ECU launches new Security Operations Centre with RSA Security – building renewed tertiary focus on cybersecurity skills training

Interview with ECU Executive Dean of School of Science, Professor Andrew Woodward and Dr. Paul Haskell-Dowland, Associate Dean for Computing and Security, School of Science, Academic Centre of Cyber Security Excellence.

Paul Haskell-Dowland and Andrew Woodward with Chris Cubbage at the new SOC

Edith Cowan University (ECU) has opened the southern hemisphere’s biggest Security Operations Centre (SOC) within a university. The cutting-edge, $3 million SOC will offer Perth students firsthand experience in cyber operations and technology and responding to cyber security threats.

The SOC opening is unique to the Asia-Pacific region and further cements ECU’s reputation as Australia’s foremost cyber university.

Included in the new facility is a 24-seat training lab, designed to familiarise students with the SOC environment and introduce students to open and closed source SOC and security information and event management (SIEM) platforms. This space also has the ability to function as an Open Source Intelligence Centre (OSIC).

Security Operations Centre

With the soaring costs of cybercrime threatening Australian and global businesses, the cyber security industry is set to replace the mining sector as the next jobs boom in Australia. It is expected the global cyber security workface shortage will reach upwards of 1.8 million cyber security professionals by 2022.

“Edith Cowan University is committed to addressing the massive skills shortage facing the government and industry in this area,” said ECU Vice-Chancellor Professor Steve Chapman.

“Our investment in this SOC ensures that ECU will give our students to access the necessary skills to be work-ready graduates. We are proud to be leading the field in training the cyber security leaders of the future,” he said.

The SOC was opened on January 29 by Australia’s Home Affairs Deputy Secretary with responsibility for national cyber security policy, Marc Ablong PSM. “We need to encourage more students to undertake studies in cyber security and related courses,” said Deputy Secretary Ablong.