UH Cybersecurity Clinic

The University of Hawaiʻi (UH) has been awarded $1 million in grant funding and wraparound support from Google’s Cybersecurity Clinics Fund to establish the University of Hawaiʻi Cybersecurity Clinics. The clinic is one of 15 new ones launching at higher education institutions nationwide, made possible through a collaboration between Google and the Consortium of Cybersecurity Clinics.

Starting in January 2025, the University of Hawaiʻi Cybersecurity Clinics will offer a free, online introductory cybersecurity course to 500 UH students over five years. The program will provide valuable information and access to cybersecurity internships and career opportunities. UH faculty will mentor and guide students throughout the process.

While primarily based at UH Maui College, the University of Hawaiʻi Cybersecurity Clinics will collaborate with other UH System campuses. The project will also engage with organizations across the state, including the CIO Council and local employers, to train workers to secure critical infrastructure in Hawaiʻi.

To understand the basics of what a Cyber Clinic is and what it does, please check out this site from the Consortium of Cybersecurity Clinics.

Watch this short video to discover what Cybersecurity means to all of us!

Upcoming Events for Fall 2026!

  • Webinar II – Wednesday, October 21, 12 PM- 1 PM HST. Zoom registration link here!

Title: Agentic AI – What is it? How do you implement it? Risks and Rewards.

AI is moving beyond chatbots that answer questions to agents that take action: drafting emails, scheduling meetings, researching vendors, and managing routine workflows on your behalf. This webinar gives small-business owners a clear, practical introduction to agentic AI and how it can save time and stretch limited resources.

We’ll begin by explaining what an AI agent is and what makes AI “agentic.” Next, we’ll tour leading open-source agent tools, including OpenClaw and Hermes, and discuss where each fits best. We’ll then look at how Google Workspace for small businesses brings built-in AI assistance to everyday tools like Gmail, Docs, and Drive. Because agents act with your credentials and data, we’ll also cover the security risks they introduce and practical guidelines for using them safely. The session closes with key takeaways and a 10-minute Q&A.

No technical background required.

  • Webinar III – Wednesday, November 18, 12 PM- 1 PM HST. Zoom Registration and Webinar details to come!

Recent Events – 2026

  • The One-Person Security Department: Building Your Own Tools for Hawaiʻi IT on No Budget, September 16, 2026. Presentation file (PDF). Handout file (PDF). Webinar Survey Link.
  • UH Cybersecurity Clinic Session IV – Hook, Line, and Sinker: Real Stories of Successful Phishing Attacks, April 22, 2026. Presentation file (PDF). Webinar Recording file (mp4).
  • UH Cybersecurity Clinic Session III – Cybersecurity Risk Management and Vulnerability Assessments for Small Businesses, March 18, 2026. Presentation file (PDF), Webinar Recording file (mp4), CIS Controls Guide v8.1.2 file (PDF), CIS Controls Worksheet (XL)
  • UH Cybersecurity Clinic Session II – Security using GenAI, February 19, 2026. Presentation file (PDF). Webinar  Recording file (mp4) here.
  • UH Cybersecurity Clinic Session I – Introduction to Cybersecurity: Cyber Hygiene, Wednesday, January 21, 2026. UH News Press Release Link, Presentation file  (PDF), and Webinar Recording file (mp4, 104MB). More details from UH ITS Cyber Hygiene – Link 

Past Events – 2024-2025

  • Homeland Security Forum, December 18, 2025, UH West Oahu, Kapolei, HI.Presentation on UH Cyberclinics here (PDF).
  • HPCA – UH Cybersecurity Tabletop Exercise Online Presentation, March 7, 2025. PDF.
  • Implications of AI for Educators – Workshop at Kapiolani CC, Honolulu, HI, February 6-7, 2025. Details.
  • November 18 and 19, 2024 – Cybersecurity Workshop for Small Businesses, Kapiolani Community College, Honolulu, HI 96816. See UH News press release
  • September 18, 2024 – UH Cybersecurity Clinic Grand Opening at Tech Days of Fall, Walter Dods, Jr. RISE Center, Honolulu, HI  96822. See UH News press release
  • June 4, 2024 – Official award and launch of UH Cybersecurity Clinic. See UH News press release.

Leadership Team

  • Jodi Ito, Chief Information Security Officer at UH ITS
  • Alan Ito, Advisor at UH ITS
  • David Stevens, Faculty at Kapiolani Community College
  • Debasis Bhattacharya, Faculty at UH Maui College

For more information, please get in touch with Principal Investigator Debasis Bhattacharya at debasisb at hawaii dot edu