In early summer, the St. Cloud Technical & Community College Cybersecurity and Network Administration faculty were happy to accept a donation of a Dell PowerEdge MX740C server from Dave Lerch and Edmentum.
The server has 1024 GB RAM, 17 TB storage, and an onboard 4-port 25GB switch with several expansion slots. The donation, valued at around $60,000, was delivered and installed in the Information Technology classrooms.
“This server will be used to enhance our virtualized environment for students to practice endpoint, server, and networking management skills and will host Security Operations Center training modules,” said program faculty, Ryan Salner and Brian Volkmuth. “This server will host these virtual environments well into the future.”
Edmentum is a nationwide company that works to support educators with technology for positive student outcomes, from kindergarten through college. The company was moving to cloud-based storage and eliminating its on-site servers, and Lerch knew that SCTCC could use the equipment in the Information Technology program.
“When the opportunity came up to donate this blade server to St. Cloud Technical & Community College, I jumped on it. I worked with Brian to bring in the server that we weren’t using so students can utilize the equipment. I'm excited to be here and be able to see this to completion,” commented Lerch.
The Cybersecurity and Network Administration AAS degrees are focused on Windows equipment and software, and technology curriculum is built on combined efforts of faculty and industry partners. SCTCC is designated as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense; the College’s Center for Cybersecurity is determined that all graduates have the opportunity to contribute to the overall betterment of the cybersecurity and computing fields.
Learn more about Cybersecurity and Network Administration at SCTCC.