The organizations will coordinate the work of their two Maryland-based cybersecurity research centers: the University of Maryland’s Cybersecurity Center in College Park and SAIC’s Cyber Innovation Center in Columbia.
The Cybersecurity Center, set up last month, works with government and industry to provide interdisciplinary educational programs in cybersecurity and develop technologies to defend against cybersecurity attacks.
SAIC's Cyber Innovation Center, established in September, coordinates efforts across the company in collaboration with teammates and customers. The center includes a technical lab and secured infrastructure; research and development areas; training and conference spaces; and demonstration, prototyping, and proposal solution support areas.
Commenting on the establishment of the University of Maryland center, Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley said: "Cybersecurity is one of the biggest threats facing our nation, but also one of the greatest opportunities for Maryland universities, businesses and federal labs to work collectively and strengthen our national defense and economic security." Earlier this year, O’Malley launched a CyberMaryland plan to inventory the state’s cybersecurity assets and attract cybersecurity investment to the state.
O’Malley also released a report that recommended the creation of a National Center of Excellence for Cyber Security in Maryland, which would encourage partnerships between federal and state government, the private sector, and academic institutions; setting up cyber security testing laboratories; expansion of information sharing about vulnerabilities in hardware, software, and IT systems; improvements in cybersecurity education and training; and establishment of a Cybersecurity/IT Law Council to advise the governor and state leadership.