Suffolk County Community College recently hosted members from the Suffolk County Legislature for an exclusive presentation on its cybersecurity program. Legislators received an overview of the academic program, including the real-time cyber threats being faced daily by the general population.
A featured presentation by Michael Morganelli from Cisco Systems offered industry insight into current cybersecurity trends and workforce needs, reinforcing the importance of partnerships between higher education and leading technology companies.
The day’s program concluded with a live demonstration in the college’s new Cyber Range — a controlled, simulated digital environment that replicates real-world networks and cyberattacks. Legislators were encouraged to participate in a hands-on cybersecurity experience, working side-by-side with students currently enrolled in the cybersecurity program. The students were able to work side-by-side with the legislators in a simulated real-world cyberattack.
The immersive session offered a firsthand look at how cybersecurity students develop the skills needed to identify vulnerabilities and defend systems against such incidents without risk to actual infrastructure.
“Suffolk County Community College’s Cybersecurity Program continues to equip students with the technical expertise and critical thinking skills needed to succeed in one of today’s fastest-growing and most essential industries,” said SCCC President Dr. Edward Bonahue.
