Upper Peninsula Cybersecurity Institute

The Upper Peninsula Cybersecurity Institute has provided a one of a kind opportunity for students. Working with the NMU and NovaSoc, students have an opportunity to work in a SOC right on campus! This security operations center focuses on monitoring real and live clients while providing students valuable career skills. The SOC at the UPCI officially opened in February 2020. All students at Northern Michigan University can apply.

What is a Security Operations Center?

A security operations center consists of a team of skilled cybersecurity analysts that monitor and analyze an organization's security. Typically, this is done through tools such as SEIMs (Security Event Information Management software). A SEIM helps analysts collect, monitor, and analyze files, network traffic, and event logs from organizational devices. Analysts identify, investigate, defend, and report on potential security incidents or compromises to further protect an organization from future incidents. Learn more about SOCS from rapid7.

Professional Development

The UPCI believes working in a SOC as a student is a phenomenal jumpstart to a career in cybersecurity. Many students leave college without practical experience. Through working at this SOC, students are trained on SEIM software, learn proper methods and techniques to investigating security incidents, and more.

Direction

Cybersecurity tends to be split among red and blue teams (offensive and defensive). Many cybersecurity professionals tend to sway towards one area of discipline. With access to a professional job and workplace, the SOC at UPCI can help students identify their true passions in cybersecurity.

Soft Skills

A traditional post-secondary education looks great on a resume, but soft skills can provided a much-needed boost. Soft skills (such as teamwork, time management, communication, professional writing, etc) sometimes can only be gained through jobs or internships. These skills show employeers that you have the ability to work well in teams, communicate effectively, and can adapt. Most employers prefer resumes with aplicable work experience to those lacking them. Nearly 91 percent of employers responding to NACE's Job Outlook 2017 survey prefer that their candidates have work experience, and 65 percent of the total group indicate that they prefer their candidates to have relevant work experience.