Cybersecurity

Cyber-Champs

BBENSON@bridgew.edu — Wed, 04 Jun 2025 14:41:09 +0000

Cyber-Champs BBENSON@bridgew.edu Wed, 06/04/2025 - 10:41

Student competitors come out on top in statewide event

June 5, 2025

Brian Benson, G'23

A group of ��֮�� cybersecurity and computer science majors is the best in the state at responding to a simulated attack.

That’s according to the results of the Digital Forensic and Incident Response Capture the Flag event, which was hosted by the nonprofit CyberTrust Massachusetts in partnership with Immersive Labs.

The victorious teammates attribute their success to their experiences as Bridgewater State students.

“I wouldn’t be at the same point where I am in my professional career if it wasn’t for Bridgewater,” said team member and recent ��֮�� graduate Tommy Rose. “Not only am I getting a bachelor's degree, I’m also walking out with three years of professional IT and security experience.”

That combination of classroom and hands-on knowledge proved helpful in the four-hour competition where teams were challenged to identify and follow mock cyberattacks as well as correctly answer a series of questions.

The group, which also included Brian Grier, Carsten Boloz and Olek Lysyi, excelled by answering every question with time to spare and completing the event with greater accuracy than their competitors, said coach Dave Marion, ’06, G’13, who is also ��֮��’s director of information security.

“Calling this impressive is an understatement,” Marion said. “Security analysts working in major enterprises would find this challenging. ... Any company or department would be lucky to have these students working for them.”

The team met regularly in the weeks leading up to the competition and developed close connections that proved invaluable.

“We are very good at communication,” said Olek, who just completed his first year as a cybersecurity student. “There were a lot of questions where we were relying on each other.”

Originally from Ukraine, Olek now lives in Brighton and came to ��֮�� at the recommendation of friends. He knows he made the right decision because of opportunities like the cybersecurity contest.

“The best part of the competition more than it being a fun event, is it’s really good experience to put on my resume,” Tommy said.

Do you have a ��֮�� story you'd like to share? Email stories@bridgew.edu.

I wouldn’t be at the same point where I am in my professional career if it wasn’t for Bridgewater. Not only am I getting a bachelor's degree, I’m also walking out with three years of professional IT and security experience.

Tommy Rose, '25

Tags

Cybersecurity

‘Thinking About the Future’

BBENSON@bridgew.edu — Thu, 24 Apr 2025 13:09:18 +0000

‘Thinking About the Future’ BBENSON@bridgew.edu Thu, 04/24/2025 - 09:09

Security Operations Center opens and is a boon to region and students

April 24, 2025

Brian Benson, G'23

Luis Marin and Brian Grier, both members of the class of 2026, are on the front lines of a battle to protect organizations from potentially devastating cyber-attacks. And they are doing this essential work right from the ��֮�� campus.

Luis and Brian intern at ��֮��’s Security Operations Center (SOC). The SOC provides real-time threat monitoring as well as consulting services to organizations throughout Massachusetts.

“It feels like real life,” said Brian, a cybersecurity major and Asian studies minor from Milford. “This is not a simulation. We have real clients. Every day of the week we’re solving problems that they deal with.”

The center is part of a comprehensive program to prepare the next generation of cybersecurity leaders. ��֮�� also boasts a state-of-the-art cyber range where students and professionals train using simulated scenarios. The university offers undergraduate and graduate programs in the rapidly growing field.

The SOC, which opened its permanent space on campus in December, is co-sponsored by ��֮�� and the nonprofit CyberTrust Massachusetts, which strives to grow and diversify the cyber workforce.

“By integrating students directly into real-world cybersecurity operations in a real SOC environment, we’re not only enhancing their educational experience but also contributing significantly to the security and well-being of our local communities,” said ��֮�� President Frederick W. Clark Jr., ’83.

CyberTrust Massachusetts hires students like Luis and Brian for paid internships where they work alongside professionals in serving the SOC’s clients. Those clients currently include an array of municipalities and school districts, with plans to expand to other sectors.

��֮�� is a strong partner in this effort because of its growing cybersecurity curriculum, said Jeff Cassidy, director of cybersecurity operations for CyberTrust Massachusetts.

“We’re glad to support what they’re learning in the classroom with hands-on experience,” Cassidy said.

