MERIT

STERLING HEIGHTS, Mich. – A new, publicly-accessible hub of the Michigan Cyber Range, powered by Merit Network, will open at the Velocity Center at Macomb-Oakland University on Friday, March 18.

The Michigan Cyber Range leverages Merit’s extensive research and education network, which includes over 4,000 miles of fiber-optic infrastructure. A hub of the Michigan Cyber Range is a facility that is directly connected to Merit’s network. The focus of the hub will be cybersecurity education and training, with an objective of providing a collaborative user experience. The hub offers a training space to host live cybersecurity exercises that simulate data hacks and test defensive responses. The hub can be used for software or product testing, to validate the security of technology prior to integration or to hold demonstrations.

“Establishing the hub at the Velocity center is a great step forward for the Michigan Cyber Range,” said Joe Adams, V.P. of Research and Cyber Security at Merit and the director of the Michigan Cyber Range. “We’ve worked hard with Macomb County and Oakland University to build something innovative that contributes to the community. We realize that building the hub was only the first step and we are eager to collaborate with the Velocity Center as people and organizations come in to take advantage of the facility,” said Adams.

Construction of the Sterling Heights Michigan Cyber Range hub began about nine months ago. The hub is located at Macomb-Oakland University INCubator (Mac-OU INC) at the Velocity Center in Sterling Heights. The Velocity Center hub is the first publicly-accessible hub for general business use, particularly small businesses or first-time federal contractors.

The hubs offer a training space for live cybersecurity exercises, utilizing the Cyber Range’s virtual environment known as Alphaville. Alphaville allows for hands-on exercises helping individuals and teams prepare for all types of cybersecurity incidents. The hubs will also be used for training, with Merit providing certification courses in over 20 different cybersecurity disciplines, utilizing the Michigan Cyber Range.

The hub is the result of a collaboration between Merit Network, the Michigan Defense Center of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, Macomb County Department of Planning & Economic Development, the city of Sterling Heights and Oakland University. There are plans to open three or more hubs in Michigan by the end of the year.

A ribbon-cutting event will take place at Macomb-Oakland University INCubator at Velocity Center on Friday, March 18 starting at 9:00 a.m. to commemorate the opening of the hub. Representatives from State and local government and other guests will speak about the impact of this hub for building Michigan’s cybersecurity workforce. Registration has closed for the March 18 event.
[line] AGENDA
09:00 – 09:30 A.M.: Registration, Light Breakfast & Networking

09:30 – 10:30 A.M.: The Velocity Hub: Advancing the Region Through Cyber Innovation

10:30 – 10:50 A.M.: The Velocity Hub: How Can you Use It?

10:50 – 11:00 A.M.: Velocity Hub Ribbon Cutting

11:00 – 12:00 P.M.: Open House

[line] About Michigan Cyber Range
The Michigan Cyber Range prepares cyber security professionals to detect, prevent and mitigate cyber attacks in a real-world setting. Like a test track or a firing range, the Michigan Cyber Range enables individuals and organizations to conduct “live fire” exercises: simulations that test the detection and reaction skills of participants in a variety of situations. The Michigan Cyber Range also offers certification courses for a number of cyber security disciplines, with instruction available on-site and live online. A full training schedule may be found at the Merit Michigan Cyber Range web site: merit.edu/cyberrange.

The Michigan Cyber Range is hosted and facilitated by Merit Network in partnership with the State of Michigan and with the sponsorship of Consumers Energy and DTE Energy.

About Merit Network
Merit Network Inc., a nonprofit corporation owned and governed by Michigan’s public universities, owns and operates America’s longest-running regional research and education network. In 1966, Michigan’s public universities created Merit as a shared resource to help meet their common need for networking assistance. Since its formation, Merit Network has remained on the forefront of research and education networking expertise and services. Merit provides high-performance networking solutions to Michigan’s public universities, colleges, K-12 organizations, libraries, state government, healthcare, and other non-profit organizations. For more information: merit.edu

For press/media contact:
Pierrette Templeton
Merit Network, Inc.
Phone: (734)527-5702
Email: [email protected]