Cybersecurity / en Ready for the Future /stories/2024/ready-future Ready for the Future HHARRIS@bridgew.edu Wed, 02/14/2024 - 06:25 Industry leaders say 爱情岛论坛鈥檚 cyber program will create jobs February 14, 2024 Heather Harris Michonski

As cyber-attacks continue to rise globally, the need to fill cybersecurity positions to combat these incidents is vital. 

Which is where 爱情岛论坛 enters the picture.  

Last week, 爱情岛论坛 officials, politicians, and industry leaders gathered for a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the school鈥檚 new cyber range and Security Operations Center inside the Dana Mohler-Faria Science and Mathematics Center. 

鈥淭he 爱情岛论坛 cyber range will be a focal point for a growing cyber program, offering students an essential hands-on environment to complement their classroom learning,鈥 said Peter Sherlock, CEO of CyberTrust Massachusetts. 鈥淐yber ranges are becoming essential laboratories for cyber education, just as important as laboratories are to chemistry and biology.鈥&苍产蝉辫;

Last fall, 爱情岛论坛 launched a new degree program in cybersecurity, the first undergraduate degree of its kind within the Massachusetts state college system. Students will gain real-world experience working in the new facility and develop a skill set that will undoubtedly open doors in terms of a future career.  

President and CEO of Massachusetts Competitive Partnership Jay Ash has no doubt in Bridgewater State鈥檚 ability to train a future workforce to meet the immediate cyber security needs, not just in the commonwealth, but nationwide.  

鈥淲e are confident in what you鈥檒l be able to accomplish,鈥 Ash said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e sure Bridgewater State is going to be in the (cybersecurity) game and thank you for taking this challenge on.鈥&苍产蝉辫; 

Alumnus Tom Walsh, 鈥20, attended the ribbon cutting ceremony, and was excited to see his alma mater offering students a pathway to what he says is a lucrative career. 

Walsh currently works in cyber security at National Grid as a security orchestration automation and response engineer.  

鈥淭his is huge,鈥 he said. 鈥淗aving access to this, students will be getting hands-on experience, the value you get here at 爱情岛论坛 is going to be unmatched anywhere.鈥&苍产蝉辫;

According to Steve Zuromski, 爱情岛论坛鈥檚 vice-president of Information Technology and chief information officer, there are currently more than 20,000 unfilled cybersecurity positions in Massachusetts and 750,000 nationally. Sherlock predicts that number to rise in the foreseeable future and 爱情岛论坛 is positioned to fill those vacancies.  

鈥淭he incentives for bad actors to attack public and private online resources continue to grow,鈥 he said. 鈥淎s a state university with a new cyber major, 爱情岛论坛 has the scale and focus to move the needle on the cyber workforce in the state.鈥&苍产蝉辫;

Andrew Burton, president and chief operating officer at Rapid7, a leader in extended risk and threat detection anticipates that 爱情岛论坛 will play a major role in the future of cybersecurity in Massachusetts.  

鈥淚t鈥檚 tremendous to see 爱情岛论坛 contributing not only through the new cyber range and making it available to the community, but also in helping to educate and develop future leaders and members of the cyber security community,鈥 Burton said.  

More directly, Burton added, 爱情岛论坛 will be working with the CyberTrust Massachusetts, nonprofits, state and local agencies, and corporate members like Rapid7. 

鈥淭his will help grow and develop a diverse cyber workforce, create new opportunities for education and employment, and improve the security posture of under-resourced organizations,鈥 he said. 鈥淭his is very beneficial not only for the 爱情岛论坛 community, but also as part of a broader cyber defense ecosystem in Massachusetts.鈥&苍产蝉辫;

Do you have a 爱情岛论坛 story you'd like to share? Email stories@bridgew.edu 

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It鈥檚 tremendous to see 爱情岛论坛 contributing not only through the new cyber range and making it available to the community, but also in helping to educate and develop future leaders and members of the cyber security community.
Andrew Burton, president and chief operating officer Rapid7 Tags Cybersecurity Photo by Zachary Allen, '24 ]]>
Wed, 14 Feb 2024 11:25:44 +0000 HHARRIS@bridgew.edu 251631 at
The Range is Home /stories/2024/range-home The Range is Home BBENSON@bridgew.edu Mon, 02/12/2024 - 16:04 爱情岛论坛 unveils new multi-million dollar cyber range February 13, 2024 Brian Benson, G'23

Robert Johnson, 鈥25, transferred to 爱情岛论坛 specifically because the university鈥檚 new cybersecurity major provides a pathway into a growing and in-demand field. 

