Cybersecurity

Ready for the Future

HHARRIS@bridgew.edu — Wed, 14 Feb 2024 11:25:44 +0000

Ready for the Future HHARRIS@bridgew.edu Wed, 02/14/2024 - 06:25

Industry leaders say BSU’s cyber program will create jobs

February 14, 2024

Heather Harris Michonski

As cyber-attacks continue to rise globally, the need to fill cybersecurity positions to combat these incidents is vital.

Which is where 51�Թ�� enters the picture.

Last week, BSU officials, politicians, and industry leaders gathered for a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the school’s new cyber range and Security Operations Center inside the Dana Mohler-Faria Science and Mathematics Center.

“The BSU cyber range will be a focal point for a growing cyber program, offering students an essential hands-on environment to complement their classroom learning,” said Peter Sherlock, CEO of CyberTrust Massachusetts. “Cyber ranges are becoming essential laboratories for cyber education, just as important as laboratories are to chemistry and biology.”

Last fall, BSU launched a new degree program in cybersecurity, the first undergraduate degree of its kind within the Massachusetts state college system. Students will gain real-world experience working in the new facility and develop a skill set that will undoubtedly open doors in terms of a future career.

President and CEO of Massachusetts Competitive Partnership Jay Ash has no doubt in Bridgewater State’s ability to train a future workforce to meet the immediate cyber security needs, not just in the commonwealth, but nationwide.

“We are confident in what you’ll be able to accomplish,” Ash said. “We’re sure Bridgewater State is going to be in the (cybersecurity) game and thank you for taking this challenge on.”

Alumnus Tom Walsh, ’20, attended the ribbon cutting ceremony, and was excited to see his alma mater offering students a pathway to what he says is a lucrative career.

Walsh currently works in cyber security at National Grid as a security orchestration automation and response engineer.

“This is huge,” he said. “Having access to this, students will be getting hands-on experience, the value you get here at BSU is going to be unmatched anywhere.”

According to Steve Zuromski, BSU’s vice-president of Information Technology and chief information officer, there are currently more than 20,000 unfilled cybersecurity positions in Massachusetts and 750,000 nationally. Sherlock predicts that number to rise in the foreseeable future and BSU is positioned to fill those vacancies.

“The incentives for bad actors to attack public and private online resources continue to grow,” he said. “As a state university with a new cyber major, BSU has the scale and focus to move the needle on the cyber workforce in the state.”

Andrew Burton, president and chief operating officer at Rapid7, a leader in extended risk and threat detection anticipates that BSU will play a major role in the future of cybersecurity in Massachusetts.

“It’s tremendous to see BSU contributing not only through the new cyber range and making it available to the community, but also in helping to educate and develop future leaders and members of the cyber security community,” Burton said.

More directly, Burton added, BSU will be working with the CyberTrust Massachusetts, nonprofits, state and local agencies, and corporate members like Rapid7.

“This will help grow and develop a diverse cyber workforce, create new opportunities for education and employment, and improve the security posture of under-resourced organizations,” he said. “This is very beneficial not only for the BSU community, but also as part of a broader cyber defense ecosystem in Massachusetts.”

Do you have a BSU story you'd like to share? Email stories@bridgew.edu

It’s tremendous to see BSU contributing not only through the new cyber range and making it available to the community, but also in helping to educate and develop future leaders and members of the cyber security community.

Andrew Burton, president and chief operating officer Rapid7

Tags

Cybersecurity

Photo by Zachary Allen, '24

The Range is Home

BBENSON@bridgew.edu — Mon, 12 Feb 2024 21:04:51 +0000

The Range is Home BBENSON@bridgew.edu Mon, 02/12/2024 - 16:04

BSU unveils new multi-million dollar cyber range

February 13, 2024

Brian Benson, G'23

Robert Johnson, ’25, transferred to BSU specifically because the university’s new cybersecurity major provides a pathway into a growing and in-demand field.

And Robert is confident in his decision as he begins partaking in hands-on activities, including protecting actual organizations from cyber attacks.

