SEMO President and tech expert explain university’s Cyber Command Center
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. (KBSI) – Southeast Missouri State University leaders prepare for the university’s new and Missouri’s first Cyber Command Center.
“We certainly are the first one in the region and the Midwest,” said Southeast Missouri State University president Dr. Carlos Vargas. “We are excited tremendously. ”
University President Dr. Carlos Vargas sharing his excitement for the new cyber command center coming to SEMO. A partnership with IBM to further elevate SEMO and students in this competitive field.
“IBM has a reputation,” said Vargas. “Everybody knows that the type of institution that it is and it’s a powerhouse being able to actually work with them.”
Cyber security expert Robin Cole explains the center will put students through real life situations. This includes cyber attack incidents that could happen in the real world.
“I think the tallest building in Cape Girardeau is maybe 13 stories,” said Cole. “In in our minds we should say the new cyber command center at Southeast Missouri State University is at least 50 stories high. It is an extraordinarily prominent event that will last from now on.”
A portion of what the students will learn in this new program is live fire training, an in-depth analysis and training of how students will be able to help people in the event of the cyber attack.
“Live fair training is a simulation in a safe environment of a real attack on a computer network,” said Cole.
The center will have three types of cyber consoles, up to 27 computer stations and a huge display wall. Additionally, there will be an observation room and servers so that students can practice specific scenarios.
Dr. Vargas says this center only elevates Missouri’s status as one of the tops schools in multiple fields.
“Cyber security is the result of the fact that the state recognizes the quality of the province we have so we have the designation, but also our program has been identified by the National Security Agency and the Department of Security has a center fix for security education,” said Vargas.
Cole says this center will prepare these students for the cybersecurity world like never before.
“Because there aren’t enough people trained to work in those jobs and the students who go through the training at the cyber command center will be ready to go to work in cyber security,” said Cole.
The work for the new facility would not have been possible without the generous help and support from the community and an anonymous donor helped donate a good portion of the funds for the upcoming building.
It is possible that person‘s last name will be on the building when it is completed. The building is expected to be complete around homecoming of this school year.
