Austin News

AUSTIN – U.S. Representative Lloyd Doggett (D-Austin) announced more than $1.4 million in federal funding he secured through the Fiscal Year 2023 appropriations process to establish a Cybersecurity Training Center at the Austin Community College (ACC) Rio Grande Campus. 

Image: Rep. Doggett announces more than $1.4 million in federal funding to Austin Community College.

To watch a recording of the announcement, click here.

 “Whether it’s a thief trying to steal a bank deposit or a thief trying to steal our democracy with misinformation, ever-evolving threats and technological weaknesses keep cybersecurity concerns at the forefront,” said Representative Doggett. “I’m pleased to have secured more than $1.4 million in federal funding for Austin Community College’s state-of-the-art center to help prepare students for good-paying cybersecurity jobs that are in high demand for both private and public employers. I thank the leadership at Austin Community College and the Army Futures Software Factory for their commitment to ensuring Austin students lead the way in a growing cybersecurity field.”

Background:

Austin Community College – Cybersecurity Training Center at Rio Grande Campus

$1,467,542 in new federal funding secured by Representative Doggett

This funding will allow Austin Community College to purchase the following equipment for a new cybersecurity center at the ACC Rio Grande Campus:

•    Multiple Routers

•    Multiple Servers

•    Multiple firewalls fully licensed with state-of-the-art cybersecurity software

•    Different high-capability switchers for diverse cybersecurity training and instruction set-ups

•    Biometric recognition equipment and software

•    Computers (desktop and laptop)

•    Software watchdog/scanner fully licensed for cybersecurity

•    Additional software

This center will help expand offerings in cybersecurity education and capitalize on Austin Community Colleges’ successful partnership with the Army Futures Command to provide needed training for Central Texas residents in an emerging critical field.

The location of the Army Futures Command Software Factory at the Rio Grande Campus has led the college to prioritize cybersecurity as a field with great growth potential and a strong local workforce need among companies moving to Austin. This program will build upon the successes of the Software Factory partnership and create cybersecurity educational opportunities centered in Downtown Austin, serving the next generation of cybersecurity professionals.

To learn more about ACC’s cybersecurity programs, click here. 

Original source can be found here.