ISSGLOBAL Partners With PBSC On Cybersecurity Lab
With an increasing need for advanced anti-hacking measures to become part of standard data protection protocol, Palm Beach State University (PBSC) has taken a giant step forward in cybersecurity education by creating a state-of-the art educational Cybersecurity Lab in 2015.
This is not your everyday classroom — it’s a real-world learning environment preparing students for threat management and career success.
ISSGLOBAL’s Invaluable Industry Expertise
The creation of the PBSC Cybersecurity Lab wasn’t a solo endeavor. ISSGLOBAL, a Boca Raton-based IT security solutions provider, brought industry-leading cybersecurity expertise and guidance to the project. With their ongoing support and collaboration, they’re ensuring the Lab’s tools and practices remain on par with cybersecurity industry standards.
ISSGLOBAL is a leading security solutions, integration, and IT security consulting services provider with over 40 years of combined experience helping businesses, educational and government institutions and other entities safeguard their day-to-day operations using the latest data and network security technology.
Real-World Learning
At the PBSC Cybersecurity Lab, students don’t just enter a classroom; they come face-to-face with a real-time, simulated battle against cybercrime.
At its heart lies the Ixia BreakingPoint Storm™, an industry-leading stress tester tool for networks, data centers, and devices. Used by major corporations and government agencies, using Ixia BreakingPoint Storm™ as an educational tool puts PBSC in an elite group as one of only two higher education institutions in Florida exposing students to this tech.
“The Cybersecurity Lab is a great example of a government, industry, and higher education partnership,” says Don Gladney, associate dean of PBSC bachelor’s degree programs.
“It will satisfy the needs of the community by producing graduates with real-world, hands-on experience.”
Shaping Cyber Professionals
The Lab isn’t just about impressive technology — it’s a launchpad for successful careers. With cybersecurity job postings growing overall three times faster than IT job postings, PBSC is positioning its students at the forefront of this new career opportunity.
Students engage in real-world simulations, strengthening their cyber defense skills in an environment that mirrors the challenges they’ll face in their future careers, while using the latest technology and learning from the most recent criminal hacking tactics.
From fending off simulated attacks to learning the latest security protocols, every session in the Lab is a step toward becoming a formidable cyber defender.
Programs Created For The Future
ISSGLOBAL and the Cybersecurity Lab have supported PBSC in launching two new industry-relevant College Credit Certificate programs:
- A 15-credit Cisco CCNA Security program, preparing students for entry-level positions in Cisco security.
- A 21-credit Information Security program, developing key skills in network security.
These programs, along with enhanced courses included in the Networking Administrator Associate in Science degree and Bachelor of Applied Science in Information Management, Security and Network Assurance degree, ensure students’ alignment with industry certifications and preparedness for cybersecurity challenges.
Making Cybersecurity a National Priority
The Palm Beach State University Cybersecurity Lab’s purpose extends beyond the campus as part of a larger initiative.
PBSC forms part of a consortium of seven Florida colleges led by the College of Central Florida that received the support of a $1.2 million federal grant.
The consortium’s initiative, Florida XCEL-IT: Information Technology Careers for Rural Areas, focuses on program development in manufacturing, logistics and supply chain management, and cybersecurity.
Together, ISSGLOBAL, Palm Beach State University, and other institutions across Florida are making cybersecurity more accessible with the support of the federal government.
