NORFOLK, Va. (WVEC) -- Cybersecurity is a major issue facing the United States and Virginia.
So on Monday, Norfolk State University is celebrating its new Cybersecurity Complex.
Governor Ralph Northam, Norfolk Mayor Kenny Alexander, and Portsmouth Mayor John Rowe were among those celebrating the achievement.
Governor Northam said this state-of-the-art complex will not only help create more online safety but will also create jobs in the Commonwealth.
“Like cybersecurity, like unmanned aerial systems, like biotechnology, like data collection, data analysis. These are the jobs of the 21st century,” said Northam. "So, that we can train our young individuals for these jobs and then we can really drive our economy."
With the program, the university hopes to train the next generation of people who prevent cyber crimes.
Targets include the Pentagon which says its computer systems face more than 10 million attacks each day.
Norfolk State’s 6,000 square-foot cybersecurity gives students a hands-on learning experience.
This new facility has tools like a digital forensic lab and programs like the psychology of Cybersecurity, to help give students a better education in the field.
Norfolk State Junior Brianna Besinaiz said, “It’s like really surprised me 'cause at most schools you wouldn't have just a whole floor dedicated to cybersecurity.”
Itania Lamare, another junior at NSU, said, “it’s crazy right now. I’m doing research and we’re building a cloud environment that other schools can also interact with.”
The director of the Cybersecurity Complex, Dr. Aurelia Williams, said the facility cost about $4,000,000 to create.
“It’s very important for us to produce students who can enter that cybersecurity professional field and contribute from day one,” Williams said.