Powered by the Cyberbit Range platform, this hands-on cyber security training centre will provide simulation training for cyber security professionals in protecting national assets and infrastructure against cyber attacks. The opening comes 10 months after the project was announced during Maryland Governor Larry Hogan’s trade mission to Israel in September 2016.

“I am very pleased to celebrate the opening of Baltimore Cyber Range. With our skilled workforce, world-class academic community, and proximity to the federal government, Maryland has truly become the cyber capital of the world,” said Governor Hogan. “This state-of-art center will help ensure that even more Marylanders are fully trained and prepared to meet the demands of 21st century jobs.”

Labour statistics highlight a critical shortage of capable IT and cyber security professionals. Data shows that more than 200,000 U.S. cyber security jobs are currently unfilled and the shortage is projected to grow to more than 1.5 million unfilled positions by 2019. This shortage presents a workforce issue for Maryland employers and Governments and creates employment opportunities for Maryland residents possessing appropriate cyber security skills.

The BCR represents a significant advancement in cyber training technology, a state-of-the-art cyber security training centre. Leveraging the Cyberbit Range platform, the BCR facility allows cyber security practitioners the opportunity to experience the latest real-world cyber threats in a controlled and sequestered environment to improve their hands-on skills. The range, which can simulate large-scale virtual networks and attacks based on real-world incidents, can also pinpoint system vulnerabilities and help users develop countermeasures and improved protocols for dealing with cyber attacks on critical network systems. As a result, cyber security practitioners benefit from receiving real-time training for threat detection, and the response process, enabling them to dramatically improve the performance of all security and SOC teams. Individuals will also benefit from the opportunity to accelerate their security certifications.

“Working with Cyberbit and Governor Hogan’s administration to bring this new cyber training technology to Maryland has been an unbelievable opportunity,” said Michael Doyle, President of Baltimore Cyber Range. “The range has demonstrated the potential to dramatically improve the skills and experience of those working to protect our national IT infrastructure. It also represents a key element of our ongoing efforts to provide the Maryland workforce the skills and knowledge required to address the skilled cyber security workforce shortage.”

“We congratulate the Baltimore Cyber Range and the State of Maryland for opening the new training and simulation facility today,” said Adi Dar, CEO of Cyberbit. “We see a rapidly-growing need for hands-on cyber security training in private and public-sector organisations worldwide, and are excited to see the Baltimore Range pioneering this activity in Maryland."