"Texas A&M University Opens Center for Cybersecurity Innovation"

As the cybersecurity skills gap remains, universities are looking for new ways to prepare their students to succeed in the field. Students need access to computer labs designed for innovation in this area because many cybersecurity skills are best learned through hands-on projects. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the US Air Force awarded Texas A&M University-Central Texas a $4.2 million contract as part of this national effort. The university was chosen by the government because of its proximity to Fort Hood. The Fort Hood Cyber Security Training Center is located there, and it trains Department of Defense (DOD) personnel all over the world. The four-year university in Killeen, Texas, recently opened a new Center for Cybersecurity Innovation, with a vision that includes research, teaching, and outreach. The center houses dozens of computers and provides the necessary space for cybersecurity competitions. It also includes audio-video equipment, laptop computers, and more. According to Emmet Gray, adjunct professor of cybersecurity at the university, one of the challenges with teaching cybersecurity is that many lessons cannot be taught in traditional computer labs or classrooms. In his malware analysis class, he installs a real virus on the computers of his students. The project entails analyzing it and then developing a strategy for organizations to defend against the specific virus. However, carrying out this project without advanced security and gapping could jeopardize the school's systems and infrastructure. This article continues to discuss the center opened by Texas A&M University for cybersecurity innovation. 

Security Intelligence reports "Texas A&M University Opens Center for Cybersecurity Innovation"