Institue of Applied Technology - TAFE NSW

Commitment to cyber and network security

If not for the students scattered about, you’d be forgiven for thinking that you had stepped into the depths of a CIA bunker. Instead, the space is just the latest in TAFE NSW’s commitment to cyber and network security. Gone are the days of desks and blackboards. Instead, state-of-the-art technology permeates throughout, allowing students to examine cyber security data and perform vulnerability exercises.

Cyber attack simulations

While the sprawling 3,000 square metre space across three floors is home to a multitude of breakouts, broadcast rooms, smart classrooms, digital touch tables and lecture theatres, the pièce-de-résistance is a set of three distinct rooms.

Within, vulnerability exercises and simulations take place with each team being tasked to either ‘attack, defend or monitor’ (cue the coloured neon lights for dramatic effect). That is, one team taking on the role of 'cracker', hacking into a secure system while another is charged with its cyber protection. As the two rooms battle it out, the final team monitors - gathering and analysing the data.

Industry leaders and tech giants note that this is a first for the education sector, with the Samsung LED walls and supporting infrastructure typically only seen in command-and-control centres such as border security or anti-terrorism task forces.

And while the Cyber Range Training space is impressive, the true ingenuity lies in the infrastructure supporting it. Alongside Microsoft, industry giants like Salesforce, SAP and SAS have contributed to the co-design of training in key disciplines such as data management, digital forensics, software development and cloud computing.

Acoustic integrity

Further reflective of real-world command-and-control centres, the space is replete with an array of acoustic measures to meet the specified RW rating. Our construciton team came equipped with an acoustic engineer to conduct an initial review of the existing site conditions, including base building services and architectural documentation. This review then allowed for construction advice to be provided on the coordination of each trade, with periodic acoustic inspections undertaken to audit partition installation and penetration sealing.

Developing AV solutions

Immediately facing the challenge of global supply chain shortage, we led ‘available now’ design reengineering along with our AV partner VideoPro. This collaboration afforded us the opportunity to leverage long-standing manufacturer partnerships, to develop solutions for endorsement by both TAFE IT and JHA (Design & Consultant Engineers). At no additional cost to the client, the approach ensured that the tight eight week timeline was met.

Minister for Skills and Training, Alister Henskens says of the space, “the Institute is home to the first Cyber Range Training Centre in NSW, placing world-class training facilities right at our doorstep, fitted with the latest simulation and digital technology to fight cybercrime. Students now have access to Australia’s best digital training, co-designed by industry leaders and world-leading universities.”