New lab at OU to broaden local expertise in cyber security

The School of Business Administration at Oakland University invites prospective students interested in management information systems to learn more about its Information Systems program and a new laboratory that offers hands-on, experiential learning by experimenting online with network configurations, firewalls and computer malware.

The school will host a grand opening of the Security Network Instructional Lab at 4:30 p.m. on Monday, March 7. Visitors can also meet with representatives of Juniper Networks, which provided the generous donation of hardware that made this lab possible.

In addition to teaching in this highly advanced facility, SBA faculty members will conduct research and explore issues relating to desktop virtualization, surveillance and information systems security.

The new lab enhances an already strong program that prepares students for careers in the growing digital security field. In fact, the United States Department of Labor predicts that careers for network systems and data communications analysts, as well as computer and network security, will be among the fastest-growing occupations thanks to the increasing sophistication of cyber attacks.

The March 7 grand opening will take place in 202 Elliot Hall on the campus of Oakland University. Interactive and printable maps are available at oakland.edu/map. For more information about the event, call (248) 370-2957 or e-mail to desmet@oakland.edu. For more information about the Security Network Instructional Lab, including courses that will be held there, visit oakland.edu/sbasecuritylab.