“It’s real-world experience as a student,” he said. “I don’t know of another program like this.”

Robert is also excited to experience Bridgewater’s state-of-the-art cyber range, which BSU recently unveiled to government and industry representatives.

Funded with almost $3.8 million in state and federal grants, the range is the most advanced in New England. It allows students and cybersecurity professionals to experience mock attacks, from beginning scenarios to complex situations that take experts hours to solve. With multi-colored flashing lights, desks that shake and a massive video screen on one wall, the range immerses users in the high-stakes world of battling cybercrime.

“Cybersecurity intersects with all industries,” said Steve Zuromski, ’04, G’09, vice president of information technology and chief information officer. “Everyone has to be trained, and this is the place to do it.”

Zuromski highlighted a three-pronged approach to cybersecurity education at BSU that blends classroom instruction at the graduate and undergraduate level; scenarios in the range; and the opportunity to conduct threat monitoring for outside organizations through a new Security Operations Center.

“Today is a vision realized: the deployment of a sophisticated tool … to address a profound cybersecurity workforce challenge in our state and in our nation,” BSU President Frederick W. Clark Jr., ’83, said of the range.

With an immediate need for 750,000 more cybersecurity workers nationwide and 20,000 just in Massachusetts, BSU’s range will be a model for the nation, said U.S. Rep. Bill Keating.

“It’s something I think will take us to the forefront of meeting emergent threats,” Keating said.

State lawmakers and representatives of Gov. Maura Healey’s administration see BSU Cyber as a resource to help municipalities and organizations bolster their defenses and a critical driver of economic and workforce development.

“Our goal is to empower the next generation of cybersecurity professionals,” said state Sen. Walter Timilty, adding: “This cyber range will train the workforce of tomorrow.”

Industry representatives said BSU is making cybersecurity education accessible to people of all backgrounds and helping solve a problem that keeps business leaders awake at night.

Jay Ash, president and CEO of the Massachusetts Competitive Partnership, praised Bridgewater for giving students the foundation necessary to excel. Ash also chairs the board of CyberTrust Massachusetts, a nonprofit partnering with BSU on cybersecurity initiatives.

“We do that with the confidence that Bridgewater State will not only lead but succeed,” he said.

Do you have a BSU story you'd like to share? Email stories@bridgew.edu.

Cybersecurity intersects with all industries. Everyone has to be trained, and this is the place to do it.

Steve Zuromski, ’04, G’09, vice president of information technology and chief information officer

Tags

Cybersecurity

Photos by Charlie Peters, G'20, and Zachary Allen, '24

Secure Position

BBENSON@bridgew.edu — Wed, 11 Oct 2023 13:42:47 +0000

Secure Position BBENSON@bridgew.edu Wed, 10/11/2023 - 09:42

Graduate college internship leads to career in cybersecurity

October 12, 2023

Brian Benson, G'23

Rachel Cullity, ’21, G’23, helps safeguard the financial systems and taxpayer money that power a plethora of Massachusetts government services.

It’s a critical job – and one she may have never found if not for the mentoring of a Bridgewater State cybersecurity instructor.

“I definitely wouldn’t have been where I am today if it wasn’t for Bridgewater,” said Cullity, a compliance officer with the state Office of the Comptroller. “I met a lot of people and learned a lot of leadership skills, and then I also had support of my professors like Dave Marion.”

Cullity began her full-time position in June, soon after earning a master’s degree in criminal justice with a certificate in cybersecurity and cyber-criminology. She protects state financial systems from fraud and cybersecurity attacks and helps agencies follow relevant laws.

“I wanted to have a really important job that gives back to taxpayers,” said Cullity, who also studied criminal justice as an undergraduate at BSU. “I wanted to play an important role in the commonwealth.”

Cullity’s experience in the comptroller’s office began as a summer intern while in graduate school at BSU. She helped develop a campaign raising awareness about suspicious emails that was subsequently implemented. For Cybersecurity Awareness Month this October, Cullity is continuing to build cybersecurity awareness among state employees.

