Wyoming cybersecurity competition for small businesses enters 8th year

Oil City NewsPublished: January 27, 2025

Winners of Wyoming’s 2024 Cybersecurity Competition for Small Businesses at Cyber Cheyenne on Oct.4, 2024. From left, Laura Baker of CyberWyoming, Joseph Whiteplume of High Plains Power in Riverton, Jennifer Clark of the Goat Ladies in Rock River, Mary Keane of CyberWyoming, Shantel Anderson of HighPoint CPAs in Laramie, and Meagan Herrington (2023 winner) of Black Cat Construction in Cheyenne. (Submitted Photo)

Credit: Oil City Staff /

CASPER, Wyo. — The 2025 Wyoming Cybersecurity Competition for Small Businesses will open for registration Feb. 1, offering seven months of cybersecurity training and education to Wyoming companies. The program is designed for small businesses without dedicated IT support who want personalized guidance to improve their security.

Participants commit to four to six hours of cyber and tech work each month and will learn about cybersecurity best practices, AI, automation and cloud system integration. The competition culminates in a cyber risk score assessment, providing businesses with a clear picture of their security posture.

“Even companies that have participated in the past may want to join again to get their cyber risk score,” said Laura Baker, executive director of CyberWyoming. “We are always learning new things in our changing digital world, so if you haven’t joined up in a few years, consider joining for the new educational tools CyberWyoming has developed.”

The competition offers attorneys up to 35 hours of CLE credits and accountants up to 35 CPE credits.

Registration is open through May 1, with early entrants potentially gaining an advantage. Winners will be judged on problem-solving, information security, culture, planning, progress, thoroughness and presentation.

The first-place winners in each category will speak at Cyber Cheyenne in October. The competition is free to Wyoming companies thanks to the support of various organizations including:

307 Tech Pros
Capitol Communications
Casper College
Concordant
DigeTekS
EvnTec
Factory IT
First Education FCU
First Federal Bank & Trust
First National Bank of Gillette
Gannett Peak Technical Services
Gula Tech Foundation
HUB International
IECA of Casper
K2 Technologies
Language I/O
Manufacturing Works of Wyoming
National Cybersecurity Society
PDS Manage
Secure the Village
Sightline Security
Sweetwater Technology Services
TEAM
Whitehat
Wyoming Realtors

To participate in the competition, business owners or managers should visit cyberwyoming.org/programs/competition/.

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