Massachusetts Announces New Cyber Security Initiatives

Massachusetts Announces New Cyber Security Initiatives
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Last month, the State of Massachusetts made multiple announcements regarding Cybersecurity in the state. Firstly, they announced that more than $2.6 million has been allocated to fund the state's first two Cyber Security Operations Centers (SOC) and Cyber Ranges, which will be located at Bridgewater State University as well as Union Station in Springfield. The Springfield location will be run by the Springfield Technical Community College.

The two locations are being developed in partnership with the MassCyberCenter, who hopes to continue to open new operations centers at public colleges and universities throughout the state.

"Springfield Union Station is a world-class transportation hub that will now be home to a world-class cybersecurity training and security management center" said Congressman Richard E. Neal, speaking to the press during the announcement.

The centers will help municipalities across the state become familiar with threat monitoring services, offering hands-on training.

The state first issued a Request for Responses for Entities Interested in Establishing Cybersecurity Centers of Excellence in February 2022 to implement and strengthen cybersecurity defenses across the Commonwealth.

The two centers will give students the opportunity to learn and expand their knowledge of cybersecurity with a hands-on approach.

The second announcement was the creation of CyberTrust Massachusetts, "a new non-profit that will work with business and academia statewide to grow the cybersecurity talent pipeline by in creating career pathways for underrepresented groups, and promote security operations to address the day-to-day needs of resource-constrained municipalities, non-profits, and small businesses," according to a press release posted on the state's website.

"We're seeking to establish Massachusetts as the national leader when it comes to cybersecurity infrastructure," said Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker.

CyberTrust Massachusetts will work on four main goals: Combating Undersecurity and Underemployment while promoting Employee Training and Business/Economic development.

CEO of CyberTrust Massachusetts Pete Sherlock said that the collaboration "could transform our cyber education and training -- growing our workforce and creating new opportunities statewide--while helping make out communities more cyber resilient."