About North Star

Nationwide Cybersecurity Education for U.S. Small Business Administration Resource Partners

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Program Overview

The North Star Cybersecurity Program provides an opportunity for advisors and staff members across the country to become the cyber-savvy helping hand that small businesses need. The program, now hosted by the Delaware Small Business Development Center at the University of Delaware, serves any entity that has a current cooperative agreement or grant with SBA including, but not limited to: SBDCs, WBCs, SCORE, VBOCs, Cyber Grantees, and STEP. 

CYBERSECURITY RISKS ON THE RISE
As consultants, our task is to help small businesses expect the unexpected, and with an increasing number of cyberattacks and data breaches in today's environment cybersecurity is yet another topic we must train on. These daily attacks can have significant financial consequences and disrupt business operations. According to Verizon’s 2024 Data Breach Investigations Report, cyber threats are rapidly rising – with 30,458 security incidents and 10,626 confirmed breaches analyzed in 2023, there is a two-fold increase in confirmed attacks since 2022. Not only has the number of incidents increased – the damage to businesses is worsening. The global average cost of a data breach reached USD 4.88 million in 2024.

NORTH STAR'S PURPOSE
To empower our fellow consultants and support them in guiding their clients, America's SBDC created the North Star Cybersecurity Program, funded by the SBA Cyber Prize and managed by Delaware SBDC since 2024.
North Star represents the collective efforts of America's SBDC network to mitigate cyber threats facing small businesses. This initiative aligns with various frameworks, including the DoD Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC 2.0), NIST, CIS, and others, providing both awareness and guidance. Its primary aim is to provide structure to the complex field of cybersecurity, aiding consultants in their efforts to support small businesses. 

PROGRAM LEADERSHIP

Delaware Small Business Development Center (DSBDC) has been working for years to help our clients with hands-on cybersecurity efforts, and to share our knowledge and expertise across the nation with SBA Resource Partners.
Reach us at cybersecurity@americassbdc.org
Program Manager

Marisa Tranchitella Foltz

Cyber Specialist

Jake Blacksten