Ohio Persistent Cyber Improvement (O-PCI) is a training program developed and delivered by the Ohio Cyber Range Institute (OCRI), funded through the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and the State of Ohio, at no cost to Ohio local government entities. O-PCI was established to support local government entities and their staff in all of Ohio’s 88 counties. The Persistent Cyber Improvement model positions local government entities to build and sustain the capacity to anticipate, adapt, withstand and, when necessary, recover from cyber aggression.

O-PCI is essential due to the increasing frequency and sophistication of cyber threats targeting local government entities. Recent ransomware attacks in Ohio, like those in Huber Heights (Nov 2023) and West Clermont School District (Jun 2023-24), underscore the vulnerability and potential disruption cyber threats pose. O-PCI aims to protect sensitive public data and enhance overall cybersecurity resilience. It is a cost-free, comprehensive training funded by CISA and the State of Ohio. O-PCI's main objective is to equip local government employees with the skills needed to anticipate, adapt to, and recover from cyber incidents, thereby safeguarding public trust and community safety.

All local government entities across Ohio's 88 counties are eligible for O-PCI training. This includes municipal governments, county governments, and other public sector organizations such as public schools, libraries, and utilities.

All employees within your local government entity are asked to participate in O-PCI training, including General Users (e.g., police officers, urban planners, maintenance employees), IT/Cybersecurity Professionals (e.g., system administrators, tech support), IT/Cybersecurity Managers/Executives (e.g., CISOs, CIOs), and Organizational Managers/Executives (e.g., mayors, commissioners, department directors).

You can register for O-PCI training through ( https://artsciuc.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_dhRCPqWYYNp4zae ) on the OCRI website ( https://www.ohiocyberrangeinstitute.org/opci ). For further support, please contact opciprogram@ucmail.uc.edu.

The registration application should be completed by a designated representative from your organization, such as an IT manager, cybersecurity officer, or department director, who can provide the necessary information and coordinate the participation of your local government entity.

If your organization’s leadership is not interested in partnering to receive O-PCI, you can inquire about individual participation opportunities by emailing us at opciprogram@ucmail.uc.edu.

The approval process involves signing an MOU (Memorandum of Understanding), NDA (Non-Disclosure Agreement), understanding the process, and setting expectations. Once these steps are completed, both parties will agree on andate for launching the program.

To join O-PCI training, local government entities must complete registration, sign an MOU (Memorandum of Understanding), and adhere to the program's guidelines. It is asked that all employees finish the training to ensure comprehensive cybersecurity preparedness across the organization.

If your county does not sign up for training or expresses a lack of interest, you can still inquire about individual participation opportunities by emailing us at opciprogram@ucmail.uc.edu for further assistance and guidance.

The training is conducted online. There are limited in-person requirements for some staff.

The training duration varies by role: General Users complete it in approximately 2-3 hours, while IT/Cybersecurity Professionals undergo a more comprehensive program lasting about 205 hours (about 1 week 1 and a half days).

To help generate interest and facilitate registration for your county, please register for our newsletter here and visit the OCRI website for the latest updates and resources here.

Your personal information will not be shared or sold to any third parties. Any performance data collected during the training is anonymized and used solely to improve cybersecurity training through research and development.