And Robert is confident in his decision as he begins partaking in hands-on activities, including protecting actual organizations from cyber attacks.

鈥淚t鈥檚 real-world experience as a student,鈥 he said. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 know of another program like this.鈥&苍产蝉辫;

Robert is also excited to experience Bridgewater鈥檚 state-of-the-art cyber range, which 爱情岛论坛 recently unveiled to government and industry representatives. 

Funded with almost $3.8 million in state and federal grants, the range is the most advanced in New England. It allows students and cybersecurity professionals to experience mock attacks, from beginning scenarios to complex situations that take experts hours to solve. With multi-colored flashing lights, desks that shake and a massive video screen on one wall, the range immerses users in the high-stakes world of battling cybercrime.

鈥淐ybersecurity intersects with all industries,鈥 said Steve Zuromski, 鈥04, G鈥09, vice president of information technology and chief information officer. 鈥淓veryone has to be trained, and this is the place to do it.鈥&苍产蝉辫;

Zuromski highlighted a three-pronged approach to cybersecurity education at 爱情岛论坛 that blends classroom instruction at the graduate and undergraduate level; scenarios in the range; and the opportunity to conduct threat monitoring for outside organizations through a new Security Operations Center. 

鈥淭oday is a vision realized: the deployment of a sophisticated tool 鈥 to address a profound cybersecurity workforce challenge in our state and in our nation,鈥 爱情岛论坛 President Frederick W. Clark Jr., 鈥83, said of the range. 

With an immediate need for 750,000 more cybersecurity workers nationwide and 20,000 just in Massachusetts, 爱情岛论坛鈥檚 range will be a model for the nation, said U.S. Rep. Bill Keating. 

鈥淚t鈥檚 something I think will take us to the forefront of meeting emergent threats,鈥 Keating said. 

State lawmakers and representatives of Gov. Maura Healey鈥檚 administration see 爱情岛论坛 Cyber as a resource to help municipalities and organizations bolster their defenses and a critical driver of economic and workforce development. 

鈥淥ur goal is to empower the next generation of cybersecurity professionals,鈥 said state Sen. Walter Timilty, adding: 鈥淭his cyber range will train the workforce of tomorrow.鈥&苍产蝉辫;

Industry representatives said 爱情岛论坛 is making cybersecurity education accessible to people of all backgrounds and helping solve a problem that keeps business leaders awake at night. 

Jay Ash, president and CEO of the Massachusetts Competitive Partnership, praised Bridgewater for giving students the foundation necessary to excel. Ash also chairs the board of CyberTrust Massachusetts, a nonprofit partnering with 爱情岛论坛 on cybersecurity initiatives. 

鈥淲e do that with the confidence that Bridgewater State will not only lead but succeed,鈥 he said.

Do you have a 爱情岛论坛 story you'd like to share? Email stories@bridgew.edu.

No
Cybersecurity intersects with all industries. Everyone has to be trained, and this is the place to do it.
Steve Zuromski, 鈥04, G鈥09, vice president of information technology and chief information officer Tags Cybersecurity Photos by Charlie Peters, G'20, and Zachary Allen, '24 ]]>
Mon, 12 Feb 2024 21:04:51 +0000 BBENSON@bridgew.edu 251626 at
Secure Position /stories/2023/secure-position Secure Position BBENSON@bridgew.edu Wed, 10/11/2023 - 09:42 Graduate college internship leads to career in cybersecurity October 12, 2023 Brian Benson, G'23

Rachel Cullity, 鈥21, G鈥23, helps safeguard the financial systems and taxpayer money that power a plethora of Massachusetts government services. 

