As fall approaches, our upcoming events list grows. Make sure to read through them all so that you don't miss those that are best fit for you or a colleague! 

A Summer for Growth, Innovation, Experimentation, and Improvement for 193 Students and 9 Teachers at NW Cyber Camp 

Growth: Southern Oregon University was a first-time camp host, welcoming fifteen high school students to the first cohort. In Ashland, campers played the role of a Network Analyst at SnowStorm, a fictional game design company, where they uncover a scheme.

Camps at Portland Community College and Clackamas Community College also utilized the SnowStorm workplace mystery at the heart of their engaging curriculum. 

Innovation: Cybersecurity faculty from Mt. Hood Community College delivered four days of “cyber detective” challenges to Gresham youth participating in the SUN Community School program at their neighborhood middle school. Nineteen youth participated in the highly gamified challenges, solving puzzles, cracking codes and earning prizes.

Experimentation: Oregon State University and Oregon Tech both offered short programs for middle school students with unique takes on age-appropriate cybersecurity content for younger learners. 

The University of Oregon’s weeklong high school camp featured online labs from Hack The Box™ and an in-class competition organized by SentinelOne.

Improvement: Instructors from around the state will gather in September to share lessons learned and identify best practices for future camps.

Reminder | OCCoE Director to Speak at Oregon Public Sector Cybersecurity Summit in Salem 9/22

Navigating Today’s Cyber Threat Landscape

Cyber threats continue to evolve in both sophistication and frequency, challenging organizations to adapt their defenses faster than ever before. What should leaders know about insider threats, ransomware trends, and the unique mitigation strategies? This panel of experts will provide a current view of the threat environment alongside guidance for navigating compliance requirements and security mandates. Key takeaways include risk-prioritized actions that help organizations better prepare for today's most pressing threats.

Reminder | Oregon Cybersecurity Awareness & Preparedness Summit in Pendleton 9/30

In partnership with LBL Cybersecurity and Enterprise Information Services, OCCoE will host a resource table at this FREE Cybersecurity Awareness & Preparedness Summit designed to help organizations better understand today’s evolving cyber threats while building practical awareness, readiness, and response capabilities in a collaborative environment.

Location: Pendleton, OR

Date: 9/30/26

Time: 10:00am-3:00pm

OCCoE to Co-Host Cyber Incident Response Exercise for Emergency Managers at OEMA Annual Conference in Pendleton 10/5-10/8

For the first time, the Oregon Emergency Management Association's Annual Conference will include a Cybersecurity Hazard, Readiness, and Case Studies track. For this track, OCCoE is partnering with the Oregon Department of Emergency Management and Enterprise Information Services to host an experiential learning session for Emergency Managers on October 8th to workshop their own response steps needed to support their communities after a major cyber-attack. Participants will also network with other regional partners to help build connections and coordinated response plans in such events, including identifying key public information and warning actions required immediately following the event. Emergency Managers will leave the session with more resources, contact lists, and actions steps for making sure they are as well prepared for cyber incident response as any other emergency. 

OCCoE to Co-Host Cyber Incident Response Session for IT Managers at OAGITM Fall Conference in Eugene 10/5-10/8

Facilitated by LBL Cybersecurity, OCCoE is coordinating a cybersecurity session on October 8th during the Oregon Association of Government IT Management Fall Conference. 

When the Plan Meets Reality: Practical Cyber Incident Preparedness

Cyber incidents rarely unfold exactly as expected. This session will explore how IT managers can develop flexible, practical response plans that support quick decisions during a rapidly changing event. Building on lessons from tabletop exercises and real-world response challenges, the presentation will highlight common planning gaps and strategies for improving coordination, communication, containment, and recovery.

OCCoE to Co-Host Cybersecurity Session for City Leaders at LOC Annual Conference in Salem 10/15-10/17

OCCoE will co-facilitate a cybersecurity breakout session on October 16th during this year's League of Oregon Cities Annual Conference. This session will consist of two parts, the first being an interactive cybersecurity exercise and the second being a discussion around upcoming cybersecurity related legislation. 

Session Part I: Leading Through the Unexpected: An Interactive Cyber Incident Response Exercise for City Leaders, Covenant Technology

Session Part II: Cyber Incident Notification: Proposed Legislation and New Notification Practices with the State, OCCoE

For part II, Representative Nancy Nathanson will join to discuss the importance of the new legislation, along with Principal Legislative IT Analyst Sean McSpaden and the State Chief Information Security Officer Ben Gherezgiher. 

OCCoE will also host an exhibit table at the conference to discuss these concepts and other relevant programming with city leaders and staff. Come see us! 

OCCoE Director to Kick Off New Research Seminar Series 10/2

PSU's Dr. Birol Yeşilada will be kicking off our second research seminar series on October 2 at 12pm. This new series will integrate research from more disciplines related to cybersecurity, such as Dr. Yeşilada's work in political science and public policy.

Foreign State Threat Actors and Gray Areas of Cyberattacks

The United States faces serious domestic and foreign threats to its critical infrastructure, particularly cyberattacks. The weakest link in the United States’ cyber defense is the local and regional governments. These public institutions represent the Soft Underbelly of the United States and face significant cybersecurity challenges that make them vulnerable to cyberattacks, particularly from nation-state actors (e.g., Russia, China, Iran, North Korea, and others), criminal syndicates, and hacktivists. These weaknesses often stem from limited resources, outdated technology, and a lack of comprehensive cybersecurity policies. This study identifies cybersecurity vulnerabilities in local and regional governments and provides a comprehensive list of recommendations for infrastructure improvements, coherent policies, and workforce development.