A new cybersecurity training and security facility based on LSU’s Baton Rouge campus opened Thursday, complete with a ribbon cutting by Gov. John Bel Edwards and LSU President William Tate IV.
LSU, through the Louisiana Optical Network Infrastructure, will operate out of the facility, called the LSU and LONI Security Operations Center.
LONI is a statewide fiber optic performance computing and distributed storage network that connects many of Louisiana’s colleges. It’s intended for faster and higher performance research. LONI, owned by the Louisiana Board of Regents is contracted to LSU; it’s funded by $50 million from the state, according to the program’s website.
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The security center is meant to heighten higher education and state cyber security while also training students with real world experience in the field of cybersecurity. According to a press release, 94 students have already applied to work at the security center.
The security center’s opening corresponds with goals toward tighter cybersecurity, Tate’s Scholarship First agenda and the Louisiana Cybersecurity Assurance Plan.
“Louisiana is setting a nationwide standard for cybersecurity because of our pioneering and proactive approach rooted in higher education,” Edwards said in the press release. “Cyberattacks are becoming more sophisticated and are a constant threat to individuals, businesses and government entities. LSU is harnessing the collective power of our immensely talented students in order to protect citizens from cyber threats while also growing our workforce.”
This past February, Southeastern Louisiana University was the target of a cyber attack, and in June, an attack on the Louisiana Department of Motor Vehicles exposed personal data of millions of Louisiana residents.
LSU partnered with private companies TekStream, a technology firm supporting the security system’s management and incident response, and Splunk, a data and security technology company providing analytic and monitoring technology, which will aid in the education and work of students working at the security center.
LSU announced earlier this week the state invested $7.5 million in expanding the model of the security center to other universities across the state.
Another LSU and LONI Security Operations System works out of the LSU’s Shreveport campus, also through the contracted help of TekStream and Splunk.
