New Training Center in Baltimore Readies Maryland’s Cyber Workforce
Governor Larry Hogan; Stephen Thomas, general manager of Cyberbit North America; Bruce Spector, CEO of Baltimore-based Electronic Technology Associates (ETA); Baltimore Mayor Catherine Pugh; and other dignitaries attended a grand opening celebration of the Baltimore Cyber Range. The creation of the center was announced during the governor’s trade mission to Israel in September 2016. The Baltimore Cyber Range, which is located in Spark Baltimore in Baltimore City, will provide cybersecurity professionals with the most advanced cyber warfare strategies in an environment that simulates real threats.
“Governor Hogan’s trade mission to Israel was designed to bring to Maryland the technology-rich capability the Israelis have developed in cybersecurity,” said Bruce Spector of ETA. “The Baltimore Cyber Range has done just that, bringing together their team, along with the capabilities of Cyberbit, to create a revolutionary way to train cybersecurity workers.” “The range has demonstrated the potential to dramatically improve the skills and experience of those working to protect our national IT infrastructure. It also represents a key element of our ongoing efforts to provide the Maryland workforce the skills and knowledge required to address the skilled cybersecurity workforce shortage.”
The Baltimore Cyber Range is powered by Cyberbit’s Range Platform, a cybersecurity simulation and training environment that enables security teams to train in realistic settings. This hands-on experience expands cyber professionals’ knowledge base and enhances their skills to keep pace with evolving cyber threats. In addition, the training offered through the Baltimore Cyber Range promotes team building and enables cyber teams to respond more quickly and more effectively to complex and advanced attacks. As the first stand-alone and hands-on training cybersecurity training center in the nation, it will provide the most-up-to date training for our cyber force, further demonstrating that Maryland is truly the cyber capital of America. The rapidly growing need for hands-on cybersecurity training in private and public-sector organizations worldwide means that there is a need for this type of pioneering activity in Maryland which is being brought by the Baltimore Range.
Since 2015, the Hogan administration has taken major strides to cultivate and strengthen Maryland’s impressive cyber industry. In the Fiscal Year 2018 budget, the administration added $4 million for cybersecurity training in the EARN Maryland initiative. In addition to the 2016 Israel economic development trade mission, Governor Hogan in June of this year led a delegation of Maryland businesses and officials on a trade mission to London, where he addressed cyber industry leaders at the Houses of Parliament and announced the launch of iCyberCenter@bwtech, an international cybersecurity center at the University of Maryland Baltimore County. Last month, Governor Hogan joined 37 governors across the country in joining a multi-state cyber compact to better secure states’ cyber infrastructure, and announced the opening of ELTA North America’s Cyber Innovation Center.
“Working with Cyberbit and Governor Hogan’s administration to bring this new cyber training technology to Maryland has been an unbelievable opportunity,” said Michael Doyle, president of Baltimore Cyber Range.
“We congratulate the Baltimore Cyber Range and the state of Maryland for opening the new training and simulation facility today,” said Adi Dar, CEO of Cyberbit.