ProgramsCybersecurity Management Capstone (Spring 2026)

Cybersecurity Management Capstone (Spring 2026)

Program Overview
Program Title Cybersecurity Management Capstone (Spring 2026)
Organization University of Montana
# of Students Enrolled
0
# of Projects Running
2 Project/s Added (of 6 Projects Expected)

Program Timeline

Project Duration

Start Date: 03/09/26      End Date: 05/01/26

2 months
Collaboration Overview
About Students

The Cybersecurity Management Capstone course at the University of Montana provides graduate and undergraduate students with hands-on experience conducting cybersecurity risk assessments. This program is designed to help non-profits, schools, small businesses, and government organizations improve their cybersecurity posture while giving students practical experience in cybersecurity consulting, risk management, and compliance frameworks. 

Industry professionals from LMG Security in Missoula support the course by mentoring students on best practices for conducting a comprehensive cybersecurity assessment and risk analysis. 

For the Spring 2025 semester, we are seeking seven organizations to participate in this cybersecurity consulting project.  

This project can be conducted remotely via Zoom, as long as there is a designated point of contact from the organization who can consistently meet with the student team.

Previous participants include:
✅ Non-Profits: Missoula Food Bank, Missoula Aging Services, Habitat for Humanity, United Way, Jeannette Rankin Peace Center, and Open Aid Alliance.
✅ Educational Institutions: Missoula International School, Montana High Tech Business Alliance, Great Falls Schools, and UM College of Business.
✅ Government Entities & Small Businesses: Missoula Chamber of Commerce, Missoula Urban Development Project, and local IT departments.

We are happy to provide references from past participating organizations upon request.

Student Level:   Bachelor Degree

Student Time Commitment:   Full Time

Team Structure:   3 - 4

Program Goals
Student teams (three to four students per team) will work directly with participating organizations to: 

  • Review cybersecurity policies, plans, and business documents.
  • Interview key management, technical staff, and client-serving personnel to understand security protocols.
  • Conduct a National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) cybersecurity assessment.
  • Perform optional vulnerability scans and technical security tests (if requested by the organization).
  • Identify and analyze key cybersecurity risks (typically 8-10 per organization).
  • Provide detailed recommendations to mitigate 4-5 high-priority risks.
  • Deliver a final 30-minute presentation on cybersecurity risks and recommendations.
  • Submit a comprehensive report outlining assessment results, risks, findings, and recommendations.
Format Structure

Multiple Projects Multiple Teams
Format Title Bmis472 Cybersecurity Management Capstone
Format Description
This course focuses on teaching advanced networking and cybersecurity principles that include design, setup, operations, and maintenance networks for an organization.  There will be a special emphasis on network security and how it aligns with organizational strategy, directory services for access to organizational information, and cybersecurity management. This course will utilize the lab in GBB 213 as well as will bring in outside experts to speak on cybersecurity topics.  Every class will include a lecture or discussion on cybersecurity topics along with a hands-on lab demonstrating the concepts.  The capstone project will be conducting a NIST Cybersecurity and Risk Assessment audit for an organization.
Benefits For Industry Partners
Benefits for Participating Industry Partners

Participating organizations gain access to a structured, high-value cybersecurity consulting engagement delivered by trained students under faculty and industry expert guidance. This collaboration is designed to create real organizational impact while requiring minimal time investment.

Key Benefits Include:

  • Actionable Cybersecurity Risk Assessment
    Receive a comprehensive cybersecurity and risk assessment aligned with NIST standards, including prioritized findings and clear mitigation recommendations tailored to your organization.

  • Expert-Guided Analysis at Low Cost
    Student teams are trained and supported by University of Montana faculty and industry professionals from LMG Security, ensuring assessments follow established best practices.

  • Improved Security Posture & Compliance Readiness
    Identify gaps in policies, procedures, and controls—and gain practical guidance to strengthen defenses, reduce exposure, and improve compliance readiness.

