to workers retraining.

Closing Montana’s talent gap

Tom Gallagher, Missoula College dean and associate vice provost for two-year education and workforce development, called Blackfoot “a trustworthy community stalwart with deep connections to the rural communities we plan to serve.”

“Montana has a great need for cybersecurity experts, and with Blackfoot’s help, we are solving a workforce gap and bridging the digital divide,” Gallagher said.

Blackfoot’s role

Blackfoot, a longtime UM partner, acts as the community liaison. It connects local organizations with PISCES resources and training. Small towns rarely have security staff of their own, so the arrangement brings them monitoring they could not easily afford, while students get real data to work on.

Who benefits

Rural governments, schools and utilities get help spotting threats, and students get experience. “This is a win-win for Blackfoot,” said Chad Gardner, chief revenue officer of Blackfoot Communications. “We are proud to share this exceptional cybersecurity program with the communities we serve and support the development of the next generation of cybersecurity professionals.”

What comes next

The partnership is part of UM’s growing cybersecurity work. If it brings more rural agencies into PISCES, Montana’s small communities will be better defended, and more graduates will leave school with real monitoring experience. Other rural states may watch how it goes.

Dan Evert, CCNP

Dan Evert is a self proclaimed Router Jockey. Dan got heavily involved in networking right out of high school and has never looked back! Dan is giving back by working with high school students to get them involved and interested in Networking and Security.