Michigan Cyber Range Focuses on Cybercrime Solutions

The global cybercrime epidemic is predicted to cost the world $6 trillion annually by 2021, according to CSO. As a result, there will be a need to fill 3.5 million cybersecurity positions globally by then.

Furthermore, these jobs will have pay scales that are beyond competitive, making cybersecurity not only essential but extremely attractive to younger, tech-savvy generations.

While governments and corporations struggle to stay ahead of the ever-evolving threats to cybersecurity, a small town in rural Michigan is developing the next generation of cyber warriors.

Humble Beginnings

The Michigan Cyber Range was a foundational concept of Michigan Governor Rick Snyder’s cyber initiative. The initiative was launched in October 2011 to improve cybersecurity for families, communities, businesses and government.

Shortly afterward, the Michigan Cyber Range was established by Merit Network, a nonprofit member-governed organization that provides computer networking and related services to education, government, health care, and other nonprofits. Created in 1966, Merit operates the longest running regional computer network in the United States.

The continued expansion of Michigan’s statewide Cyber Range is a key strategy to prepare Michigan’s current and future workforce for careers in the exploding field of cybersecurity.

An Unlikely Location

Pinckney is a rural town in southeastern Michigan with a population of 2,427. Located in the rolling hills and vast stretches of farmland of Livingston County, Pinckney seems like an odd place for a cyber hub.

In the summer of 2016, the Merit Network announced that Pinckney Community High School had been selected as a Cyber Range Hub. The Pinckney Cyber Training Institute and Sentinel Center officially opened that December.

The 5000-square-foot institute caters not only to high school and college students but also to working adults and IT professionals who need cyber certifications to stay current or to advance their career.

The Institute offers more than 20 cybersecurity courses, including Certified Ethical Hacker, Certified Information Systems Security Professional, Penetration Testing, Healthcare Information Security, Cisco Certified Network Associate and CompTIA Security +, among many others.

Continue reading here.