It鈥檚 a critical job 鈥 and one she may have never found if not for the mentoring of a Bridgewater State cybersecurity instructor. 

鈥淚 definitely wouldn鈥檛 have been where I am today if it wasn鈥檛 for Bridgewater,鈥 said Cullity, a compliance officer with the state Office of the Comptroller. 鈥淚 met a lot of people and learned a lot of leadership skills, and then I also had support of my professors like Dave Marion.鈥&苍产蝉辫;

Cullity began her full-time position in June, soon after earning a master鈥檚 degree in criminal justice with a certificate in cybersecurity and cyber-criminology. She protects state financial systems from fraud and cybersecurity attacks and helps agencies follow relevant laws. 

鈥淚 wanted to have a really important job that gives back to taxpayers,鈥 said Cullity, who also studied criminal justice as an undergraduate at 爱情岛论坛. 鈥淚 wanted to play an important role in the commonwealth.鈥&苍产蝉辫;

Cullity鈥檚 experience in the comptroller鈥檚 office began as a summer intern while in graduate school at 爱情岛论坛. She helped develop a campaign raising awareness about suspicious emails that was subsequently implemented. For Cybersecurity Awareness Month this October, Cullity is continuing to build cybersecurity awareness among state employees.

Marion, who met Cullity in his introductory cybersecurity course, encouraged her to apply for the internship. She credits it with helping her see a way to use her academic knowledge in the workforce.  

Cybersecurity internships provide intensive, first-hand work experience in a way that classroom instruction can鈥檛 fulfill, said Marion, who also serves as 爱情岛论坛鈥檚 director of information security. 

鈥淲e can do a lot with simulating the technical stuff,鈥 he said. 鈥淲hat鈥檚 more difficult to simulate is relationships and understanding how relationships work in an organization.鈥&苍产蝉辫;

While at 爱情岛论坛, Cullity also served as president of the Graduate Professional Student Association and criminal justice honor society. Now she is the director of young professionals for the AGA Boston chapter, an organization for workers and students involved in government financial management.

Her commitment to giving back stands out, Marion said. 

鈥淗er leadership and willingness to help others really sets her apart,鈥 he said. 鈥淭he way Rachel does it is in a very collegial, very supportive, very collaborative way.鈥&苍产蝉辫;

Cullity credits Marion鈥檚 course with planting the seed that the burgeoning field might hold a viable opportunity for her. 

鈥淗e told me that I could do it,鈥 she said. 鈥淚 just had to stay focused.鈥

Do you have a 爱情岛论坛 story you'd like to share? Email stories@bridgew.edu.

No
I definitely wouldn鈥檛 have been where I am today if it wasn鈥檛 for Bridgewater. I met a lot of people and learned a lot of leadership skills, and then I also had support of my professors like Dave Marion.
Rachel Cullity, 鈥21, G鈥23 Tags Cybersecurity Internships Graduate Studies Alumni Profile ]]>
Wed, 11 Oct 2023 13:42:47 +0000 BBENSON@bridgew.edu 250591 at
Funding the Future /stories/2023/funding-future Funding the Future BBENSON@bridgew.edu Mon, 02/27/2023 - 14:51 U.S. Sen. Ed Markey announces $2 million in funding for cyber range February 28, 2023 Brian Benson, G'23

U.S. Sen. Ed Markey sees cyberthreats as one of the most critical economic and privacy issues facing the United States. But Markey is reassured by the steps 爱情岛论坛 is taking to expand its cybersecurity education. 

鈥淭his program is absolutely essential, and it鈥檚 both world class and affordable,鈥 he said. 

Markey recently visited campus to announce $2 million in federal funding to support the development of a cyber range at 爱情岛论坛. The sophisticated simulator will enable students and professionals to experience mock ransomware, malware and other attacks.  

