Wake Tech students acted as teachers Tuesday, offering critical cybersecurity advice to small business owners.

“A lot of people think, ‘I’m not a big corporation, so I’m not going to be targeted,” student Jennifer Medina said. “Anyone can get attacked nowadays.”

In fact, small businesses can be more susceptible to cyberattacks.

“Small businesses are vulnerable because they simply don’t have the resources that large corporations do,” according to Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company.

“I want to be prepared for those things I don’t know about,” business owner Kathy Gaines told WRAL.

Gaines said she has worked for other businesses that have been impacted by security breaches. Those experiences, she says, make her more alert for her own business, Kseniag Solutions.

“You can’t always predict the future, but you can prepare,” Gaines said.

Common threats, according to the U.S. Small Business Association, include:

· Malware attacks

· Viruses

· Ransomware

· Spyware

· Phishing attacks

Due to factors like cloud-based technology and artificial intelligence, the cybersecurity industry is expected to reach more than $500 billion by 2030, according to Polaris Market Research.

The Sentinel program launched through Wake Tech last year, as the result of a $882,000 award through the U.S. National Science Foundation.

Tuesday’s workshop was one of the last events for the 30-week bootcamp.

Over the course of seven months, a dozen students received mentorship and hands-on training in the growing field while being paid $15 an hour.

They also have the opportunity to intern following their graduation ceremony next week.