Project Cyber Ready

Tony Bryan

What is Project Cyber Ready? We are on a national mission to build the ultimate, replicable blueprint for cyber readiness. By researching what is actually working across the country and sharing those stories, we are piecing together the master plan to figure out exactly what is needed to solve this problem once and for all. We don’t have a technology problem; we have a readiness problem. Over the last decade, billions of dollars have been invested in the cybersecurity landscape. We built the labs, designed the ranges, launched the certifications, and bought the software. We already have the tools we need to protect our digital world. But we still have a massive gap. The breakdown isn't our tools; it is how we operate. It’s how we hire, how we use our existing infrastructure, and how we educate our communities. That is the driving force behind the Project Cyber Ready podcast.

  1. 8 hr ago

    Part 1: The Broken Handoff: When “Job-Ready” Gets Lost in Translation

    What happens when “job-ready” means different things to educators and employers? In this episode of Project Cyber Ready, I’m kicking off a four-part series exploring one of the biggest challenges I see in the cybersecurity workforce: the broken handoff between training and hiring. We have a massive and growing cybersecurity training ecosystem producing tens of thousands of candidates each year. At the same time, employers are navigating a very different reality—one shaped by risk, compliance requirements, changing hiring practices, and the need for measurable, immediately applicable skills. So why aren't those two sides connecting more effectively? In Part 1, The Broken Handoff: When “Job-Ready” Gets Lost in Translation, I unpack the different realities facing employers and educators, how advisory boards can unintentionally create isolated pockets of readiness, and why localized feedback doesn't always translate across the broader job market. I also share three steps I believe can help us start bridging that divide: Shift from opinions to frameworks. Use established frameworks like NIST/NICE, CMMC, and CIS Controls to create a shared language around cybersecurity skills.Standardize around regional market demands. Establish a common baseline for entry-level cybersecurity roles while still accounting for the unique workforce needs of each community.Share resources across pathways. Find ways for universities, community colleges, workforce organizations, and training providers to share resources, hands-on environments, and knowledge rather than operating in silos. We don't need to eliminate advisory boards or industry collaboration. We need to make those connections clearer, more objective, and more scalable. This is Part 1 of our four-part Project Cyber Ready series. Join me as we look at what it will take to build a stronger connection between cybersecurity education, employers, and the workforce. 🎧 Listen in and let’s keep the conversation going. Connect & Join the Movement: Website: https://wecyberup.org/LinkedIn: Connect with Tony BryanSubscribe: Hit follow on your favorite podcast app so you never miss an episode in our 4-pillar rotation.

  2. 14 Aug

    From LevelUp Cyber to Project Cyber Ready: The Mission Expands

    Welcome back! If you noticed a new title and artwork in your podcast feed today, you are in the right place. We are officially evolving from LevelUp Cyber to Project Cyber Ready.Over the past year, Executive Director Tony Bryan and the CyberUp team have been doing deep work on the ground—listening to employers, educators, and community leaders to answer a critical question: Why are traditional workforce models failing both companies and candidates in a post-AI world?The answer became crystal clear: We don't have a technology problem in cybersecurity—we have a readiness problem.In this relaunch episode, Tony breaks down why CyberUp is expanding its vision to address total regional readiness by connecting what everyone else separates: protecting our communities, sharpening workforce development, and delivering Day-1 ready talent to employers.In this episode, you’ll discover: The Core Shift: Why cybersecurity isn't just an IT problem—it’s an economic resilience and safety issue.Expanding PowerUp: How we’re protecting the entire community spectrum, from birth-to-5 youth safety to shielding seniors (65+) from digital scams.Dialing In LevelUp: Why the traditional "entry-level" cyber role is dead, and how targeted, 30-day skill sprints produce Day-1 ready hires.The 4-Pillar Rotation: What to expect from Project Cyber Ready moving forward across Industry, Education, Community, and Leadership.Connect & Join the Movement: Website: https://wecyberup.org/LinkedIn: Connect with Tony BryanSubscribe: Hit follow on your favorite podcast app so you never miss an episode in our 4-pillar rotation.PowerUp your community. LevelUp your workforce. Stay cyber ready.

About

What is Project Cyber Ready? We are on a national mission to build the ultimate, replicable blueprint for cyber readiness. By researching what is actually working across the country and sharing those stories, we are piecing together the master plan to figure out exactly what is needed to solve this problem once and for all. We don’t have a technology problem; we have a readiness problem. Over the last decade, billions of dollars have been invested in the cybersecurity landscape. We built the labs, designed the ranges, launched the certifications, and bought the software. We already have the tools we need to protect our digital world. But we still have a massive gap. The breakdown isn't our tools; it is how we operate. It’s how we hire, how we use our existing infrastructure, and how we educate our communities. That is the driving force behind the Project Cyber Ready podcast.