Marion, who met Cullity in his introductory cybersecurity course, encouraged her to apply for the internship. She credits it with helping her see a way to use her academic knowledge in the workforce.

Cybersecurity internships provide intensive, first-hand work experience in a way that classroom instruction can’t fulfill, said Marion, who also serves as BSU’s director of information security.

“We can do a lot with simulating the technical stuff,” he said. “What’s more difficult to simulate is relationships and understanding how relationships work in an organization.”

While at BSU, Cullity also served as president of the Graduate Professional Student Association and criminal justice honor society. Now she is the director of young professionals for the AGA Boston chapter, an organization for workers and students involved in government financial management.

Her commitment to giving back stands out, Marion said.

“Her leadership and willingness to help others really sets her apart,” he said. “The way Rachel does it is in a very collegial, very supportive, very collaborative way.”

Cullity credits Marion’s course with planting the seed that the burgeoning field might hold a viable opportunity for her.

“He told me that I could do it,” she said. “I just had to stay focused.”

Do you have a BSU story you'd like to share? Email stories@bridgew.edu.

I definitely wouldn’t have been where I am today if it wasn’t for Bridgewater. I met a lot of people and learned a lot of leadership skills, and then I also had support of my professors like Dave Marion.

Rachel Cullity, ’21, G’23

Tags

Cybersecurity

Internships

Graduate Studies

Alumni Profile

Funding the Future

BBENSON@bridgew.edu — Mon, 27 Feb 2023 19:51:22 +0000

Funding the Future BBENSON@bridgew.edu Mon, 02/27/2023 - 14:51

U.S. Sen. Ed Markey announces $2 million in funding for cyber range

February 28, 2023

Brian Benson, G'23

U.S. Sen. Ed Markey sees cyberthreats as one of the most critical economic and privacy issues facing the United States. But Markey is reassured by the steps 51�Թ�� is taking to expand its cybersecurity education.

“This program is absolutely essential, and it’s both world class and affordable,” he said.

Markey recently visited campus to announce $2 million in federal funding to support the development of a cyber range at BSU. The sophisticated simulator will enable students and professionals to experience mock ransomware, malware and other attacks.

The range, which can train 700 people per year, is part of a three-pronged approach to cybersecurity education. BSU is also constructing a security operations center that will help municipalities, nonprofits, companies, and government agencies monitor, detect, and respond to threats. Also, new graduate and undergraduate cybersecurity programs are forthcoming, including a bachelor’s degree set to begin accepting students for fall 2023.

“These dollars from the federal government transform places like BSU and literally change the trajectory of our ability to serve the people of Massachusetts and especially our students,” said university President Frederick W. Clark Jr., ’83. “These dollars make a difference.”

Clark led Markey, state Sen. Walter Timilty, and other visiting dignitaries on a tour of the range, which is under construction in the Dana Mohler-Faria Center for Science and Mathematics.

Soon, rows of computers and large video screens will facilitate hands-on instruction in how to defend against the latest hacking and cyber-attacks.

Students will gain valuable experience that will prepare them for careers in a growing industry with 20,000 open positions in Massachusetts alone.

“51�Թ�� is meeting the moment in order to ensure students are prepared to protect and deliver for our communities,” Markey said.

The vacancies come as attacks threaten large and small businesses, municipalities, schools and state and federal agencies. In 2021 alone, data breaches affected more than 1.8 million of Massachusetts’ 7 million residents.

Demand for skilled workers is not going away as technology is an ever-present force in daily life with Americans expected to have 75 billion devices by 2025, Markey said.

“This is the future, and 51�Թ�� is going to prepare the workforce for that future,” he said.

Do you have a BSU story you'd like to share? Email stories@bridgew.edu.

This is the future, and 51�Թ�� is going to prepare the workforce for that future.

