Set to open this month, the new on-campus learning environment will allow students in the Cybersecurity Bachelor of Science Completion and Information Technology Bachelor of Science programs the opportunity to participate in live cybersecurity attack-and-defense exercises, conduct incident response practices, and apply classroom concepts within realistic simulations that mirror evolving real-world cybersecurity scenarios.
This hands-on immersive facility will provide experiential learning opportunities aligned with current industry workforce demands.
“The IBM Cyber Campus is designed to bridge the gap between academic learning and real-world cybersecurity operations,” said Rene Plasencia, Florida lead account partner at IBM. We’re helping to strengthen Florida’s talent pipeline and give students some hands-on experience in realistic, enterprise-scale cyber environments.”
This new space will showcase how IBM Cyber Campus leverages AWS’s secure, elastic cloud infrastructure. That will enable Full Sail to deploy fully operational Security Operations Center (SOC) training environments.
Immersive Learning
This multi-layered collaboration delivers an immersive, cloud-enabled learning experience that combines real-world cyber incident response simulations. It also employs collaborative visualization environments aligned with National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education (NICE) and National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) frameworks.
This education-to-workforce model establishes a training ground for advanced cybersecurity education, equipping students with hands-on experience. This way there is an acceleration in the development of a skilled, job-ready cybersecurity talent pipeline.
“Our facility has been carefully curated in collaboration with our partners at IBM to enhance the depth of knowledge our students acquire while at Full Sail,” said Haifa Maamar, PhD., Executive Director of Emerging Technologies at Full Sail University. “The Full Sail University IBM Cyber Defense Range powered by AWS and Cloud Range strategically connects academic instruction with real-world, industry-specific application, developing the technical expertise, critical thinking, and collaborative capabilities required in today’s complex security environment. It represents a significant milestone for our Emerging Technologies programs and directly supports workforce readiness by creating clear pathways for our graduates to enter the cybersecurity industry.”
New facility expands Full Sail’s existing emerging technologies footprint to elevate it’s Cybersecurity & IT degrees
Source: Full Sail University
Housed within the university’s existing Emerging Tech Wing, the new Cyber Defense Range will feature:
- A 1,463+ square-foot learning environment
- 107.8 square feet of Absen 136″ screens
- 28 stations outfitted with 27-inch HP monitors, HP Elite desktops, and Thunderbolt Hubs to promote effortless connection to student laptops
- Simulated enterprise and cloud-based network environments
- Team based exercises and attack-defense scenarios
- Malware analysis and threat hunting
- Incident response and digital forensics simulations
Hands-on Experience
Utilizing IBM’s advanced range of technologies, and powered by AWS and Cloud Range, Full Sail students will gain hands-on experience. They can use the tools and techniques employed by industry professionals to monitor, detect, and mitigate cyber threats.
“Preparing the next generation of cybersecurity professionals requires more than classroom instruction,” said Debbie Gordon, chief executive of Cloud Range. “Through this collaboration with IBM, AWS, and Full Sail University, students will have the opportunity to defend against actual cyberattacks in the simulated environment to develop the practical skills that future employers require. Hands-on experience in realistic cyber range environments ensures graduates enter the workforce with more than just certifications; they are equipped with real-world skills that align with what employers need today.”