CyberWyoming proudly announces that Natalie Demple has successfully completed the Cybersecurity Business Counselor Registered Apprenticeship program, a first-of-its-kind initiative officially approved by the U.S. Department of Labor. Her achievement underscores the growing national movement to make cybersecurity guidance accessible to microbusinesses across the country.

“Demple’s graduation is a demonstration of the importance of small business cybersecurity across the nation. She paves the way for other Cybersecurity Business Counselors, especially since she is already training a number of them in California. Demple shows that business advisors are a critical part of securing microbusinesses. As a mentor to other apprentices and advisors, she is helping to expand this knowledge, ensuring increased resilience of other business communities. Demple is proof that small business cybersecurity can be championed by business advisors, not just IT experts. She’s not only helping businesses directly but also mentoring the next wave of counselors nationwide,” said Mary Keane, Cybersecurity Business Counselor and Apprenticeship Mentor.

Demple began her career with a degree in Marketing and Sales and had only limited exposure to technology and cybersecurity. Through the hands-on nature of the apprenticeship, she was able to quickly build a strong technical foundation while applying her business background to real-world security challenges. Her journey demonstrates that professionals from a variety of fields, not just IT, can excel in cybersecurity when given the right training and experience.

“Completing CyberWyoming’s Cybersecurity Business Counselor Registered Apprenticeship has been an incredible experience. Working directly with real businesses to help secure their operations gave me more hands-on real-world experience than I could have ever imagined. Honestly, it felt even more valuable than a traditional master’s program,” said Demple. “CyberWyoming’s program helped me grow not only my technical cybersecurity skills but also my business skills while making a real impact in my community. I am excited to continue advocating for cybersecurity awareness and helping micro businesses stay secure.”

With cybersecurity threats on the rise, small businesses often struggle to implement security measures that align with complex national frameworks. The apprenticeship bridges this gap, making cybersecurity guidance more practical, affordable, and understandable for businesses that lack in-house IT staff.

The program covers key areas such as:

• Data privacy procedures
• Strategic security planning
• Risk assessment
• Policy writing
• Employee training