Merit Network has chosen Eastern Michigan University as its first site for its Michigan Cyber Range, a training platform that will help IT professionals find a cyber attack and nip it in the bud.
The
Michigan Cyber Range will help prepare cybersecurity professionals for detecting, preventing, and thwarting cyber-attacks in a real-world setting. It will enable individuals and organizations to conduct live-fire exercises and simulations that will test the detection and reaction skills of participants in a variety of situations.
"Cyber security involves outthinking your adversary as a team," says Don Welch, president & CEO of
Merit Network. "That range is there to help us outthink out adversaries as a team."
The Ann Arbor-based non-profit is collaborating with
Eastern Michigan University to establish the initial site for the Michigan Cyber Range. Racks of equipment, located in the University's data center, will provide the computing power to the Range's cybersecurity educational, training, and testing programs. It will use EMU's Information Assurance program as well as state and regional cybersecurity courses taught by Merit.
Merit Network is currently fundraising for the effort. It is looking to raise $3 million by later this fall to make the Michigan Cyber Range come to life.
"We have some of the funding in and we're starting to build it," Welch says. "We're starting to hire people right now."
Source: Don Welch, president & CEO of Merit Network
Writer: Jon Zemke
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