U.S. Sen. Ed Markey

Tags

Cybersecurity

Photo by Zachary Allen, '24

Cyber Secured

BBENSON@bridgew.edu — Mon, 31 Oct 2022 17:58:18 +0000

Cyber Secured BBENSON@bridgew.edu Mon, 10/31/2022 - 13:58

BSU praised for cybersecurity programs

November 1, 2022

Brian Benson

The United States has long relied on oceans and friendly neighboring countries as buffers against security threats. Yet, in an increasingly digitized world, cybercrime transcends geographic boundaries, putting municipalities, states and businesses on the front lines.

This new frontier demands an experienced workforce developed through collaborative, hands-on educational opportunities like those coming to 51�Թ��, cybersecurity experts said at a recent forum hosted on campus by the MassCyberCenter.

Even a representative from the White House left the event impressed.

“It’s just terrific,” said Nick Leiserson, an assistant national cyber director. “It’s the kind of thinking we need in this new domain.”

At the event, MassCyberCenter and the Baker-Polito Administration announced a $1.2 million grant that will help BSU advance a three-pronged approach to meeting regional and statewide cybersecurity needs. The grant is partly for a Security Operations Center (SOC) that will be built at BSU and will help municipalities, nonprofits, companies, and government agencies monitor, detect and respond to threats.

“Our students are going to actually work in the SOC,” said Steve Zuromski, ’04, G’09, BSU’s vice president for information technology and chief information officer. “They are going to get that hands-on, practical experience and be able to walk out the door and get a job.”

BSU is also developing new graduate and undergraduate cybersecurity programs, including a bachelor of science degree set to begin accepting students for fall 2023. It is building a sophisticated cyber range that will enable students and professionals to experience simulated ransomware, malware, and other attacks.

“For us, it’s a winning formula,” said BSU President Frederick W. Clark, Jr., ’83. “We know that our role is critical as it relates to workforce development.”

There are approximately 20,000 open, well-paying cybersecurity positions in Massachusetts.

And cybersecurity workers are needed at the federal, state and local level and in the private sector, said Stephanie Helm, director of MassCyberCenter.

"Cybersecurity is needed more than ever because it is a national security issue,” Helm said, adding BSU stands out for its commitment to serving southeastern Massachusetts.

Building a diverse cybersecurity workforce is also important, and BSU is well positioned to help because 50 percent of its students are the first in their families to attend college, Leiserson said.

“We need good talent,” said Curtis Wood, Massachusetts’ chief information officer. “We need people invested in public service. … Experience is the biggest thing you can have.”

Do you have a BSU story you'd like to share? Email stories@bridgew.edu.

Students "are going to get that hands-on, practical experience and be able to walk out the door and get a job."

Steve Zuromski, ’04, G’09, vice president for information technology and chief information officer

Tags

BSU Works

Cybersecurity

Group photo by Ben van der Voet, '26

Cybercrime Crackdown

JFINKELSTEIN@bridgew.edu — Wed, 22 Jun 2022 15:13:01 +0000

Cybercrime Crackdown JFINKELSTEIN@b… Wed, 06/22/2022 - 11:13

Dr. Enping Li/Computer Science and Dr. Hannarae Lee/Criminal Justice

May 2, 2022

John Winters, G’11

Story Series

Bridgewater Magazine

The year 2020 was a record year for internet crime. The most recent report from the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center, from 2021, logged nearly 800,000 complaints, with a total cost to Americans of $4.2 billion. This is an almost 40 percent increase over the previous year.

Topping the list of cybercrimes was phishing, the practice of sending emails purporting to be from reputable companies or acquaintances designed to trick unsuspecting individuals into revealing personal information, such as passwords and credit card numbers. In short, an email scam.

Dr. Hannarae Lee, assistant professor of criminal justice, said, “I guarantee that everyone has received at least one phishing email, which indicates it is no longer just a scene on TV shows or movies. It is real, and everyone is a target, thus we need to be aware of phishing and how to protect ourselves from it.”

Indeed, cybercrime of all types has been on the rise for years, leading to a boom in cybersecurity jobs. To meet this growing need, BSU’s Criminal Justice Department has introduced the Cybercriminology and Cybersecurity Graduate Certificate program. A master’s degree program in cybersecurity and justice is in the works. The Cybersecurity and Digital Forensics undergraduate minor was launched in fall 2020 in the Department of Computer Science. The university is in the process of securing Board of Higher Education approval for a new bachelor’s degree program in cybersecurity.

