Georgia’s first cybersecurity center opens to the public
The state of Georgia will unveil its flagship cybersecurity center Tuesday, as the Georgia Cyber Center hosts its grand opening on the Augusta University campus.
The $100 million Hull McKnight Georgia Cyber Center for Innovation and Training houses a 330,000 square-foot cyber range and training facility — one of the largest of its kind. It marks the single-largest investment in a cybersecurity facility by a state government.
The center is intended to strengthen state and federal defenses against cyberattacks, while filling the cybersecurity workforce gap through certification programs and both undergraduate and graduate-level degree programs. The number of unfilled cybersecurity jobs worldwide is expected to reach 3.5 million by 2021, according to Cybersecurity Ventures .
“The center will have a lasting impact on Augusta University,” said Brooks Keel, president of the four-year public university, in a statement . “It is making us a national leader in cyber training and education, and already is attracting talented students to Augusta who will in turn become highly trained cybersecurity professionals.”
The facility was built and will be operated by the Georgia Technology Authority, which partners with the U.S. Army Cyber Center of Excellence at nearby Fort Gordon; the City of Augusta; the University System of Georgia; and state, federal and private sector partners.
A second building that will become part of the center is expected to open in December.
