计算机学院 opens Cyber Threat Range, called 'game changer' for 计算机专业学生，社区

It looks like a normal computer lab, but the new Cyber Threat Range is a high-tech training ground to prepare students for cybersecurity jobs and set 博天堂官方 on a path to become a National Security Agency designated academic program.

Housed within the Applied Computing Institute, the Cyber Threat Range was established through a connection with Mark Tellier, former chief information officer for the Michigan National Guard and a 网络安全专家.

Tellier is the founder of Michigan Cyber Threat Response Alliance (MiCTRA), the organization that supplied the software for 范围 to 是操作. An underutilized computer lab in the Cook-DeVos Center for Health Sciences was converted to be isolated from the university's network, allowing students and industry to safely engage in cyber 威胁练习. Funding for 范围 came from 博天堂官方's 总统创新基金.

Paul Doyle, mentor-in-residence at ACI, said the cyber 威胁范围 is similar to a shooting range.

"The computers are physically and logistically isolated from 博天堂官方's network, so participants can conduct these exercises 没有风险，”道尔说. “活着的好处 computers allows participants to do offense and defense in the same environment without threat to the network."

Members of the West Michigan Cybersecurity Consortium held the inaugural event at 范围 March 10. 一个虚拟的公司网络， with a company website and network servers, was created and participants were instructed to attempt to hack into the site using techniques and procedures learned during training courses.

Andrew Kalafut, associate professor of computing, said only a handful of universities around the country have such a range. 博天堂官方 students in the cybersecurity programs will have more access to the range beginning in the fall semester.

"This offers so many more possibilities," Kalafut said. "We used to have to run small-scale simulations for our students, simulations that were set up on a single device or a class could participate in a limited temporary exercise. 

"With this model, we are able to bring in industry and have more interactions between students and industry leaders."

Kalafut joined 博天堂官方's faculty in 2010 when there was one cybersecurity class offered at GVSU. 现在，卡拉夫特和其他五个 faculty members teach undergraduate and graduate cybersecurity programs that enroll about 150 students.

'Like a sandbox to practice skills'

One of those students, Isaac 比斯利, helped set up 范围 as part of his responsibilities as a graduate assistant for ACI. 比斯利 called it a "game changer" for computing students interested 在网络安全.

"It's like a sandbox for students to practice their ”比斯利说.

In his role for ACI, 比斯利 has led community presentations about 范围. He said his job at ACI helped him secure a full-time position with Grand Rapids-based office furniture company Steelcase 公司. as an application security engineer following graduation in April. 

"Getting involved in ACI and the cyber range gave me more than the tech skills needed to find a job. I stepped out of my comfort zone to go with Paul to these networking events," 比斯利 said. "My internship, computer courses and the ability to work with industry while in school, that's the experience employers want you to have.

"It separates 博天堂官方 from other schools."