LOWELL, Mass. – A new security operations center (SOC) at UMass Lowell will help fortify area cities, towns and defense industrial base companies against cyber threats. The center is being established through a $300,000 grant from a joint effort between the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative’s MassCyberCenter and Center for Advanced Manufacturing, with ongoing support from Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC).
Located on UMass Lowell’s campus as part of the Lowell Innovation Network Corridor (LINC), the center will provide area governments, nonprofits and businesses with expert guidance to address their cybersecurity needs. At the same time, the initiative will give UMass Lowell students paid career-connected experiences putting them on a path for professional success after graduation.
MassTech leaders announced the grant Monday at the State House in Boston as part of the ninth annual Massachusetts Cybersecurity Forum.
“Massachusetts is leveraging this facility and partner network to build a robust pipeline of cyber talent with the high-demand skills and experience needed in the public, commercial, defense and manufacturing sectors,” said MassTech’s Deputy Director and Chief Investment Strategist Ben Linville-Engler.
“With the new Security Operations Center, UMass Lowell will expand this network, serving as a regional base for cyber resiliency while providing career advancement for young professionals in the field.”
In 2024, cybercrime cost the Bay State an estimated $300 million, according to event organizers. Aiming to significantly reduce that figure, protect critical infrastructure and enhance economic stability, the SOC at UMass Lowell will be the fourth such facility at colleges and universities across the commonwealth, however it will be unique in its support of small- to mid-sized companies in the defense industrial base. The SOC will be managed by the nonprofit CyberTrust Massachusetts.
“UMass Lowell is another critical node in the Massachusetts cybersecurity ecosystem,” said MassCyberCenter Director John Petrozzelli. “Their presence will bolster our capabilities and further enhance our ability to safeguard public and private assets from external threats. The MassCyberCenter and CyberTrust Massachusetts are partnering with academic institutions because of their strong business community relationships and their ability to develop future cybersecurity talent.”
Services provided to clients at UMass Lowell’s SOC will include evaluating their cyber systems; monitoring computers and servers; flagging potential risks; analyzing email defense systems, local networks and servers; and detecting and intercepting suspicious activity.
Last year, SAIC, a leading technology mission integrator for the government, awarded UMass Lowell $1.3 million toward the development of a state-of-the-art cyber center to strengthen the resilience of the defense industrial base and expand a pipeline of skilled cyber professionals across the region. The cyber center, which includes the SOC, is estimated to help create 30 jobs while cultivating members of the future STEM workforce through paid internships, job fairs, and training programs in collaboration with other partners including Middlesex Community College and area high schools.
“We are grateful to MassTech and SAIC for these significant contributions and partnership with the university. These relationships enable us to help cities, towns and businesses throughout the region become more nimble and secure, while providing our students with vital career-connected experiences that ensure a new generation of professionals is ready to secure the commonwealth’s economic future,” said UMass Lowell Chancellor Julie Chen.
UMass Lowell’s cybersecurity education, research and workforce development initiatives leverage faculty expertise in computer science, computer engineering, security studies, business and health data security. The university is designated as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Research by the National Security Agency and U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
The new SOC will be housed inside the university’s Wannalancit Business Center, next to the university’s Cyber Range, a learning lab that offers students an opportunity to sharpen their skills identifying and intercepting cyberattacks. The center is the latest addition to LINC, a public-private partnership driven by UMass Lowell, the city of Lowell and member organizations. The initiative envisions a 1.2-million square-foot mixed-use development on and beyond UMass Lowell’s campus that includes offices and research labs, housing, retail businesses and entertainment destinations.
“We welcome the SOC as the latest vibrant addition to LINC. Together, we are building on the synergy among the development’s anchor tenants, the knowledge of UMass Lowell’s faculty, the enthusiasm of our students and the energy of the city to enhance the quality of life in the region,” said UMass Lowell’s Anne Maglia, vice chancellor of research, innovation and economic development.
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