The University of Tulsa’s Oklahoma Cyber Innovation Institute on Tuesday announced the launch of a cyber range that will rapidly expand services to protect and defend Oklahoma entities from cyber threats. UTulsa is the first institution in the state to offer a fully functional cyber range to outside organizations.
“The OCII Cyber Range will play a pivotal role in supporting Oklahoma businesses, fostering collaboration between academia, industry and government and preparing the next generation of cybersecurity experts,” said Rose Gamble, UTulsa’s vice president of research and economic development.
Cyber ranges are virtual environments that employ state-of-the-art hardware and software to simulate the internet, systems, applications and devices in a safe training environment using an organization’s actual software to address real-world cyber concerns. Organizations and consultants can use the environment to evaluate capabilities, test new procedures and identify potential vulnerabilities in advance of a breach.
The OCII Cyber Range is a vital tool for developing a skilled cybersecurity workforce, serving K-12 students, undergraduate and graduate students and professionals across the state. The range also facilitates outreach to industry partners, consultants, small businesses and government agencies.
“We are proud to partner with SimSpace, a leader in cybersecurity training and simulation. Their expertise and technology will ensure that the OCII Cyber Range remains at the forefront of innovation,” said David Keely, interim executive director of OCII.
The OCII Cyber Range is a core program of the institute, which is funded by $12 million from the American Rescue Plan Act through the Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science and Technology with matching funds from the George Kaiser Family Foundation.
“I am very excited about this major accomplishment in the advancement of The University of Tulsa’s Oklahoma Cyber Innovation Institute, which was partially funded through the state Legislature’s investment of ARPA dollars,” said state Rep. Meloyde Blancett, D-Tulsa. “Already a national leader in cyber training and security, UTulsa’s new initiative will significantly advance capabilities to produce an even larger highly skilled and sought after state cyber workforce. We will see the financial benefits of our investment in the university’s work for a very long time.”
According to the National Institute of Standards and Technology, the current cybersecurity workforce lacks sufficient professionals with the necessary skills, training and credentials. This talent and skills gap will continue to grow during the coming years, creating further risk to businesses, government agencies and nongovernmental organizations.
Cyber ranges are interactive, simulated platforms that are proven to narrow that gap. NIST lists the following services provided by cyber ranges:
- Performance-based learning and assessment
- Simulated environments where individuals can collaborate to solve complex problems, improving teamwork and team capabilities
- Real-time feedback
- On-the-job experience
- Virtual environment where ideas can be tested and refined for incident response
“The Oklahoma Cyber Innovation Institute is on the cutting edge of preparing students to meet global demand for cyber talent. Partnering with the Legislature to deploy federal funding toward that goal has resulted in new and exciting programs that will benefit us all,” said state Sen. Jo Anna Dossett, D-Tulsa.
The OCII Cyber Range is in the process of hiring a manager, planning programming and recruiting organizations interested in utilizing the facility and technologies while partnerships and curriculum are being formed for its use. Because the range is hosted in a cloud environment, OCII will incorporate it into its mobile classrooms.
Building upon more than two decades as a national leader in cybersecurity education and research, The University of Tulsa is uniquely positioned to fill this massive need for cyber professionals and protect critical infrastructure. UTulsa houses the country’s first dedicated academic department in cyber offering bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees.
The university’s College of Engineering & Computer Science invested in and built one of the fully functional in-person classrooms to incorporate the OCII Cyber Range into the college’s coursework starting in spring 2025. These courses add to the valuable workforce development resources for Oklahomans looking to expand their skillset.
“The University of Tulsa’s School of Cyber Studies is at the forefront of cybersecurity education, offering comprehensive programs that equip students with the skills to tackle the challenges of an increasingly digital world,” said ECS Dean Andreas A. Polycarpou. “Our state-of-the-art facilities, including the cutting-edge OCII Cyber Range, empower students and faculty to drive innovation and advance the frontiers of cyber technologies.”
Learn more at utulsa.edu/ocii