This month we spotlight the Innovative Readiness Training (IRT) program. The IRT is an ongoing joint effort between ITS and the Idaho National Guard (IDNG). ITS provides the IDNG Cyber Unit access to State of Idaho networks and resources that ITS maintains so IDNG can train in a real-world environment. In exchange, IDNG provides information they discover during the training to ITS in the form of a cybersecurity penetration test.
This provides a trusted third-party assessment of vulnerabilities that a hostile third-party could take advantage of to attack the state. The IRT has expanded to involve students from the Boise State University (BSU) Cybersecurity program, providing real-life experience.
The next IRT is scheduled in June and preparation is already underway. This is the third year ITS has received grant funding to host this event. In 2023, approximately six ITS employees, six BSU students, and 53 IDNG members participated.
The estimated value of the services rendered during the two years the IRT has been in operation is $1.5 million. That represents the market value of the time spent by all of the participants if the State of Idaho was purchasing these services.
