Dakota State University has been awarded a one-million-dollar grant to establish CyberRx SD, a statewide program designed to help South Dakota healthcare providers strengthen cybersecurity and modernize their digital systems.

The program will be led by the Dakota State University Applied Research Lab and will focus especially on rural and underserved healthcare providers.

CyberRx SD will provide services including cybersecurity assessments, vulnerability testing, incident-response preparation, dark-web monitoring, electronic health record support, workforce training and artificial intelligence education.

DSU says rural healthcare providers often face limited technology staffing, tight budgets and aging infrastructure, while also dealing with increasing cybersecurity threats.

Dr. Ashley Podhradsky, DSU’s vice president for research and economic development, says cybersecurity is an important part of patient safety because a cyberattack can disrupt access to medical records and delay patient care.

The grant is renewable for four years and is part of South Dakota’s investment in digital health modernization through the federal Rural Health Transformation Program.

DSU says the project will also create new high-skill jobs in South Dakota and expand the university’s applied cybersecurity research capabilities.