USCA’s community cyber support includes local nonprofit

USCA’s community cyber support includes local nonprofit

USCA’s Regional Security Operations Center (RSOC) now supports Aiken’s Citizens for Nuclear Technology Awareness, providing cybersecurity assistance.

“This is a win-win for everyone,” said USCA Chancellor Daniel Heimmermann. “This is exactly what USCA aims to do: provide relevant support to the community while equipping our students with the dynamic educational and professional experiences necessary to succeed in their chosen fields.”

Heimmermann and Dr. Allison J. Hamilton Molnar, executive director of CNTA, signed a memorandum of understanding Nov. 19, formalizing the partnership.

“As a small, local nonprofit, CNTA does not have the resources to commit to internal cybersecurity staff. However, as a nuclear technology organization, we understand how vital it is to ensure our information and assets are protected from potential threats,” said Molnar.

Staff and students manning the RSOC will monitor CNTA’s computer infrastructure for cyber threats and collaborate on potential responses should breaches occur.  This innovative program gives USCA computer majors real-world experience, specifically related to incident prevention and investigation, network monitoring, incident alerts, threat mitigation and recovery of systems.

“This agreement with the RSOC at USCA provides us with the safety of knowing experts are guiding our IT and cyber choices and will be there to assist if there is ever a problem. This partnership between USCA and CNTA continues a long relationship between our organizations, and we are proud to also support the student learning this MOU includes,” said Molnar.

The university’s RSOC is the only one of its kind in South Carolina and one of three in the country. USCA has a similar agreement with the City of Wagener.

For more information, contact us at news@usca.edu.