Tech Data Corp. is addressing the urgency of cybersecurity threat preparedness and the growing cybersecurity skills gap with its first U.S. Cyber Range center in Tempe.
The Clearwater, Florida-based global information technology distributor opened the center Wednesday in its Tempe office, which is the West Coast headquarters for its advanced solutions business. The facility is located at 8700 S. Price Road, off the Loop 101 and Warner Road in the ASU Research Park.
The mission for the 4,500-square-foot center is to provide training, engagement and technology demonstrations for the company's 8,700 security partners, 43 security vendors and a growing number of prospective cybersecurity employees.
"Our Cyber Range provides a virtual world to interact and play with malware and cybersecurity skills," said Ryals, who is based in Tempe. "This replicates a real-world environment for our partners and vendors to play and learn."
The center also provides visitors a chance to test and apply the latest security technologies Tech Data sells, including installations, configurations and vulnerability assessments, Ryals said.
Since 80% of security operations center employees have never seen a real world attack, this allows them to see how they would handle the situation, said Stephan Tallent, a senior director of service enablement at Fortinet Inc. (Nasdaq: FTNT), a Sunnyvale, California-based cybersecurity software and services provider. Fortinet is a Tech Data vendor.
"If you're never put in a situation to use these tools, there's a lack of proper training," said Tallent, an eight-year Fortinet employee who works out of San Diego. "There's very few environments where you can safely release malware. This creates a unique environment to do that."
While Tech Data has a similar Cyber Range in Germany at the Munich Airport through its partner Information Security Hub, the Tempe Cyber Range was built solely by Tech Data for a seven-figure investment, and includes six dedicated employees and training curriculum, said Francisco Criado, Tech Data's vice president of global security solutions.
"There is a well-documented cyber skills gap," said Criado, who is based in San Antonio. "Cybersecurity skills are hard to teach because it requires abstract thinking. This provides an environment for that and is an extension of our capabilities."
There will be an estimated 3.5 million unfilled cybersecurity positions by 2021, according to Cybersecurity Ventures.
The new Cyber Range center is believed to be the only such facility in the IT distribution space, partnering with the National Cyber Warfare Foundation, Criado said. Learn more about the center here.
Some of Tech Data's vendors include HP Inc. (NYSE: HPQ), Cisco Systems Inc. (Nasdaq: CSCO), IBM Corp. (NYSE: IBM) and Intel Corp. (Nasdaq: INTC).
Cyber Range is also available for Tech Data's partners and vendors to host cybersecurity events. Opportunities for high schools and universities are also available to visit and use the center, with some training and services offered for free, Ryals said.
The center has a 16-person training room that can host classes on site or online, as well as the larger room that can be re-configured for events. Ten computers along the wall are available for walk-ins and on-demand training.
A security operations center with four large monitors provides another opportunity for training and education, while exposing prospective cybersecurity employees to how a typical cyber worker monitors information.
Tech Data moved into the Valley in 2017 after acquiring Avnet Inc.'s technology solutions business for $2.65 billion. Avnet (NYSE: AVT) sold off a third of its company in February 2017. The 132,000-square-foot building in Tempe has 600 employees.
The Arizona Cyber Warfare Range has several locations in the state, including in Surprise, Tempe and Tucson. Grand Canyon University also opened a public, education-driven cybersecurity center in 2017 on its Phoenix campus, although it is no longer associated with the AZ Cyber Warfare Range, a spokesman said.
