Cybersecurity Workforce Project

National Security Agency grant for student business simulation

Lake Superior College received a Cybersecurity Workforce Education grant from the National Security Agency (NSA). The grant allowed LSC to design and implement simulated businesses. Students “worked” in an IT capacity in the businesses. Businesses simulated an array of industries:

• Transportation
• Finance
• Education
• Government
• Healthcare
• Manufacturing

Networking, policy and regulation experience

As part of the simulation, students completed normal daily activities for their business. Before they could begin work they provided resumes and interviewed with a business to get “hired”. Once hired, they were responsible for:

• Running their business network
• Troubleshooting issues
• Writing and implementing policies
• Following typical business regulations

Websites management experience

The students also ran a website for their business. Sophomore students hacked the businesses and students working in the businesses had to provide mitigation plans to recover from whatever had happened to their business. The entire network was primarily installed and configured by students.

The LSC Center for Cybersecurity was responsible for applying and implementing this Workforce grant. The LSC Center for Cybersecurity is managed by the staff and faculty at Lake Superior College in Duluth. The Center is led by Matt McCullough the point of contact who reports to Brad Vieths, Dean of Business and Industry and Dr. Pat Rogers, LSC President. The Center management team includes instructors Tom Gustafson and Tom Janicki.