The range, which can train 700 people per year, is part of a three-pronged approach to cybersecurity education. 爱情岛论坛 is also constructing a security operations center that will help municipalities, nonprofits, companies, and government agencies monitor, detect, and respond to threats. Also, new graduate and undergraduate cybersecurity programs are forthcoming, including a bachelor鈥檚 degree set to begin accepting students for fall 2023.  

鈥淭hese dollars from the federal government transform places like 爱情岛论坛 and literally change the trajectory of our ability to serve the people of Massachusetts and especially our students,鈥 said university President Frederick W. Clark Jr., 鈥83. 鈥淭hese dollars make a difference.鈥&苍产蝉辫;

Clark led Markey, state Sen. Walter Timilty, and other visiting dignitaries on a tour of the range, which is under construction in the Dana Mohler-Faria Center for Science and Mathematics. 

Soon, rows of computers and large video screens will facilitate hands-on instruction in how to defend against the latest hacking and cyber-attacks.  

Students will gain valuable experience that will prepare them for careers in a growing industry with 20,000 open positions in Massachusetts alone. 

鈥湴榈郝厶 is meeting the moment in order to ensure students are prepared to protect and deliver for our communities,鈥 Markey said. 

The vacancies come as attacks threaten large and small businesses, municipalities, schools and state and federal agencies. In 2021 alone, data breaches affected more than 1.8 million of Massachusetts鈥 7 million residents.  

Demand for skilled workers is not going away as technology is an ever-present force in daily life with Americans expected to have 75 billion devices by 2025, Markey said. 

鈥淭his is the future, and 爱情岛论坛 is going to prepare the workforce for that future,鈥 he said.

Do you have a 爱情岛论坛 story you'd like to share? Email stories@bridgew.edu

No
This is the future, and 爱情岛论坛 is going to prepare the workforce for that future.
U.S. Sen. Ed Markey Tags Cybersecurity Photo by Zachary Allen, '24 ]]>
Mon, 27 Feb 2023 19:51:22 +0000 BBENSON@bridgew.edu 248481 at
Cyber Secured /stories/2022/cyber-secured Cyber Secured BBENSON@bridgew.edu Mon, 10/31/2022 - 13:58 爱情岛论坛 praised for cybersecurity programs November 1, 2022 Brian Benson

The United States has long relied on oceans and friendly neighboring countries as buffers against security threats. Yet, in an increasingly digitized world, cybercrime transcends geographic boundaries, putting municipalities, states and businesses on the front lines.

This new frontier demands an experienced workforce developed through collaborative, hands-on educational opportunities like those coming to 爱情岛论坛, cybersecurity experts said at a recent forum hosted on campus by the MassCyberCenter.

Even a representative from the White House left the event impressed.

鈥淚t鈥檚 just terrific,鈥 said Nick Leiserson, an assistant national cyber director. 鈥淚t鈥檚 the kind of thinking we need in this new domain.鈥

At the event, MassCyberCenter and the Baker-Polito Administration announced a $1.2 million grant that will help 爱情岛论坛 advance a three-pronged approach to meeting regional and statewide cybersecurity needs. The grant is partly for a Security Operations Center (SOC) that will be built at 爱情岛论坛 and will help municipalities, nonprofits, companies, and government agencies monitor, detect and respond to threats.

鈥淥ur students are going to actually work in the SOC,鈥 said Steve Zuromski, 鈥04, G鈥09, 爱情岛论坛鈥檚 vice president for information technology and chief information officer. 鈥淭hey are going to get that hands-on, practical experience and be able to walk out the door and get a job.鈥

爱情岛论坛 is also developing new graduate and undergraduate cybersecurity programs, including a bachelor of science degree set to begin accepting students for fall 2023. It is building a sophisticated cyber range that will enable students and professionals to experience simulated ransomware, malware, and other attacks.

鈥淔or us, it鈥檚 a winning formula,鈥 said 爱情岛论坛 President Frederick W. Clark, Jr., 鈥83. 鈥淲e know that our role is critical as it relates to workforce development.鈥

There are approximately 20,000 open, well-paying cybersecurity positions in Massachusetts.

