Cybersecurity company to donate $5,000 to UNR Cybersecurity Center at the Reno Aces’ Aug. 13 home game.
Reno, NV (August 11, 2025)
A solid defense is essential — in baseball and in cyberspace.
The University of Nevada, Reno Cybersecurity Center and Internet of Things (IoT) cybersecurity company Viakoo are supporting cybersecurity awareness during the Reno Aces 2025 season. Viakoo will donate to the Cybersecurity Center every time the Aces make a defensive play that prevents the opposing team from stealing base, and light up the stadium with “A Salute to Cyber Defenders” across all signage. As part of this promotion, Viakoo CEO Bud Broomhead will present Cybersecurity Director Shamik Sengupta with a $5,000 check at the Aces’ Aug. 13 home game.
“We are deeply grateful for Viakoo’s support in our mission to meet the modern challenges of cybersecurity,” Sengupta said. “Threats to our data and our infrastructure are always increasing, and it’s crucial to prepare the next generation of cybersecurity experts to meet that challenge.”
“Delivering innovation in cybersecurity is required to combat rising threats in our digitally connected world, and higher education plays a vital frontline role in this” Broomhead said. “By working with UNR, a recognized leader in cybersecurity education, we are confident in the next generation of cyber defenders being prepared for these challenges.”
Cyber threats from IoT systems pose a severe risk to both digital and physical worlds. Within enterprises there are billions of unsecured devices*, from smart cameras to industrial controls in power grids and factories, which create a massive attack surface. Hackers exploit outdated firmware, weak or default passwords, or lack of certificates to create powerful botnets, launch crippling denial-of-service attacks, or even cause dangerous real-world disruption and equipment failure.
Northern Nevada plays a key role in ensuring strong cyber defense. Whether in the form of legislation promoted by Congressman Mark Amodei, the growth of cybersecurity companies in the Greater Reno area, or the leadership provided by UNR’s Cybersecurity Center, the region plays a critical role in assuring the security of individuals and organizations.
The Cybersecurity Center works to develop solutions to cybersecurity issues for the benefit of the community. The annual Cybersecurity Conference, open to the public and free of charge, is Nov. 6 on the University of Nevada, Reno campus. For details and to register, visit unr.edu/cybersecurity/conference.
– @unevadareno –
The University of Nevada, Reno is a public research university that is committed to the promise of a future powered by knowledge. As a Nevada land-grant university founded in 1874, the University serves 21,000 students. The University is a comprehensive, doctoral university, classified as an R1 institution with very high research activity by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. Additionally, it has attained the prestigious “Carnegie Engaged” classification, reflecting its student and institutional impact on civic engagement and service, fostered by extensive community and statewide collaborations. More than $800 million in advanced labs, residence halls and facilities has been invested on campus since 2009. It is home to the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine and Wolf Pack Athletics, maintains a statewide outreach mission and presence through programs such as the University of Nevada, Reno Extension, Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology, Small Business Development Center, Nevada Seismological Laboratory, and is part of the Nevada System of Higher Education. Through a commitment to world-improving research, student success and outreach benefiting the communities and businesses of Nevada, the University has impact across the state and around the world. For more information, visit www.unr.edu.
About Viakoo
Viakoo enables customers to defend their IoT attack surface. Viakoo’s vision is for every connected enterprise device to be 100% visible, operational, and secured. The agentless Viakoo Action Platform keeps distributed unmanaged and IoT environments secure and continuously operational at the lowest risk and cost. Automated device cyber hygiene is reliably updated at scale with firmware, passwords, and certificates to elevate security posture and system performance to enterprise IT expectations. Viakoo Inc. is a leader in cyber hygiene for connected devices, with corporate offices in Reno, Nevada and Mountain View, California, USA. Follow us on LinkedIn, and Facebook.
Media contacts:
For UNR:
Chris Moran
Marketing Specialist
College of Engineering
University of Nevada, Reno
[email protected]
Office: (775) 682-7901
Cell: (775) 303-8587
College of Engineering: unr.edu/engineering
For Viakoo:
Angela O’Neill
LRG Marketing
845-358-1801
[email protected]