SC Research Authority announces opening of new center for cybersecurity
COLUMBIA, SC (WOLO) — Leaders with the SC Research Authority held a press conference with Governor Henry McMaster on Wednesday to announce the opening of a new center for cybersecurity.
The new center will be housed within SCRA’s existing facility at 1000 Catawba Street in Columbia. A top goal will be to lead and implement the state’s 20 initiative cybersecurity strategic plan that was developed in 2024 (the plan followed a study that assessed SC’s cyber needs and challenges).
“When you look at the totality of that, SCRA’s role is to make sure that we are appropriately checking all of those boxes, making sure that everything that’s being done is efficient as possible, effective as possible, well resourced as possible,” says Brian Shea, who will lead the new center.
Initiatives include helping to improve cyber education within schools and universities statewide, strengthening workforce development, and strengthening defense partnerships.
The new center will also serve new cyber startups — giving them a place to turn to for much needed resources.
“We heard from over 400 business owners, military commanders, economic developers, cyber workers, entrepreneurs, and we heard their frustrations, their challenges. And one of the things we found is people don’t know where to turn. So it’s not that we need to build a bunch of new special operations centers, we need to help people know where to turn and give them uncomplicated easy-access guidance,” says Shea.
SCRA’s Interim President Bill Kirkland believes the new center will also make SC more competitive by attracting both cyber investments and cyber companies.
“My hope is as we start to roll out the plan, we’ll see more opportunities to invest, because it’s gonna create a pipeline of companies either here today, or moving to SC someday,” he says.
