BATTLE CREEK, Mich.- The Michigan Air National Guard will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony commemorating the newest hub of the Michigan Cyber Range at the 110th Airlift Wing base in Battle Creek. The event is planned for March 25, 2014 at 10:30 a.m ET.
Michigan Cyber Range Merit Network operates the Michigan Cyber Range, an unclassified, logically-isolated system that leverages Merit’s extensive research and education network. Merit currently operates over 4,000 miles of fiber-optic cable throughout the state of Michigan, reaching into Wisconsin, Illinois, and Ohio, connecting and collaborating with other regional research and education networks, including Internet2.
The Michigan Cyber Range enables individuals and organizations to develop detection and reaction skills through simulations and exercises. The program offers students and IT professionals a full curriculum of meetings and workshops as well as critical cybersecurity training and awareness tools.
“Providing the National Guard with classes and exercises is another big step forward for the Michigan Cyber Range,” said said Joe Adams, vice president of research and cyber security at Merit Network and the Director of the Michigan Cyber Range. “It is another opportunity for Michigan to set a high standard for cyber security training inside the state, across the nation, and with our international partners.”
The 110th Airlift Wing (110th AW) is a unit of the Michigan Air National Guard, stationed at Kellogg Air National Guard Base in Battle Creek, Michigan.
In addition to the 110th Airlift Wing facility, the Michigan Cyber Range has three additional physical locations. Hubs include Eagle, on the campus of Eastern Michigan University; Bulldog, on the campus of Ferris State University; and Wildcat on the campus of Northern Michigan University. Future hubs are planned for Fort Custer and Camp Grayling later this year. Expansion plans could involve as many as 10 hub sites.
Each of the hub locations is home to a node, comprised of state-of-the-art Cyber Range and Management Racks. Nodes can be scaled to increase capacity by adding Cyber Range Racks to the configuration. Nodes are mostly virtualized and enable users to configure and connect almost any type of networked device or service. Each Cyber Range Rack can support up to 1,000 nodes and 1,000 simultaneous connections.
The Michigan Cyber Range, inaugurated in 2012, is part of Governor Snyder’s cyber initiative launched last fall to improve cybersecurity efforts to protect families, communities, businesses and government. The Michigan Cyber Initiative is an innovative approach to providing a safeguarding toolkit and practical steps for improving cybersecurity in our everyday lives.
The Michigan Cyber Range is an innovative public-private partnership between the State of Michigan, Merit Network, federal and local governments, colleges and universities, and the private sector. The new hub in Battle Creek creates a unique opportunity for not only Michigan National Guard Soldiers and Airmen, but for the entire State of Michigan and beyond.
The 110th Airlift Wing is located at 3545 Mustang Avenue, Battle Creek, Michigan, 49037.
Media members are welcome to attend the ribbon cutting ceremony. RSVP is required with Lt. Col. Bill Humes, Michigan National Guard State Public Affairs Officer, and must present government-issued ID at the security station upon entering the Airlift Wing property.
Questions or interview requests should be directed to the Michigan National Guard Public Affairs Office at 517-481-8141.
About Merit Network
Merit Network Inc., is a nonprofit corporation owned and governed by Michigan’s public universities. Merit 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 and IT solutions to Michigan’s public universities, colleges, K-12 organizations, libraries, state government, healthcare, and other non-profit organizations.
For more information: www.merit.edu
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