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Dustin Luca
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SALEM, MASS. – A new state-of-the-art cybersecurity training lab is coming online at Salem State University, with a commitment to help train the community through the range long into the future.
The Salem State University Cyber Range is a robust lab space in the classroom building on the Harrington Campus. It offers users of all types – ranging from students taking a course to a business boosting its employees’ skills – to training programs and cyberattack-like exercises such as simulations of system-wide ransomware attacks.
The Salem State University Cyber Range is supported with $624,437 in funding from the MassCyberCenter at the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative (MassTech). The funds are part of the MassCyberCenter’s Security Operations Center (SOC) and Cyber Range Initiative, which supports the creation of Security Operations Centers and training programs at universities and colleges across the state. The program aims to help build a diverse generation of cybersecurity professionals through education, training, and workforce development.
University President John Keenan said Salem State is “grateful to the Healey-Driscoll Administration and the MassCyberCenter for selecting us for this important partnership. This type of investment and collaborative professional relationships are a win-win for everyone involved.”
“The range will provide students the opportunity to train on state-of-the-art equipment and in real-world scenarios to gain the skills needed to help address, mitigate, and prevent cyberattacks,” Keenan said. “Now that the space is established, we look forward to partnering with regional external agencies, municipalities and private companies who could also benefit from the education and training available through the range.”
Pete Sherlock, CEO of CyberTrust Massachusetts, said today’s employers “are seeking cyber workers who have hands on experience.”
“Salem State students now have the opportunity to train on a state-of-the-art cyber range, and be eligible to work in a security operations center serving local municipalities and small businesses,” Sherlock said.
John Petrozzelli, director of MassCyberCenter, said “Salem State is helping expand our efforts to build thriving cybersecurity ecosystems in communities across the state.”
“With the opening of this Cyber Range, students and professionals will be able learn the critical skills needed to pursue a career in cybersecurity and protect the surrounding community,” Petrozzelli said.
The Cyber Range is powered by Immersive Labs and launched in partnership with CyberTrust Massachusetts. Salem State is part of the CyberTrust Massachusetts consortium that includes Cyber Ranges located at Bridgewater State University, MassBay Community College and Springfield Technical Community College.
“The Immersive Labs platform has many exercises for users, ranging from self-paced knowledge checks to real life simulations that mimic cyber-attacks,” said Brian Travers, a Salem State mathematics professor who helped launch the space. “In some exercises, you log into a virtual desktop with only the skills you’re allowed to have at your disposal, from which you need to solve a crisis.”
In time, the space will become available to the outside community so local businesses, organizations, cities and towns can also take advantage of the platform.
“We hope to soon see activity from the community, like corporate retreats where businesses will carry out exercises and trainings, or school districts visiting to introduce the next generation of students to the world of cybersecurity,” Travers said. “As another example, we can work with companies on such cybersecurity training as how to deal with ransomware or malware attacks.”
The range was the subject of a ribbon-cutting celebration held Thursday, Nov. 14. The event was attended by local dignitaries, officials with partnering organizations, and Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll ’89.
"As a Salem State University graduate, I'm excited to be back on campus to celebrate this cyber range," Driscoll said. "This new range will help students prepare for real world scenarios by allowing them to fight cyber-attacks in a controlled, real-time simulation, and will train students for future careers in cybersecurity. We know that cybercrime is an ever-changing landscape and we're proud to support projects like these that invest in new and innovative career pathways."