IBM is taking cybersecurity education to the streets with what it calls the first mobile security operations center, the company said Oct. 15.
Here are five things to know about the new program, dubbed the IBM X-Force Command Cyber Tactical Operations Center:
1. The operations center is a fully-operational security operations center housed in a tractor trailer. Its design is based off of tactical operations centers used by the military and incident command posts used by first responders.
2. The mobile educational center will travel to various sites around the U.S. and Europe, where it will run incident response drills and provide on-demand cybersecurity support to clients, along with raising cybersecurity awareness among professionals, students and consumers.
3. The center features a cybersecurity "watch floor," data center and conference facilities that can accommodate two dozen operators, analysts and incident command center staff.
4. The operations center, abbreviated as C-TOC, serves three key purposes:
- Response training and preparedness: C-TOC can help train companies and their employees on technical and crisis leadership techniques when responding to attacks
- On-site cybersecurity support: C-TOC was designed as an on-demand security operations center, and may be used at large gatherings, such as sporting events
- Education and awareness: In addition to client visits, C-TOC will stop at local universities and industry events to build interest in cybersecurity careers
5. C-TOC training includes a "Cyber Best Practices Laboratory" that uses real-world examples based on IBM customers' experiences. Trainings will involve immersive, gamified cyberattacks that help teams test their incident response plans in realistic, high-pressure simulations.
The C-TOC's first stop will be the National Mall in Washington, D.C., on Oct. 18, where it will train congressional staff and other public officials on cybersecurity best practices.
To learn more about IBM's X-Force Command Cyber Tactical Operations Center, click here.