Bridgewater's Vision to Reality: New Opportunities
This past Friday (2/9/24) Bridgewater State University held a ribbon cutting for their Cyber Range. Many of you will ask What’s a Cyber Range? It is a state-of-the-art space where students can train to handle real-world based simulated cyberattacks. BSU has built the most sophisticated range of its kind in the Northeast. The cyber range will be used to train students, municipalities, non-profit organizations, financial institutions and healthcare facilities - to name just a few - in handling simulated ransomware, malware, and other types of cyberattacks in an academic setting. Beginning this fall, BSU will begin offering a Bachelor of Science Degree in Cybersecurity and Digital Forensics as well.
We see the opening of the range and the offering of a degree program to complement these three elements of our Vision to Reality initiative:
Economic development
Job creation
Small business development
Since 2016, the unemployment rate in the cybersecurity field has stayed at 0%. And, the estimated job growth in the field between 2020-2030 is forecasted to grow another 33%. The International Information System Security Certification Consortium projects the need for 3.4 million jobs to be filled.
Currently in Massachusetts there are over 20,000 posted job openings in cybersecurity related positions. The US Bureau of Labor & Statistics reports that the average median starting income in the field is $102,600. What an opportunity for those graduating with a degree and entering the workforce!
In addition to creating high paying jobs, we anticipate a myriad of economic benefits to the Town and the region. There is a strong likelihood that private companies in the cybersecurity space will want access to the intellectual capital that will be developed through the program from both professors and students. Private investment in the Town is also expected so that the access to the intellectual capital is streamlined. Additionally, we believe that new businesses and new jobs will be another expected benefit from the program.
Friday’s ribbon cutting brought a large number of federal, state, regional and local dignitaries to Bridgewater to celebrate this exciting opportunity. As cybercriminals become more sophisticated, the need for highly trained cybersecurity professionals has never been more critical. We are fortunate that Bridgewater is at the center of training these professionals.