The South Coast Cyber Center, a nonprofit located in Beaufort, South Carolina, is an integral player in the region’s technology ecosystem, offering a collaborative approach to education, training, and economic development. The work of the Cyber Center focuses on empowering individuals, the business community, and government with the skills and knowledge to navigate the increasingly complex world of cybersecurity.
The South Coast Cyber Center, founded in 2020, seeks to foster innovation, support education, and provide training that equips the workforce for future challenges in cybersecurity.
“Tabletop” exercises facilitated by cybersecurity experts are one way in which the Cyber Center has drawn together local government, first responders, business, and academia to emphasize the importance of not merely responding to cyberattacks but the key role of threat detection, risk management and system vulnerability assessments to prevent attacks.
Formed as a collaboration of the University of South Carolina Beaufort, the Technical College of the Low country, the Beaufort Digital Corridor, and the Beaufort County Economic Development Corporation, the Cyber Center leverages this collaboration to maximize the strengths of each organization. Through collaboration with industry leaders across academia and industry and participation in global cybersecurity conferences, South Coast Cyber Center has made itself a recognized leader.
South Coast Cyber Center plays a key role in advancing cybersecurity education in Beaufort and region-wide. Recognizing the explosive demand for skilled cybersecurity professionals, South Coast Cyber has become a pivotal player in shaping the local workforce by providing access to high-quality education and training through the University of South Carolina Beaufort’s Cyber Concentration within the Computer Science and Mathematics Department; the Technical College of the Lowcountry’s two year Associate Degree program in cybersecurity; and the Beaufort Digital Corridor’s facilitation of nationally recognized certificate programs including CompTIA Security+, Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP), and Certified Ethical Hacker.
Working with closely with the University of South Carolina Beaufort, the Technical College of the Lowcountry, and the Beaufort Digital Corridor South Coast Cyber Center seeks to bridge the gap between academic knowledge and real world cybersecurity challenges by facilitating mentorship and internships that give students first hand experience in the field. These partnerships not only enhance the learning experience but create a direct pipeline for students to enter the cybersecurity workforce upon graduation.
In addition, the Technical College has established “dual track” programs with high schools that allow a student to graduate with both a high school diploma and an Associate degree in cybersecurity.
An important goal for the Cyber Center since its formation in 2020 has been providing information to transitioning veterans regarding the opportunities available with cybersecurity careers. Given that Beaufort, South Carolina has two large Marine Corps bases – Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island and Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort – there is a strong, intelligent, energetic community of veterans who can avail themselves of the cybersecurity training and educational opportunities. The Beaufort County Economic Development Corporation has led this effort working closely with other partners.
Representatives of the South Coast Cyber Center have been asked to participate in regional, national, and international conferences in recognition of its leading role in developing a regional cybersecurity ecosystem. Through federal and state funding, the Cyber Center has played a leading role in the development of the Maritime Cybersecurity Center. This center is focused on cybersecurity in the maritime transportation domain and has as well become a national leader in the field. As the ecosystem grows and collaboration extends other areas of cyber interest will included.
Since its inception in 2022 the South Coast Cyber Summit has emerged as a pivotal event in the cybersecurity landscape of the southeast. Hosted annually in Beaufort, South Carolina, the Summit serves as a nexus for industry leaders, government officials, and academic experts to converge, share insights, and collaborate to advance cybersecurity practice.
The Summits have attracted cyber leaders from across the nation, including South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster. The Summits have also served to emphasize innovation, education, and collaboration with the cybersecurity community. Leaders from Notre Dame University, Colorado State University, Clemson, national research laboratories, The Citadel, Army National Guard Cyber Protection Battalion, US Army Cyber Center of Excellence, the US Congress, Marine Corps Cyberspace Command, leading cyber business professionals, and state and national law enforcement officials have addressed the Summit.
The South Coast Cyber Center has firmly established itself at the center of the cybersecurity ecosystem both nationally and regionally. Through its academic partners, training and mentorship partners, and strong economic development component the Cyber Center continue to drive initiatives that bolster the region’s cybersecurity infrastructure and educational framework.
The South Coast is poised to continue its mission of fostering innovation, education, and collaboration in the face of emerging cyber threats.
