University of West Florida Center for Cybersecurity and Metova CyberCENTS announce the Florida Cyber Range
PENSACOLA, Fla. and CABOT, Ark., Aug. 16, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The University of West Florida Center for Cybersecurity is partnering with Metova CyberCENTS to create the Florida Cyber Range from Metova's CENTS® portfolio of cyber range simulators.
The range will be used for hands-on cybersecurity education, training, operations and research. This partnership provides a platform for the UWF Center for Cybersecurity and Metova CyberCENTS to proactively explore knowledge, technologies and tools to further advance cybersecurity regionally, nationally and globally.
The Florida Cyber Range will provide advanced training and testing solutions for academic, government, military and commercial organizations through various cybersecurity exercises and activities. The Florida Cyber Range will revolutionize cybersecurity education and operations within the state and position Florida to provide critical cybersecurity expertise for the nation.
"We are honored to partner with Metova CyberCENTS to launch the Florida Cyber Range," said Dr. Eman El-Sheikh, director of the UWF Center for Cybersecurity. "The Florida Cyber Range provides a state-of-the-art environment to help cybersecurity students and professionals gain valuable practical skills to detect and defend against real world cyber-attacks. The range will help organizations differentiate themselves and prepare against emerging threats and attacks through innovative training experiences."
The National Security Agency and Department of Homeland Security designated UWF as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education and as the CAE Regional Resource Center for the Southeast US. In this role, the UWF Center for Cybersecurity provides leadership to advance cyber defense education among colleges and universities in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Puerto Rico, South Carolina and Tennessee.
The Florida Cyber Range is designed to provide a Tier 1 Cybersecurity Hub capable of providing services to institutions looking to expand their cybersecurity offerings.
"The Florida Cyber Range will complement expanding cybersecurity education, training and research initiatives by using real world situations to prepare against complex cyber-attacks," El-Sheikh said. "The UWF Center for Cybersecurity will develop resources and models for integrating Florida Cyber Range exercises into education and training programs and will disseminate these resources regionally and nationally."
Metova is the owner and developer of the Cyberoperations Enhanced Network and Training Simulators product line, which is a portfolio of Cyber Simulator and Range solutions. CENTS® solutions provide an integrated, Live-Virtual-Constructive cyber range environment for training, exercising and testing full-spectrum cyberspace capabilities. Metova's cyber range products have been in development and production for over a decade. Taking input directly from cyber operators, beginning with the U.S. Air Force conducting Computer Network Defense exercises in 2001, Metova's CENTS design has continued to evolve and progress from the first Department of Defense Cyber Range installation, the Joint Cyberspace Operations Range, to the premier cyber range platform currently used within the DoD.
"We envision a future public-private enterprise that will encourage cyber innovation and training, all while being supportive of entrepreneurship," said Bill Dunn, president of Metova CyberCENTS. "Metova CyberCENTS is pleased to be joined by UWF in bringing the Florida Cyber Range to life, not only for the Cyber Coast, but for government, industry, universities and K-12 across Florida and the nation."
For more information on the Florida Cyber Range, please visit floridacyberrange.org/.
For more information on the UWF Center for Cybersecurity, visit uwf.edu/cybersecurity.
For more information on Metova CyberCENTS, visit cybercents.com.
About the University of West Florida Center for Cybersecurity
The University of West Florida provides a unique, multidisciplinary approach to cybersecurity with a variety of undergraduate and graduate cybersecurity education and training programs and certificates. The UWF Center for Cybersecurity is the regional hub for cybersecurity education, research, outreach and partnerships. The center innovates cybersecurity solutions through its interdisciplinary approach which connects ideas and people to elevate cybersecurity and enhance workforce and economic development.
About CENTS® and SLAM-R® Technology
Using state-of-the-art training simulators much like those used by fighter pilots, CENTS® was developed in 2006 to support cyber training and operations for the U.S. Air Force. Following a decade of success and continual refinement, today CENTS® is the pre-eminent product portfolio for preparing cyber operators to detect and defend against malicious actors. CENTS® provides a powerful, realistic, risk-free emulated environment for training, developing and testing response actions to routine, zero-day and catastrophic events.
About Metova
Metova is a privately held Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) and is a leading technology company creating world-class apps and technology services for customers ranging from government entities to Fortune 500 companies and startups. Metova provides solutions for organizations such as the Department of State, Department of Defense and hundreds of commercial entities. Metova provides services that include Cyber Defense, Technology Services, RFID and application development.
SOURCE Metova CyberCENTS
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