A classroom in the Dana Mohler-Faria Science and Mathematics Center will be converted to a state-of-the-art cyber range, housing a number of specialized computers where students will experience simulated cyber-attacks and learn diverse cybersecurity techniques, such as detecting, stopping and protecting against online attacks, as well as analyzing such attacks. Dr. Lee said students are more likely to learn these skills by experiencing real-life examples. “These case studies are based on real cases, and they’re valuable for students as they teach not only the techniques used by cybercriminals, but also study the factors that lead people to engage in these kinds of crimes,” she said.

Dr. Lee, along with Dr. Enping Li, associate professor of computer science, are the key faculty members leading these efforts. They see a number of factors that have led to the rise of cybercrime, including society’s increased use of technology, the affordability of computers and mobile devices, and the subsequent growth of internet traffic.

“When there are profits involved, there are security concerns,” Dr. Li said. However, she added that while online commerce has exploded, cybersecurity education hasn’t kept pace.

Cybersecurity is highly interdisciplinary, whether in the classroom or in the field. Students in BSU’s cybersecurity programs study various aspects of the subject, helping prepare them for myriad careers. As programmers they can protect a company’s information technology systems from cyberattacks, or find jobs in criminal justice trying to track down and build legal cases against cybercriminals. And, ideally, every company would have an employee trained in cybersecurity, who can explain in plain language complicated details surrounding cybersecurity and cybercrime issues. “When there is a cyberattack, it takes a collaborative approach to deal with it,” Dr. Li said. “It is very helpful for different collaborators to have the whole picture of what’s happening.”

The pedagogy of BSU’s cybersecurity programs will be informed by the experience of industry professionals. “Professionals in the field have emphasized the importance of fundamental knowledge, as well as problem-solving and critical-thinking skills,” Dr. Li said.

For information about BSU’s cybersecurity graduate offerings, visit bridgew.edu/graduate/cybercriminology. To learn about undergraduate programs, visit bridgew.edu/department/
computer-science/academic-programs.

"These case studies are based on real cases, and they’re valuable for students as they teach not only the techniques used by cybercriminals, but also study the factors that lead people to engage in these kinds of crimes."

Dr. Hannarae Lee

Tags

Cybersecurity

Faculty Focus

Securing the Future

BBENSON@bridgew.edu — Wed, 04 May 2022 14:20:11 +0000

Securing the Future BBENSON@bridgew.edu Wed, 05/04/2022 - 10:20

Mentorship program aids cybersecurity students

May 5, 2022

Brian Benson

Ryan Kuczer, ’23, discovered his love of working in cybersecurity as a 51�Թ�� student. Participating in a semester-long mentorship program is helping him see a future in the rapidly expanding field.

The program, run by the MassTech Collaborative, connects promising students with cybersecurity professionals. Ryan is paired with Ethan Ben-Joseph, security services manager at the information security company CyberArk.

“I wanted to do that so I could get a relevant experience in the cybersecurity field,” said Ryan, a computer science major and math minor from Douglas. “We discuss my future and what I can do to get ahead in the field.”

Ryan came to BSU as an aviation major but found his passion in the computer labs. His father works in information technology and narrowly avoided becoming an identity fraud victim. Seeing that experience personalized the field for Ryan, who hopes to pursue a graduate certificate in cybersecurity.

The certificate is part of BSU’s growing cybersecurity offerings. The university is developing a state-of-the-art cyber range that will allow students and professionals to test their skills by facing realistic simulations of attacks. Those efforts come as the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects the number of information security analysts will grow 33 percent between 2020 and 2030.

Dr. Enping Li, an associate professor of computer science, recommended Ryan for the mentorship program because of his academic success.

“He’s well engaged in the class and has been very active in answering questions,” she said. “He’s a smart, responsible, diligent student.”

Ryan appreciated how Li and other professors teach skills that are relevant to their students’ future careers and truly care about their success, he said.