And cybersecurity workers are needed at the federal, state and local level and in the private sector, said Stephanie Helm, director of MassCyberCenter.

"Cybersecurity is needed more than ever because it is a national security issue,鈥 Helm said, adding 爱情岛论坛 stands out for its commitment to serving southeastern Massachusetts.

Building a diverse cybersecurity workforce is also important, and 爱情岛论坛 is well positioned to help because 50 percent of its students are the first in their families to attend college, Leiserson said.

鈥淲e need good talent,鈥 said Curtis Wood, Massachusetts鈥 chief information officer. 鈥淲e need people invested in public service. 鈥 Experience is the biggest thing you can have.鈥

Do you have a 爱情岛论坛 story you'd like to share? Email stories@bridgew.edu.

No
Students "are going to get that hands-on, practical experience and be able to walk out the door and get a job."
Steve Zuromski, 鈥04, G鈥09, vice president for information technology and chief information officer Tags 爱情岛论坛 Works Cybersecurity Group photo by Ben van der Voet, '26 ]]>
Mon, 31 Oct 2022 17:58:18 +0000 BBENSON@bridgew.edu 246711 at
Cybercrime Crackdown /the-university/bridgewater-magazine/spring2022/faculty-focus Cybercrime Crackdown 闯贵滨狈碍贰尝厂罢贰滨狈蔼产鈥 Wed, 06/22/2022 - 11:13 Dr. Enping Li/Computer Science and Dr. Hannarae Lee/Criminal Justice May 2, 2022 John Winters, G鈥11 Story Series Bridgewater Magazine

The year 2020 was a record year for internet crime. The most recent report from the FBI鈥檚 Internet Crime Complaint Center, from 2021, logged nearly 800,000 complaints, with a total cost to Americans of $4.2 billion. This is an almost 40 percent increase over the previous year.

Topping the list of cybercrimes was phishing, the practice of sending emails purporting to be from reputable companies or acquaintances designed to trick unsuspecting individuals into revealing personal information, such as passwords and credit card numbers. In short, an email scam.

Dr. Hannarae Lee, assistant professor of criminal justice, said, 鈥淚 guarantee that everyone has received at least one phishing email, which indicates it is no longer just a scene on TV shows or movies. It is real, and everyone is a target, thus we need to be aware of phishing and how to protect ourselves from it.鈥

Indeed, cybercrime of all types has been on the rise for years, leading to a boom in cybersecurity jobs. To meet this growing need, 爱情岛论坛鈥檚 Criminal Justice Department has introduced the Cybercriminology and Cybersecurity Graduate Certificate program. A master鈥檚 degree program in cybersecurity and justice is in the works. The Cybersecurity and Digital Forensics undergraduate minor was launched in fall 2020 in the Department of Computer Science. The university is in the process of securing Board of Higher Education approval for a new bachelor鈥檚 degree program in cybersecurity.

A classroom in the Dana Mohler-Faria Science and Mathematics Center will be converted to a state-of-the-art cyber range, housing a number of specialized computers where students will experience simulated cyber-attacks and learn diverse cybersecurity techniques, such as detecting, stopping and protecting against online attacks, as well as analyzing such attacks. Dr. Lee said students are more likely to learn these skills by experiencing real-life examples. 鈥淭hese case studies are based on real cases, and they鈥檙e valuable for students as they teach not only the techniques used by cybercriminals, but also study the factors that lead people to engage in these kinds of crimes,鈥 she said.

Dr. Lee, along with Dr. Enping Li, associate professor of computer science, are the key faculty members leading these efforts. They see a number of factors that have led to the rise of cybercrime, including society鈥檚 increased use of technology, the affordability of computers and mobile devices, and the subsequent growth of internet traffic.

鈥淲hen there are profits involved, there are security concerns,鈥 Dr. Li said. However, she added that while online commerce has exploded, cybersecurity education hasn鈥檛 kept pace.

