There are many other cyber range projects available for schools to tap into, but the costs can be prohibitive. Within their limited budgets, community and technical colleges need to find the best curriculum and resources possible. The Cyber Range Poulsbo platform enables them to spend limited dollars elsewhere without compromising the quality of their programs.
Cyber range activities allow students to get hands-on experience with cybersecurity tools and techniques. Learning topics range from entry-level to advanced. Some exercises are designed to introduce students to new concepts, others are meant to challenge them. All of which have the intent to grow our students into job-ready graduates equipped with hands-on experience.
Today there are over 200 exercises in the cyber range. These are either ready for use, ready for peer review, or are under development. When a college wishes to tap into these for use during classes, they can reach out to the cyber range team to arrange access. Some virtual resources can be reserved for durations longer than a single class session so that a multi-layered project can be built over time.
At the workshop on February 8th, nearly 30 faculty and instructors spent the day collaborating and brainstorming. We learned how to be good peer reviewers, we bounced ideas back and forth, and we learned how the exercises can be incorporated into college curriculum.
One participant said,
“The conference was one of the best I have ever attended. I am very excited about the tools and materials I was introduced to.”
We heard from many about the challenges they face. Some schools have been managing their own hardware and software to use in training. But, post-pandemic, the classroom format remains hybrid or fully remote. This presents a challenge when trying to offer “hands-on” experience. Cyber Range Poulsbo solves that problem by offering all exercises remotely.
The call is being made for faculty and private contractors to build more labs and student challenges. State funding will pay for their time, but the budget is only available until June of 2024.
Vipul Kumar, Director of Cyber Range Poulsbo, provided an in-depth technical presentation to explain the platform along with its current and future capabilities. Kumar said, “Our goal is to make the cyber range the premier choice for classroom exercises in Washington cybersecurity programs. Eventually, it should stand out as one of the best in the nation.”
Please reach out to the Cybersecurity Center of Excellence if you or a colleague are available to help develop or peer review labs and exercises.
Nichole Schmitt
Brent Lundstrom
Group of faculty learning about Cyber Range Poulsbo
Mike Singletary, Brent Lundstrom, Vipul Kumar, Angela Henderson, Emma Kong, Nichole Schmitt