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Edith Cowan University has officially opened the southern hemisphere’s biggest Security Operations Centre within a university. The cutting-edge, $3 million SOC will offer Perth students first-hand experience in cyber operations and technology and responding to cyber security threats.
Included in the new facility is a 24-seat training lab, designed to familiarise students with the SOC environment and introduce students to open and closed source SOC and security information and event management (SIEM) platforms.
This space also has the ability to function as an Open Source Intelligence Centre (OSIC). With the soaring costs of cyber crime threatening Australian and global businesses, the cyber security industry is set to replace the mining sector as the next jobs boom in Australia.
“The SOC will give students unique training in monitoring, detecting and responding to cyber security incidents,” said Professor Andrew Woodward, executive dean, School of Science, Edith Cowan University. “There are only a handful of universities in the world that offer this capability.”
It is expected the global cyber security workforce shortage will reach upwards of 1.8 million cyber security professionals by 2022. “Edith Cowan University is committed to addressing the massive skills shortage facing the government and industry in this area,” explained ECU vice-chancellor Professor Steve Chapman.
“Our investment in this SOC ensures that ECU will give our students access to the necessary skills to be work-ready graduates. We are proud to be leading the field in training the cyber security leaders of the future,” he said.
The SOC will be opened on 29 January by Australia’s Home Affairs Deputy Secretary with responsibility for our national cyber security policy, Marc Ablong PSM.
“We need to encourage more students to undertake studies in cyber security and related courses,” said Deputy Secretary Ablong. The SOC opening is unique to the Asia-Pacific region and further cements ECU’s reputation as Australia’s foremost cyber university.
The inaugural opening coincides with the Cyber 2020 Forum being held at ECU in collaboration with the Department of Home Affairs. Approximately 60 of Australia’s thought leaders in the cyber security space will attend the opening.
The forum provides a unique opportunity to shape Australia’s future cyber security policy by continuing the national conversation started by the Department of Home Affairs on the development of the 2020 Cyber Security Strategy.
Stephen Kuper
Steve has an extensive career across government, defence industry and advocacy, having previously worked for cabinet ministers at both Federal and State levels.
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