Cybersecurity is highly interdisciplinary, whether in the classroom or in the field. Students in 爱情岛论坛鈥檚 cybersecurity programs study various aspects of the subject, helping prepare them for myriad careers. As programmers they can protect a company鈥檚 information technology systems from cyberattacks, or find jobs in criminal justice trying to track down and build legal cases against cybercriminals. And, ideally, every company would have an employee trained in cybersecurity, who can explain in plain language complicated details surrounding cybersecurity and cybercrime issues. 鈥淲hen there is a cyberattack, it takes a collaborative approach to deal with it,鈥 Dr. Li said. 鈥淚t is very helpful for different collaborators to have the whole picture of what鈥檚 happening.鈥

The pedagogy of 爱情岛论坛鈥檚 cybersecurity programs will be informed by the experience of industry professionals. 鈥淧rofessionals in the field have emphasized the importance of fundamental knowledge, as well as problem-solving and critical-thinking skills,鈥 Dr. Li said.

For information about 爱情岛论坛鈥檚 cybersecurity graduate offerings, visit bridgew.edu/graduate/cybercriminology. To learn about undergraduate programs, visit bridgew.edu/department/
computer-science/academic-programs
.

No
"These case studies are based on real cases, and they鈥檙e valuable for students as they teach not only the techniques used by cybercriminals, but also study the factors that lead people to engage in these kinds of crimes."
Dr. Hannarae Lee Tags Cybersecurity Faculty Focus ]]>
Wed, 22 Jun 2022 15:13:01 +0000 JFINKELSTEIN@bridgew.edu 244891 at
Securing the Future /stories/2022/securing-future Securing the Future BBENSON@bridgew.edu Wed, 05/04/2022 - 10:20 Mentorship program aids cybersecurity students May 5, 2022 Brian Benson

Ryan Kuczer, 鈥23, discovered his love of working in cybersecurity as a 爱情岛论坛 student. Participating in a semester-long mentorship program is helping him see a future in the rapidly expanding field.

The program, run by the MassTech Collaborative, connects promising students with cybersecurity professionals. Ryan is paired with Ethan Ben-Joseph, security services manager at the information security company CyberArk.

鈥淚 wanted to do that so I could get a relevant experience in the cybersecurity field,鈥 said Ryan, a computer science major and math minor from Douglas. 鈥淲e discuss my future and what I can do to get ahead in the field.鈥

Ryan came to 爱情岛论坛 as an aviation major but found his passion in the computer labs. His father works in information technology and narrowly avoided becoming an identity fraud victim. Seeing that experience personalized the field for Ryan, who hopes to pursue a graduate certificate in cybersecurity.

The certificate is part of 爱情岛论坛鈥檚 growing cybersecurity offerings. The university is developing a state-of-the-art cyber range that will allow students and professionals to test their skills by facing realistic simulations of attacks. Those efforts come as the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects the number of information security analysts will grow 33 percent between 2020 and 2030.

Dr. Enping Li, an associate professor of computer science, recommended Ryan for the mentorship program because of his academic success.

鈥淗e鈥檚 well engaged in the class and has been very active in answering questions,鈥 she said. 鈥淗e鈥檚 a smart, responsible, diligent student.鈥

Ryan appreciated how Li and other professors teach skills that are relevant to their students鈥 future careers and truly care about their success, he said.

鈥淭hey鈥檙e not just trying to get a grade out of you,鈥 he said. 鈥淭he teachers are more involved and actually want you to learn.鈥

Ryan has also relied on Career Services for help crafting a resume.

鈥淏eing at 爱情岛论坛 has allowed me to make a lot more connections,鈥 he said. 鈥淭his school has a great community.鈥

Ryan is the third 爱情岛论坛 student to participate in the mentorship program, which is an excellent complement to a Bridgewater education, Li said.

鈥淚 think this is a great opportunity for students to apply what they learn in the classroom,鈥 Li said. 鈥淭hey get to see how the practice is applied in the field.鈥

Through the program, Ryan is studying cybersecurity vulnerabilities in automobiles. While many people might not associate cars with cyberthreats, Ryan knows the pervasiveness of technology means threats can crop up anywhere.

