Image Gallery: Tech Data Opens Cyber Range in Arizona
It's the first cyber range in the distribution industry, according to Tech Data. We have pictures.
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Tech Data Cyber Range
Tech Data built the Cyber Range at its Tempe, Arizona office. The Tempe location is one of six U.S. offices. Tech Data also operates a logistics center in the nearby city of Chandler.
Ryals and his team built the 4,500 square foot cyber range over the course of a year.
The layout features a security operations center (SOC), vendor kiosks, conference rooms and a computer lab.
Fortinet was one of the vendors that agreed to run one of the kiosks. Stephen Tallent, senior director of MSSP and service enablement, said the Cyber Range allows his company to illustrate its technology to partners and customers.
“It’s a win for Fortinet, but it also is a win for the partner, because the partner can then use the technology to accomplish the goal of stopping the attack and seeing what it’s like to actually be attacked in the real world, and use different technologies to mitigate the kind of attacks that businesses are facing today,” he said.
Kevin Kennedy, senior vice president of advanced solutions, told the crowd that the distributor is addressing a cybersecurity skills shortage. A recent State of Cybersecurity survey from ISACA found that 58% of companies have open cybersecurity positions.
“Why we decided to make this strategic investment is to fill that that skills gap that we see in the marketplace today,” Kennedy said.
Local and channel media professionals gathered to hear from Tech Data executives.
Francisco Criado, Tech Data’s vice president of global security solutions, said the Cyber Range helps teach a cybersecurity mindset, which differs from regular IT.
“[In] a lot of IT it’s linear thinking. You’re looking at your manual, and it’s a step-by-step process,” Criado said. “Security is a little bit different … it’s abstract-type thinking. When you look at the best security experts – they’re very creative.”
Ryals laid out four pillars for the Cyber Range: Train and educate partners, demonstrate vendor technology, provide engagement opportunities for vendors, partners and customers, and promote Tech Data’s cyber security services.
“The whole place is designed to help our channel drive additional sales and make margin,” Ryals said.
Ryals cut the ribbon to officially open the Cyber Range.
Brett Scott, Tech Data’s director of security training and enablement, explains how the Cyber Range can help companies test for security weaknesses, while cyber engineer Josh Harp (right) demonstrates.
Brett Scott, Tech Data’s director of security training and enablement, explains how the Cyber Range can help companies test for security weaknesses, while cyber engineer Josh Harp (right) demonstrates.
Tech Data is tackling the cybersecurity skills shortage by opening a cyber range in Tempe, Arizona.
The new facility provides a virtual environment where users can simulate cyberattacks and safely test security technologies. Alex Ryals, Tech Data’s vice president of security solutions for the Americas, said it is the first cyber range in distribution.
Tech Data’s Alex Ryals
“They’ve created an environment where cyber professionals can come in, they get hands-on experience when it comes to either protecting or attacking an environment,” Ryals said.
The 2019 (ISC)² Cybersecurity Workforce Study found that 65 percent of businesses don’t have enough cybersecurity professionals. One of the reasons for this gap is the challenge of moving from head knowledge to real-world experience, according to Ryals.
“Where are you supposed to learn how to defend against the latest Chinese malware?” he said. “Are you supposed to do that in your house? You can’t replicate that at home. You probably shouldn’t do it on your own corporate network; your IT guys would be mad. You probably shouldn’t do it on someone else’s network; that’s no bueno.”
Tech Data’s Stephan Tallent
Stephen Tallent, senior director of MSSP and service enablement, noted that 80% of Security Operations Center (SOC) personnel have never experienced a real attack.
“Imagine giving a police officer a loaded gun without putting them through range training and don’t-shoot-the-lady-with-the-baby scenarios — that obviously is not ideal,” he said.
Jason Norred is the senior director of security for Solutions II, a Colorado-based partner that provides security and infrastructure solutions, and managed security services. He said he’ll use the cyber range to train existing and future staff. The range also allows him to offer technology demonstrations that more closely resemble the real world.
Solutions II’s Jason Norred
“There are other cyber ranges, but this is the first one that I have convenient and ready access to that is vendor-agnostic, multiple-solution [and] multiple platforms,” Norred told Channel Futures.
Norred said his customers are surprised to learn that the range allows them to try out a variety of vendors and product lines.
“I think the assumption automatically is that they’re going to come in and see one specific vendor or manufacturer’s logo on everything, and that’s all they’re going to be exposed to,” he said.
Tech Data invited media and local dignitaries to its the grand opening of the Cyber Range last week. We went along and took some pictures.
Click through our slideshow above to get a glimpse of the Tech Data Cyber Range. Also learn more about the Apollo Global Management’s acquisition plans for Tech Data.
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