That is critical to landing a job after graduation, said Brian, who progressed into a more advanced internship where he is helping mentor new interns.

It is also rewarding to make a positive impact in the community while still in school, Luis said.

Luis, who completed an associate degree in cybersecurity from Bunker Hill Community College, transferred to Bridgewater State specifically to enroll in the cybersecurity major.

“��֮�� is thinking about the future,” he said. “They see where the technology is going. With this program, they are preparing so many professionals.”

Do you have a ��֮�� story you'd like to share? Email stories@bridgew.edu.

��֮�� is thinking about the future. They see where the technology is going. With this program, they are preparing so many professionals.

Luis Marin, '26

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Cybersecurity

��֮�� Works

Internships

Photo by Charlie Peters, G'20

Ready for the Future

HHARRIS@bridgew.edu — Wed, 14 Feb 2024 11:25:44 +0000

Ready for the Future HHARRIS@bridgew.edu Wed, 02/14/2024 - 06:25

Industry leaders say ��֮��’s cyber program will create jobs

February 14, 2024

Heather Harris Michonski

As cyber-attacks continue to rise globally, the need to fill cybersecurity positions to combat these incidents is vital.

Which is where ��֮�� enters the picture.

Last week, ��֮�� officials, politicians, and industry leaders gathered for a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the school’s new cyber range and Security Operations Center inside the Dana Mohler-Faria Science and Mathematics Center.

“The ��֮�� cyber range will be a focal point for a growing cyber program, offering students an essential hands-on environment to complement their classroom learning,” said Peter Sherlock, CEO of CyberTrust Massachusetts. “Cyber ranges are becoming essential laboratories for cyber education, just as important as laboratories are to chemistry and biology.”

Last fall, ��֮�� launched a new degree program in cybersecurity, the first undergraduate degree of its kind within the Massachusetts state college system. Students will gain real-world experience working in the new facility and develop a skill set that will undoubtedly open doors in terms of a future career.

President and CEO of Massachusetts Competitive Partnership Jay Ash has no doubt in Bridgewater State’s ability to train a future workforce to meet the immediate cyber security needs, not just in the commonwealth, but nationwide.

“We are confident in what you’ll be able to accomplish,” Ash said. “We’re sure Bridgewater State is going to be in the (cybersecurity) game and thank you for taking this challenge on.”

Alumnus Tom Walsh, ’20, attended the ribbon cutting ceremony, and was excited to see his alma mater offering students a pathway to what he says is a lucrative career.

Walsh currently works in cyber security at National Grid as a security orchestration automation and response engineer.

“This is huge,” he said. “Having access to this, students will be getting hands-on experience, the value you get here at ��֮�� is going to be unmatched anywhere.”

According to Steve Zuromski, ��֮��’s vice-president of Information Technology and chief information officer, there are currently more than 20,000 unfilled cybersecurity positions in Massachusetts and 750,000 nationally. Sherlock predicts that number to rise in the foreseeable future and ��֮�� is positioned to fill those vacancies.

“The incentives for bad actors to attack public and private online resources continue to grow,” he said. “As a state university with a new cyber major, ��֮�� has the scale and focus to move the needle on the cyber workforce in the state.”

Andrew Burton, president and chief operating officer at Rapid7, a leader in extended risk and threat detection anticipates that ��֮�� will play a major role in the future of cybersecurity in Massachusetts.

“It’s tremendous to see ��֮�� contributing not only through the new cyber range and making it available to the community, but also in helping to educate and develop future leaders and members of the cyber security community,” Burton said.

More directly, Burton added, ��֮�� will be working with the CyberTrust Massachusetts, nonprofits, state and local agencies, and corporate members like Rapid7.

“This will help grow and develop a diverse cyber workforce, create new opportunities for education and employment, and improve the security posture of under-resourced organizations,” he said. “This is very beneficial not only for the ��֮�� community, but also as part of a broader cyber defense ecosystem in Massachusetts.”

Do you have a ��֮�� story you'd like to share? Email stories@bridgew.edu

It’s tremendous to see ��֮�� contributing not only through the new cyber range and making it available to the community, but also in helping to educate and develop future leaders and members of the cyber security community.

