Utica University was awarded $150,000 from the George I. Alden Trust in order to support the construction of a new cyber range. 

Leslie Corbo, director of the undergraduate cybersecurity programs at Utica University, is excited for the future of the program as funding is being secured to build a cyber range on the second floor in Bull Hall.

What You Need To Know

  • Utica University was awarded a grant from the George I. Alden Trust to help support the construction of a new cyber range

  • Students will be able to look at those events and problem solve to find solutions in a controlled environment

  • The goal is for students to learn how to tackle these situations in the real world

“The cyber range is going to be a place where students can do simulated exercises and simulated events,” Corbo said. “From anything from a cyber offense to acting as cyber defense. So think a full-blown ransomware attack or a piece of malware being dropped on a system or some kind of data breach.” 

Students will be able to look at those events and problem-solve to find solutions in a controlled environment. The goal is for students to learn how to tackle these situations in the real world.

“They’re getting to know what they really like to do,” Corbo said. “I think that’s one of the really important things about having this range. They will be able to know what they want to do, when they leave here instead of trial and error and trying it out. This is something that’s really good for the employer too because these students will have been through these scenarios, they’ll be able to hit the ground running on day one.” 

The university’s Office of Advancement says they would like to secure $300,000 in order to officially open the range. Corbo says she’s thankful for the $150,000 award from the George I. Alden Trust to help get this project started.

“I think that we can safely say we should have the money in place by the spring,” Corbo said.

She says this is a great asset to the Mohawk Valley.

“We’re going to be inviting our corporate partners and some of our other public entities and to have them be using the range,” Corbo said. “Cyber moves so quickly that we have to do that. We’re always training and retraining ourselves with all the different tools and techniques.”

The Office of Advancement says they will continue to fundraise in order to acquire more cutting-edge technology that both the students and external groups could use.