  • Fresh Perspective on Organizational Risk
    Gain an external, objective view of your cybersecurity posture from emerging professionals trained in modern frameworks, tools, and risk management approaches.

  • Professional Deliverables
    Receive a written assessment report and a final executive presentation summarizing key risks, impacts, and recommended next steps.

  • Minimal Time Commitment
    Engagement is designed to be efficient and respectful of staff time, requiring only limited interviews, document sharing, and participation in review meetings.

  • Talent Pipeline & Community Impact
    Engage with and mentor future cybersecurity professionals while supporting workforce development and experiential learning at a Montana public institution.

  • Optional Sponsorship Opportunity ($500)
    Organizations may optionally provide a $500 sponsorship to help offset student program costs. Sponsorship is not required to participate, but directly supports student access, learning resources, and program sustainability.

  • Ongoing Program Availability
    If timing does not align this semester, organizations may express interest in participating in future offerings of this capstone program.
Project Modality Hybrid
Industry Partner Requirements to Participate
Project Topics Cybersecurity
Target Industries Aerospace & Defense Agriculture & Farming Arts & Recreation Biotech & Pharmaceuticals Computers & Hardware Construction, Repair & Maitenance Consumer Services Education Energy & Utilities Fashion & Apparel Finance Food & Beverage Government Health Care Insurance Manufacturing Media Natural Resources Non-Profit Professional Services Public Works Real Estate Restaurants, Bars & Food Services Retail Semiconductor Software & IT Sports & Entertainment Telecommunications Transportation & Logistics Travel & Tourism
Skills & Expertise Asset Inventory and Classification Business Impact Analysis Compliance Analysis Cybersecurity Risk Assessment Cybersecurity Strategy Data Protection Practices Documentation Review Ethical Hacking Fundamentals Executive-Level Presentation Skills Governance Risk and Compliance (GRC) Identity and Access Management Incident Response Planning IT Governance Log Analysis Network Security Fundamentals NIST Cybersecurity Framework Privacy and Data Security Professional Communication Risk Management Secure Configuration Review Security Awareness Training Security Controls Evaluation Security Policy Review Security Program Maturity Assessment Stakeholder Interviewing Technical Writing and Reporting Third-Party Risk Assessment Threat Modeling Vulnerability Assessment Vulnerability Scanning Tools
Location Information & Preferences

Missoula, MT, USA

Located Anywhere

We welcome project proposals from innovative organizations anywhere in the country or around the world. Our students thrive when exposed to diverse industries, business models, and real-world challenges across a wide range of contexts.

At the same time, as a Montana-based public institution, we are especially excited to collaborate with local and regional businesses that are looking to engage with emerging talent, explore new ideas, and build meaningful connections with the University of Montana community.

Whether you are a startup, nonprofit, small business, or established organization—location is not a barrier. What matters most is a compelling challenge, a willingness to collaborate, and an interest in working with motivated students to create real value.
Sponsorship

Sponsorship Requested (Optional):

Pre-Revenue Startup an exact contribution amount of $500.0

Growth Startup an exact contribution amount of $500.0

Small to Medium Business an exact contribution amount of $500.0

Large Enterprise an exact contribution amount of $499.0

Government Organization an exact contribution amount of $500.0

Non-Profit an exact contribution amount of $500.0

Compensation

No Compensation Required

Other Requirements
  • Designate a primary point of contact to coordinate with the student team

  • Be available for brief, scheduled check-ins (typically weekly or bi-weekly)

  • Willingness to share relevant non-sensitive documentation and context needed for the assessment

  • Openness to interviews with key staff members to support risk analysis

  • Participation in a final virtual presentation to review findings and recommendations

  • Optional: ability to sign or provide a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA), if required

The time commitment is intentionally minimal and designed to fit into existing workflows while enabling a high-value cybersecurity assessment for your organization.
Expected Time Commitment For Project Managers 1 Hour per week
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