Andrew Burton, president and chief operating officer Rapid7

Tags

Cybersecurity

Photo by Zachary Allen, '24

The Range is Home

BBENSON@bridgew.edu — Mon, 12 Feb 2024 21:04:51 +0000

The Range is Home BBENSON@bridgew.edu Mon, 02/12/2024 - 16:04

��֮�� unveils new multi-million dollar cyber range

February 13, 2024

Brian Benson, G'23

Robert Johnson, ’25, transferred to ��֮�� specifically because the university’s new cybersecurity major provides a pathway into a growing and in-demand field.

And Robert is confident in his decision as he begins partaking in hands-on activities, including protecting actual organizations from cyber attacks.

“It’s real-world experience as a student,” he said. “I don’t know of another program like this.”

Robert is also excited to experience Bridgewater’s state-of-the-art cyber range, which ��֮�� recently unveiled to government and industry representatives.

Funded with almost $3.8 million in state and federal grants, the range is the most advanced in New England. It allows students and cybersecurity professionals to experience mock attacks, from beginning scenarios to complex situations that take experts hours to solve. With multi-colored flashing lights, desks that shake and a massive video screen on one wall, the range immerses users in the high-stakes world of battling cybercrime.

“Cybersecurity intersects with all industries,” said Steve Zuromski, ’04, G’09, vice president of information technology and chief information officer. “Everyone has to be trained, and this is the place to do it.”

Zuromski highlighted a three-pronged approach to cybersecurity education at ��֮�� that blends classroom instruction at the graduate and undergraduate level; scenarios in the range; and the opportunity to conduct threat monitoring for outside organizations through a new Security Operations Center.

“Today is a vision realized: the deployment of a sophisticated tool … to address a profound cybersecurity workforce challenge in our state and in our nation,” ��֮�� President Frederick W. Clark Jr., ’83, said of the range.

With an immediate need for 750,000 more cybersecurity workers nationwide and 20,000 just in Massachusetts, ��֮��’s range will be a model for the nation, said U.S. Rep. Bill Keating.

“It’s something I think will take us to the forefront of meeting emergent threats,” Keating said.

State lawmakers and representatives of Gov. Maura Healey’s administration see ��֮�� Cyber as a resource to help municipalities and organizations bolster their defenses and a critical driver of economic and workforce development.

“Our goal is to empower the next generation of cybersecurity professionals,” said state Sen. Walter Timilty, adding: “This cyber range will train the workforce of tomorrow.”

Industry representatives said ��֮�� is making cybersecurity education accessible to people of all backgrounds and helping solve a problem that keeps business leaders awake at night.

Jay Ash, president and CEO of the Massachusetts Competitive Partnership, praised Bridgewater for giving students the foundation necessary to excel. Ash also chairs the board of CyberTrust Massachusetts, a nonprofit partnering with ��֮�� on cybersecurity initiatives.

“We do that with the confidence that Bridgewater State will not only lead but succeed,” he said.

Do you have a ��֮�� story you'd like to share? Email stories@bridgew.edu.

Cybersecurity intersects with all industries. Everyone has to be trained, and this is the place to do it.

Steve Zuromski, ’04, G’09, vice president of information technology and chief information officer

Tags

Cybersecurity

Photos by Charlie Peters, G'20, and Zachary Allen, '24

Secure Position

BBENSON@bridgew.edu — Wed, 11 Oct 2023 13:42:47 +0000

Secure Position BBENSON@bridgew.edu Wed, 10/11/2023 - 09:42

Graduate college internship leads to career in cybersecurity

October 12, 2023

Brian Benson, G'23

Rachel Cullity, ’21, G’23, helps safeguard the financial systems and taxpayer money that power a plethora of Massachusetts government services.

It’s a critical job – and one she may have never found if not for the mentoring of a Bridgewater State cybersecurity instructor.

“I definitely wouldn’t have been where I am today if it wasn’t for Bridgewater,” said Cullity, a compliance officer with the state Office of the Comptroller. “I met a lot of people and learned a lot of leadership skills, and then I also had support of my professors like Dave Marion.”

Cullity began her full-time position in June, soon after earning a master’s degree in criminal justice with a certificate in cybersecurity and cyber-criminology. She protects state financial systems from fraud and cybersecurity attacks and helps agencies follow relevant laws.