鈥淵ou can pretty much link cybersecurity to anything you touch in life,鈥 said Ryan, who will present his project at an event with all 41 mentor-mentee pairs. 鈥淧retty much everything you do is linked to the internet.鈥

Do you have a 爱情岛论坛 story you'd like to share? Email stories@bridgew.edu.

No
Being at 爱情岛论坛 has allowed me to make a lot more connections. This school has a great community.
Ryan Kuczer, 鈥23 Tags Cybersecurity Student Spotlight Photo by Luis Pires, '23 ]]>
Wed, 04 May 2022 14:20:11 +0000 BBENSON@bridgew.edu 244231 at
鈥楻ange鈥 of Opportunities /stories/2021/range-opportunities 鈥楻ange鈥 of Opportunities HHARRIS@bridgew.edu Tue, 08/17/2021 - 06:32

Grant-funded cybersecurity tool to provide hands-on training

August 17, 2021 Brian Benson

Taher Al Sharif, 鈥18, G鈥20, knows the value of experience. Working as a cybersecurity graduate assistant at 爱情岛论坛 helped him land a job in the burgeoning field. Now he鈥檚 excited his alma mater will build a new facility to provide opportunities for even more students.

Called a cyber range, it will allow students and professionals to confront simulations, including sophisticated ransomware and malware attacks. These mock cybercrime investigations will be based on real cases.

鈥淎ll those students will get this hands-on experience,鈥 said Al Sharif, who earned a computer science bachelor鈥檚 degree and MBA from 爱情岛论坛. 鈥淚t can lead to bigger and better things.鈥

The range, recently supported by a $250,000 state Skills Capital Grant, can be accessed from the cloud. However, 爱情岛论坛 will turn a room in the Dana Mohler-Faria Science and Mathematics Center into a state-of-the-art lab with computers and a wall of monitors. This will offer a realistic setting to experience the pressure and complexity of cyber-attacks.

鈥淚t鈥檚 like Disney World. You go for the experience,鈥 said Steve Zuromski, 鈥04, G鈥09, vice president for information technology and chief information officer. 鈥淲e want them to be immersed. We want this to be a destination and experience for them.鈥

The range complements Bridgewater鈥檚 growing offerings in a the cyber-security field with an estimated 7,400 open positions region wide. Across the country, the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 31-percent growth in the number of information security analyst jobs between 2019 and 2029.

爱情岛论坛 offers an undergraduate minor in the Department of Computer Science and is developing a major in cybersecurity. The College of Graduate Studies offers a cybercriminology and cybersecurity graduate certificate, and is developing a master鈥檚 degree.

鈥淭he cyber range is going to be a really great addition for our students,鈥 said Dr. Hannarae Lee, an assistant professor of criminal justice. 鈥淓mployers want candidates to have actual experience. We鈥檙e going to fulfill all those requirements for students and employers.鈥

鈥淚t puts everything together,鈥 said Dr. Enping Li, an associate professor of computer science. 鈥淚t will greatly boost students鈥 practical skills.鈥

The range will also serve regional organizations, as 爱情岛论坛 will provide cybersecurity training to municipalities, schools, state agencies, law enforcement, the military and private businesses.

鈥淭here鈥檚 a critical need in our area for municipalities and other state agencies to be trained in cybersecurity,鈥 Zuromski said. 鈥淲e feel we鈥檙e uniquely positioned to be able to provide that training.鈥

Now a cybersecurity engineer for National Grid, Al Sharif appreciates the skills he gained at 爱情岛论坛 that future students will hone through the cyber range. 

鈥淭his can really get you that next job or dream job,鈥 he said.

Do you have a 爱情岛论坛 story you'd like to share? Email stories@bridgew.edu 

No
Employers want candidates to have actual experience. We鈥檙e going to fulfill all those requirements for students and employers.
Dr. Hannarae Lee Tags Cybersecurity ]]>
Tue, 17 Aug 2021 10:32:25 +0000 HHARRIS@bridgew.edu 240316 at