“They’re not just trying to get a grade out of you,” he said. “The teachers are more involved and actually want you to learn.”

Ryan has also relied on Career Services for help crafting a resume.

“Being at 51�Թ�� has allowed me to make a lot more connections,” he said. “This school has a great community.”

Ryan is the third BSU student to participate in the mentorship program, which is an excellent complement to a Bridgewater education, Li said.

“I think this is a great opportunity for students to apply what they learn in the classroom,” Li said. “They get to see how the practice is applied in the field.”

Through the program, Ryan is studying cybersecurity vulnerabilities in automobiles. While many people might not associate cars with cyberthreats, Ryan knows the pervasiveness of technology means threats can crop up anywhere.

“You can pretty much link cybersecurity to anything you touch in life,” said Ryan, who will present his project at an event with all 41 mentor-mentee pairs. “Pretty much everything you do is linked to the internet.”

Do you have a BSU story you'd like to share? Email stories@bridgew.edu.

Being at 51�Թ�� has allowed me to make a lot more connections. This school has a great community.

Ryan Kuczer, ’23

Tags

Cybersecurity

Student Spotlight

Photo by Luis Pires, '23

‘Range’ of Opportunities

HHARRIS@bridgew.edu — Tue, 17 Aug 2021 10:32:25 +0000

‘Range’ of Opportunities HHARRIS@bridgew.edu Tue, 08/17/2021 - 06:32

Grant-funded cybersecurity tool to provide hands-on training

August 17, 2021

Brian Benson

Taher Al Sharif, ’18, G’20, knows the value of experience. Working as a cybersecurity graduate assistant at 51�Թ�� helped him land a job in the burgeoning field. Now he’s excited his alma mater will build a new facility to provide opportunities for even more students.

Called a cyber range, it will allow students and professionals to confront simulations, including sophisticated ransomware and malware attacks. These mock cybercrime investigations will be based on real cases.

“All those students will get this hands-on experience,” said Al Sharif, who earned a computer science bachelor’s degree and MBA from BSU. “It can lead to bigger and better things.”

The range, recently supported by a $250,000 state Skills Capital Grant, can be accessed from the cloud. However, BSU will turn a room in the Dana Mohler-Faria Science and Mathematics Center into a state-of-the-art lab with computers and a wall of monitors. This will offer a realistic setting to experience the pressure and complexity of cyber-attacks.

“It’s like Disney World. You go for the experience,” said Steve Zuromski, ’04, G’09, vice president for information technology and chief information officer. “We want them to be immersed. We want this to be a destination and experience for them.”

The range complements Bridgewater’s growing offerings in a the cyber-security field with an estimated 7,400 open positions region wide. Across the country, the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 31-percent growth in the number of information security analyst jobs between 2019 and 2029.

BSU offers an undergraduate minor in the Department of Computer Science and is developing a major in cybersecurity. The College of Graduate Studies offers a cybercriminology and cybersecurity graduate certificate, and is developing a master’s degree.

“The cyber range is going to be a really great addition for our students,” said Dr. Hannarae Lee, an assistant professor of criminal justice. “Employers want candidates to have actual experience. We’re going to fulfill all those requirements for students and employers.”

“It puts everything together,” said Dr. Enping Li, an associate professor of computer science. “It will greatly boost students’ practical skills.”

The range will also serve regional organizations, as BSU will provide cybersecurity training to municipalities, schools, state agencies, law enforcement, the military and private businesses.

“There’s a critical need in our area for municipalities and other state agencies to be trained in cybersecurity,” Zuromski said. “We feel we’re uniquely positioned to be able to provide that training.”

Now a cybersecurity engineer for National Grid, Al Sharif appreciates the skills he gained at BSU that future students will hone through the cyber range.

“This can really get you that next job or dream job,” he said.

Do you have a BSU story you'd like to share? Email stories@bridgew.edu

Employers want candidates to have actual experience. We’re going to fulfill all those requirements for students and employers.

Dr. Hannarae Lee

Tags

Cybersecurity