“I wanted to have a really important job that gives back to taxpayers,” said Cullity, who also studied criminal justice as an undergraduate at ��֮��. “I wanted to play an important role in the commonwealth.”

Cullity’s experience in the comptroller’s office began as a summer intern while in graduate school at ��֮��. She helped develop a campaign raising awareness about suspicious emails that was subsequently implemented. For Cybersecurity Awareness Month this October, Cullity is continuing to build cybersecurity awareness among state employees.

Marion, who met Cullity in his introductory cybersecurity course, encouraged her to apply for the internship. She credits it with helping her see a way to use her academic knowledge in the workforce.

Cybersecurity internships provide intensive, first-hand work experience in a way that classroom instruction can’t fulfill, said Marion, who also serves as ��֮��’s director of information security.

“We can do a lot with simulating the technical stuff,” he said. “What’s more difficult to simulate is relationships and understanding how relationships work in an organization.”

While at ��֮��, Cullity also served as president of the Graduate Professional Student Association and criminal justice honor society. Now she is the director of young professionals for the AGA Boston chapter, an organization for workers and students involved in government financial management.

Her commitment to giving back stands out, Marion said.

“Her leadership and willingness to help others really sets her apart,” he said. “The way Rachel does it is in a very collegial, very supportive, very collaborative way.”

Cullity credits Marion’s course with planting the seed that the burgeoning field might hold a viable opportunity for her.

“He told me that I could do it,” she said. “I just had to stay focused.”

Do you have a ��֮�� story you'd like to share? Email stories@bridgew.edu.

I definitely wouldn’t have been where I am today if it wasn’t for Bridgewater. I met a lot of people and learned a lot of leadership skills, and then I also had support of my professors like Dave Marion.

Rachel Cullity, ’21, G’23

Tags

Cybersecurity

Internships

Graduate Studies

Alumni Profile

Funding the Future

BBENSON@bridgew.edu — Mon, 27 Feb 2023 19:51:22 +0000

Funding the Future BBENSON@bridgew.edu Mon, 02/27/2023 - 14:51

U.S. Sen. Ed Markey announces $2 million in funding for cyber range

February 28, 2023

Brian Benson, G'23

U.S. Sen. Ed Markey sees cyberthreats as one of the most critical economic and privacy issues facing the United States. But Markey is reassured by the steps ��֮�� is taking to expand its cybersecurity education.

“This program is absolutely essential, and it’s both world class and affordable,” he said.

Markey recently visited campus to announce $2 million in federal funding to support the development of a cyber range at ��֮��. The sophisticated simulator will enable students and professionals to experience mock ransomware, malware and other attacks.

The range, which can train 700 people per year, is part of a three-pronged approach to cybersecurity education. ��֮�� is also constructing a security operations center that will help municipalities, nonprofits, companies, and government agencies monitor, detect, and respond to threats. Also, new graduate and undergraduate cybersecurity programs are forthcoming, including a bachelor’s degree set to begin accepting students for fall 2023.

“These dollars from the federal government transform places like ��֮�� and literally change the trajectory of our ability to serve the people of Massachusetts and especially our students,” said university President Frederick W. Clark Jr., ’83. “These dollars make a difference.”

Clark led Markey, state Sen. Walter Timilty, and other visiting dignitaries on a tour of the range, which is under construction in the Dana Mohler-Faria Center for Science and Mathematics.

Soon, rows of computers and large video screens will facilitate hands-on instruction in how to defend against the latest hacking and cyber-attacks.

Students will gain valuable experience that will prepare them for careers in a growing industry with 20,000 open positions in Massachusetts alone.

“��֮�� is meeting the moment in order to ensure students are prepared to protect and deliver for our communities,” Markey said.

The vacancies come as attacks threaten large and small businesses, municipalities, schools and state and federal agencies. In 2021 alone, data breaches affected more than 1.8 million of Massachusetts’ 7 million residents.

Demand for skilled workers is not going away as technology is an ever-present force in daily life with Americans expected to have 75 billion devices by 2025, Markey said.

“This is the future, and ��֮�� is going to prepare the workforce for that future,” he said.

Do you have a ��֮�� story you'd like to share? Email stories@bridgew.edu.

This is the future, and ��֮�� is going to prepare the workforce for that future.

U.S. Sen. Ed Markey

Tags

Cybersecurity

Photo by Zachary Allen, '24