Cybersecurity training center
Advancing Cybersecurity Careers and Innovation
The University of Michigan-Flint Cybersecurity Training Center provides the I-69 Thumb region with opportunities to earn non-degree and industry-recognized credentials, preparing individuals of all ages and experience levels for dynamic digital challenges in the 21st century.
The UM-Flint Cybersecurity Training Center is one of six Cyber Range Hubs in Michigan, operating as part of Merit Network Inc. The Michigan Cyber Range leverages these physical sites to develop cybersecurity professionals.
Cyber Range Hubs across the state serve as physical extensions of the Michigan Cyber Range, hosting events, exercises and training classes. Each hub offers more than 40 industry-recognized certifications designed to qualify individuals for cybersecurity positions and contracts. Companies may also access virtual infrastructure for product development, testing and demonstration.
Michigan established a flexible cybersecurity range and program to address the evolving needs of critical infrastructure defense, automotive, homeland security, criminal justice and education. Cybersecurity differs from other technical fields because it involves a thinking and adaptive adversary. Improving defensive capabilities requires practice against such adversaries. Merit Network Inc. was selected to operate the cybersecurity range and program to address this need. This public-private collaboration includes government, the National Guard, universities, community colleges, K-12 schools and private industry.
The Michigan Cyber Range offers a comprehensive program of meetings and workshops, as well as tools to develop and promote best practices for cybersecurity training and operations. The range is used for both individual and collective training. Staff members are experts in current cybersecurity training practices, focusing on meeting the specific needs of the people and organizations that use the range.
Our Mission
The University of Michigan-Flint Cybersecurity Training Center supports four core objectives to advance cybersecurity skills and workforce readiness throughout the region:
- Teach: The center provides access to lab-based, experiential learning and certification for all major compliance requirements and frameworks, including
- National Institute of Standards and Technology
- National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education
- National Security Agency
- U.S. Department of Defense
- 8570
- Health Information Trust Alliance
- Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council
- Payment Card Industry
- Criminal Justice Information Services
- Cloud Security Alliance.
- Test: The center engages, supports and collaborates with surrounding industries and entrepreneurs, offering cost-effective and scalable access to software, systems and penetration testing.
- Train: The center hosts live security attack and defense exercises to benchmark skills across the spectrum. It serves students from kindergarten through college and participants from the public, private, defense and military sectors.
- Connect: As a regional cyber range hub, the program provides campus and community members access to the latest professional development opportunities. These offerings support career advancement, equip employers to onboard new employees and prepare teams to address challenges in today’s digital workplace.
The Value to You
- Increased career prospects in the emerging cybersecurity industry and related fields.
- No risk environment to learn best practices to protect your business and ecommerce site.
- High salary potential, an average cybersecurity professional earns $92,000 nationally.
- Preparation for increasingly relevant industry certifications and careers as a Cybersecurity Analyst, Network Security Specialist or a Vulnerability Assessor.
- Michigan currently has more than 8,000 cybersecurity job openings.
- Importance in traditional workplaces, 67% of data breaches resulted from credential theft, human error or social attacks.