Splunk Academic Alliance Supports UNLV and LSU Student-Powered SOCs

As the leader of the Splunk Academic Alliance program (SAA), I often compare our program to a greenhouse that nurtures seedlings and promising plant species, but instead of plants we are cultivating students in a controlled, resource-rich environment where they can grow robust enough to thrive in the unpredictable technology landscape. And, at the same time, it’s wonderful to feel like we’re supporting the cybersecurity knowledge of university faculty — providing them with training and resource materials they can then integrate into their classroom curriculum. 

Today, I'm thrilled to share that this cultivation has contributed to the successful launch of the student-powered SOC programs at two American universities — University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and Louisiana State University. The enthusiasm and innovative spirit at these institutions are palpable, and their work exemplifies the power of combining academia with real-world application. 

The University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) Hits the Jackpot with Splunk

The University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) is using Splunk solutions in combination with the SAA to create a student-powered Security Operations Center (SOC). At the university, students leverage tools like Splunk Enterprise Security and the Splunk Cloud Platform — putting their classroom-based curriculum and SAA content to the test in realtime. With Splunk and SAA-specific training, they are bolstering security for the university, while gaining practical skills. This initiative has not only improved UNLV's cybersecurity posture, but has also supported Nevada's wider security capabilities. We truly believe that students involved in programs like this graduate well-prepared, with valuable certifications and a competitive edge in the job market.

Louisiana State University (LSU) Student-Powered SOCs

Down south, Louisiana State University (LSU) teamed up with Splunk and TekStream to develop a student-powered SOC that provides 24/7 cybersecurity coverage. Similar to UNLV, LSU incorporates SAA training and coursework into its classroom curriculum, which prepares them in using the Splunk platform and tools within their SOC. Through their program, Splunk-trained students can accumulate up to 1,000 hours of frontline security experience annually, significantly impacting their professional readiness upon graduating. 

Making the Case for Student-Powered SOCs

In partnership with SAA, these universities are not just fortifying their cybersecurity defenses but are also improving the educational outcomes and career opportunities for their students. 

To get more details and results, please check out the two case studies below:

• UNLV Case Study
• LSU Case Study

I am incredibly proud to see how our member universities are leveraging Splunk and the SAA to  nurture the next generation of cybersecurity professionals. Stay tuned for more updates as we continue to expand our support and collaboration with educational institutions around the globe.