Key facts
- Florida Polytechnic University’s student-powered Security Operations Center (SOC) launched one year ago in partnership with Lakeland-based Sittadel, providing hands-on cybersecurity training [1].
- Students at the SOC triage and investigate real security alerts across email, identity, endpoint and cloud environments to defend Florida Poly from digital threats [1].
- The program’s first two graduates quickly secured competitive industry roles, with employers valuing their SOC experience alongside their cybersecurity degrees [1].
- The Florida Poly-Sittadel SOC model is expanding beyond Lakeland, with other universities in Florida now partnering to establish their own Security Operations Centers [1].
Student-Powered Security Operations Center Delivers Real-World Training
Florida Polytechnic University’s student-led Security Operations Center (SOC), established in partnership with Lakeland-based cybersecurity leader Sittadel, has completed its first year as a proven training ground for emerging cybersecurity professionals [1]. The specialized center provides students with essential hands-on workforce experience while simultaneously protecting the university from real-time digital threats [1].
“By trusting our students to actively defend our digital campus infrastructure, we are simultaneously hardening our institutional security and creating a strong talent pipeline for the high-tech workforce,” said Cole Allen, the University’s vice president of information services and CIO [1].
From Email Security to Campus-Wide Defense
Operating under a model developed by Florida Poly and Sittadel, students triage and investigate real security alerts across email, identity, endpoint and cloud environments, documenting their findings and working as a team to neutralize threats [1]. The scope of the program has grown significantly since launch. “Our tasks have gone from the small scope of email and user accounts to protecting the University at large,” said Josh Morales, a cybersecurity engineering junior beginning his second year at the SOC [1].
Garrett Poorbaugh, COO and security architect at Sittadel, emphasized the program’s commitment to staying current with industry developments. “We originally set out to provide applied learning that moves at the incredibly fast pace of the cybersecurity industry,” Poorbaugh said. “For example, not even a month ago, a new feature launched in the security tool that we use, and we’re already figuring out how to get them trained and operationalized in it” [1].
Career Launch Pad for Graduates
The program’s success is already evident in the career trajectories of its alumni. The first two SOC graduates leveraged their experience into competitive roles within the cybersecurity industry [1]. “If I’m the employer and I see on their resume that a SOC student did so well on the classes for his cybersecurity degree from Florida Poly, worked in a SOC for almost a year, and had an internship with a company where they developed a penetration test, they’re blowing every other candidate out of the water,” Poorbaugh said [1].
Colton Hewell, a cybersecurity engineering junior who joined the SOC last year, described the learning environment as supportive and practical. “Coming in, I didn’t know entirely what I was getting into,” Hewell said. “But it’s been a really great way to learn what a SOC analyst does on a day-to-day basis and get hands-on experience in cloud platforms” [1]. The program maintains a tight-knit culture where experienced students mentor newcomers [1].
Expanding Beyond Lakeland
The success of the Florida Poly-Sittadel SOC model has attracted interest from other institutions. Although expansions have yet to launch, other universities in Florida are now partnering with the program to bring their own Security Operations Centers online, establishing a growing network of collaborative student analysts [1].
Frequently asked questions
What is Florida Poly’s Security Operations Center?
The SOC is a student-powered center established in partnership with Lakeland-based cybersecurity firm Sittadel, where students gain hands-on experience defending the university from digital threats while pursuing their cybersecurity degrees [1].
What do students do at the SOC?
Students triage and investigate real security alerts across email, identity, endpoint and cloud environments, document their findings, and work as a team to neutralize threats protecting the university’s digital infrastructure [1].
How has the program benefited its graduates?
The first two SOC graduates secured competitive cybersecurity industry roles, with employers valuing their combination of a cybersecurity degree from Florida Poly, SOC work experience, and practical training in penetration testing and other skills [1].
Is the program expanding?
Yes. Other universities in Florida are now partnering with Florida Poly and Sittadel to establish their own Security Operations Centers, creating a growing network of collaborative student analysts, though these expansions have not yet launched [1].
Sources
- Student-led cybersecurity center protects Florida Poly while launching high-tech careers – Florida Polytechnic University News, 2026-10-02
Compiled by Central Florida Lifestyle from official sources. Last updated October 3, 2026.
