Commercial Integrator + Security Sales July 2024 - 24

CI
INSTALL: PACE CYBER RANGE
PC connected to a second encoder. "
Fournier continues, " We came up
with the layouts, and Kris got feedback
from the actual users on what the
typical layouts would be. I can take one
computer and take up half the videowall
with that and take another one and
put it next to each other, or I could do
it in thirds and I could put the teacher's
example next to it. We laid it out so that
it was very easy to use. "
" So, now, at a later date, if they want to
put in another 10 computers, we can do
that because the network is designed that
way so that we can actually just add to it. If
we needed to make the wall bigger without
having to rip everything out, start all over
again, so that infrastructure being there
made it future-resistant, " says Fournier.
If the PCs aren't in use, a Pace University
Cyber Range logo comes up on
you walk in, you really can't have any
distractions. Anything distracting needs
to be shut off. You need to be focused on
your situation. "
" In addition to that, they even put RGB
LED strips in the front of the room, so when
they simulate a code red, they actually have
a control panel and they'll actually set the
LEDs to red, " says Nikolaj. " It gives them
that full immersive experience of a code red
situation, and they'll change it and change
the colors as the situation either decreases
in severity or increases. "
Because the CSIS instructors and professors
are largely tech-savvy, that streamlined
the training process, says Nikolaj.
" I would just pop in there on my own to
go check on things and just happen to run
into the lead instructor and it was a matter
of probably half an hour just walking
them through the touchpanel, " he says.
Pace University's Seidenberg Cyber
Range and the related cybersecurity
program has expanded well beyond just
course curriculum.
" I know they're developing several new
courses, " he says. " I think cybersecurity
was something recently approved as a
major, so they're constantly developing
new course material. Every time I go
there, someone is in there. "
Fournier is happy that the lab is being
used whether class is in session or not.
" It was nice to see the last time I was
up there that, even though a class was
not currently in there, there were still
students in there running simulations and
doing stuff, " he says. " And the professor
was there, too, actually working on his
next lecture plan. "
The large desk, at which students sit, has embedded computers that have displays
that raise up and go back down again, as needed.
the videowall, to give students the full
immersion effect, he says.
" When they walk into the room, everything's
been painted black, " says Fournier.
" The ceiling tiles are black, the lights are
at a lower light, so it's actually like they're
working walking into a network war
room. It gets them all into that that type of
mentality. They actually start working on
these battles that are just amazing to see. "
" That color scheme of the room is
something else, " says Chacko. " When
" CTI, with the help of the Q-SYS devices
in the layout, couldn't have made the
layout and their interaction with the
touchpanel and control system any easier, "
says Nikolaj. " It was extremely straightforward.
It took me about a half hour's
worth of training and walking through the
instructor through everything. "
The Seidenberg Cyber Range could
lead to more classes and opportunities
for students looking to improve their
cybersecurity skills, says Chacko.
24 Commercial Integrator+Security Sales & Integration | July 2024
Overcoming Obstacles
The biggest issue that CTI had at the start
of the project was simple: The technology
manufacturers were still coming out of
COVID-19 delivery timeframes, an issue
magnified by supply chain snarls that
limited the original design intent.
" As we were proceeding, we were
actually able to upgrade some materials
within that we weren't originally planning
on because they became available again, "
says Fournier. " For the most part, we were
pretty straightforward and didn't have a
lot of concern from the technology front. "
Fournier continues, " As Kris worked
more with the professors and found out,
'We want to add audio; we want to do this,'
it was sort of like, 'OK, we need to go back
PACE UNIVERSITY
PACE UNIVERSITY
Commercial Integrator + Security Sales July 2024

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