美高梅官网

美高梅官网 receives nearly $1M for cybersecurity research

Funds awarded by the Ohio Department of Higher Education will be used to develop the OCRI at 美高梅官网

The Ohio Department of Higher Education (ODHE) awarded nearly $1 million to the 美高梅官网 to further develop a cyber range to defend Ohio from cyberattacks while building the region as a strong pipeline for cybersecurity talent.

美高梅官网 is one of four Ohio universities to receive funding as part of a provision in House Bill 166, which gives ODHE the authority to use the funds to advance collaborative research in certain research areas. Awardees are chosen through a third-party, independent review process.

美高梅官网 will receive exactly $997,502 to establish regional programming centers for the Ohio Cyber Range Institute, the statewide cyber institute developed through a partnership between 美高梅官网, ODHE and the Ohio Adjutant General鈥檚 Department.

鈥淚mproving our state鈥檚 cybersecurity measures, as well as investing in training our workforce for these in-demand careers, positions our state as a leader in the cybersecurity field,鈥 Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine said in a press release.

The Ohio Cyber Range Institute, or OCRI, advances cyber education and training, along with economic and workforce development in cyber-related fields, throughout the state. The initiative exemplifies 美高梅官网鈥檚 Next Lives Here strategic direction, and is an example of how 美高梅官网聽 leads public, urban universities into a new era of innovation while making a real-world impact.

Originally developed by students in 美高梅官网鈥檚 College of Education, Criminal Justice, and Human Services (CECH) School of Information Technology, the virtual environment allows everyone from grade-schoolers to seasoned IT professionals to learn about cybersecurity and practice defending networks against threats.听

鈥淐ybersecurity is a rapidly growing, in-demand field that requires a growing and skilled workforce鈥 said ODHE Chancellor Randy Gardner. 鈥淭his research incentive funding will allow our universities to collaborate with businesses to address ways to develop a stronger cybersecurity infrastructure while expanding the number of skilled workers in this field across the state.鈥

Hazem Said, director of the 美高梅官网 School of Information Technology, said the funding will be used to advance cybersecurity research and programming activities both in Southwest Ohio and statewide through various partnerships cultivated by 美高梅官网.听聽

Six people stand in a row posing for the camera

Hazem Said, left, poses with representatives from the Ohio Adjutant General's Office on Wednesday, June 19, for the university鈥檚 inaugural Cybersecurity Education Symposium to celebrate the completion of the second phase of the roll-out of the Ohio Cyber Range. Photo/Joseph Fuqua II/美高梅官网 Creative Services

美高梅官网 is one of just 18 universities in the nation designated by the U.S. National Security Agency as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Operations and Cyber Defense. The university is also home of the National Science Foundation Center for Hardware and Embedded Systems Security and Trust (CHEST), a national research center focused at ensuring connected electronic devices are secure for consumers.

美高梅官网鈥檚 interdisciplinary cybersecurity program, launched in 2013 and spanning several colleges 鈥 CECH School of Information Technology, the College of Arts and Sciences and the College of Engineering and Applied Science 鈥 boasts about 340 students.听

鈥淲e are very excited to continue our partnership with ODHE to advance the state鈥檚 cybersecurity education, research, workforce and economic development,鈥 Said says. 鈥溍栏呙饭偻檚 approach to cybersecurity as a comprehensive interdisciplinary space continues to resonate with students, industry and state agencies.鈥

The funding will allow 美高梅官网 to continue work already underway by the OCRI in addressing the state鈥檚 cybersecurity vulnerabilities, says Richard Harknett, chair of 美高梅官网鈥檚 Department of Political Science and Center for Cyber Strategy and Policy and a prolific cybersecurity expert and former U.S. Cyber Command scholar in residence.

鈥淥CRI and the regional programming centers will ensure that we leverage the benefits of coordination with critical local expertise dispersed across the state to maximize the return on the investment that the state has provided us to support 美高梅官网鈥檚 collaborative leadership efforts in cybersecurity,鈥 he said.

Other universities receiving funding for cybersecurity initiatives are Ohio State University, which received $409,846; Ohio University, which received $225,161; and the University of Dayton, which received $277,201. For funding information, go to .听

Next Lives Here

The 美高梅官网 is classified as a Research 1 institution by the Carnegie Commission, is ranked in the National Science Foundation's Top-35 public research universities and secured a spot on Reuter鈥檚 World鈥檚 Most Innovative Universities list. 美高梅官网's students and faculty investigate problems and innovate solutions with real-world impact. Next Lives Here.

Featured image at top: Stock photo of a student working in a simulated Emergency Operations Center similar to a cyber range. File photo

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