Acuity, through its charitable donor-advised fund, has recommended a donation of $450,000 be made to the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Foundation, Inc. to support the university’s cutting-edge cyber defense program and create the Acuity Cyber Defense Range. The range will be an immersive experience putting users directly under fire from cyberattacks.
“We are excited about the partnership between Acuity Insurance and UW-Whitewater and the impact that the new cyber defense range will have for both businesses and students,” said Brian Dennis, Director of the Cybersecurity Center for Business, located at the UW-Whitewater Community Engagement Center. “We expect that organizations of all sizes–from local businesses to regional Fortune 500 companies–will make use of the facility.”
“The Acuity Cyber Defense Range will be different from most cyber ranges affiliated with universities,” said John Chenoweth, Dean of the UW-Whitewater College of Business and Economics. “While the range will be open to businesses, government agencies, and other organizations, significant time will be reserved for students—and it will not be limited to computer science, information technology, or other specific majors.”
The partnership between Acuity Insurance and UW-Whitewater will allow users of the range to work with cutting-edge technology in a comfortable environment. They can replicate their existing system and also test physical enhancements and equipment upgrades.
“Although most businesses are aware of the threat of cyberattacks, their first experience with cybercrime is when it actually happens to them. The Acuity Cyber Defense Range will help future IT security employees and business leaders learn how to identify, protect, detect, respond, and recover from the latest attacks,” said Ben Salzmann, Acuity President and CEO.
“Acuity understands the value of preparing for cyberattacks in a real-world setting,” said Marcus Knuth, Acuity Vice President - Enterprise Technology. “We are pleased to support UW-Whitewater in its initiative to create this training and learning resource.”
The Acuity Cyber Defense Range is expected to be completed by January 1, 2021, and will be located in the Cybersecurity Center for Business.
The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater is a preeminent academic institution driven by the pursuit of knowledge, powered by a spirit of innovation, and focused on transforming lives. As part of the University of Wisconsin System, UW-Whitewater embraces the Wisconsin Idea and is an economic and cultural driver of the region. To tackle the growing risk of cybercrime in America’s business ecosystem, the Cybersecurity Center for Business (CCB) offers cybersecurity education, training, and resources for small businesses, educational institutions, and governments. The CCB is hosted by the UW-Whitewater College of Business and Economics.
Acuity Insurance, headquartered in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, insures over 100,000 businesses, including 300,000 commercial vehicles, and nearly a half million homes and private passenger autos across 28 states. Rated A+ by A.M. Best and S&P, Acuity employs over 1,400 people.