Florida Polytechnic University and Lakeland-based cybersecurity company Sittadel are teaming up to launch a student-powered Security Operations Center (SOC) on Florida Poly’s campus.
Sittadel was founded in 2019 by Trafenia Flynn Salzman, 35, and Joshua Sitta, 39, along with a team of cybersecurity directors and architects. Originally working for big banks and the U.S. government, they recognized that small and mid-size companies experience the same threats as big businesses but don’t have access to the same solutions.
The collaboration pairs Florida Poly’s research initiatives with Sittadel’s applied expertise, creating a training ground where students can safely learn to defend against digital threats.
The 2023 United Way Community Needs Assessment by United Way of Central Florida and GiveWell Community Foundation, found that Polk County employers continue to report shortages in skilled labor — especially in information technology, health care and advanced manufacturing.
Polk’s tech economy needs homegrown talent
As Polk County moves away from agribusiness and into tech, the new partnership is intended to grow and nurture Florida’s cybersecurity talent and protect businesses from digital attacks.
“If we build clear pathways from education to high-wage tech jobs here, Polk County can retain local talent and attract remote-capable professionals. Cybersecurity is a smart specialization due to high growth and high demand, and it’s aligned with Florida Poly’s strengths,” wrote Chip Nuttall, principal at Daybook Consulting and who served on Greater Nashville’s Technology Council.
In Florida, jobs for information security analysts are projected to grow 39.4% between 2021 and 2029, according to a report by the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity, Bureau of Workforce Statistics and Economic Research.
Nationally, growth is projected at 29% through 2034, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics.
The new partnership aims to meet workforce needs by preparing Polk County students for one of the state’s fastest-growing and highest-paying fields. As Sittadel expands, they hope to hire from Florida Poly graduates. The goal is to keep tech talent and opportunity in Polk County.
A real-world security lab for students
Joshua Sitta, CEO and co-founder of Sittadel, said that students will gain real-world experience monitoring live data and responding to simulated and actual cyber threats. The on-campus SOC mirrors a real commercial operation — complete with guardrails that allow students to learn safely alongside Sittadel professionals.
“It’s a place where mistakes can be made,” said Sitta, “because we have layers of our workforce who are more trained and practiced to make sure that everything stays safe.”
The SOC lets students blend classroom experience with practice analyzing real telemetry and making informed security decisions under the guidance of experienced professionals.
Exploring AI and zero-trust security
The next phase of the partnership will focus on innovation, particularly artificial intelligence and “zero-trust” cybersecurity.
“We’re already working on a sort of AI security readiness assessment that’s being driven by Florida Poly students,” Sitta said.
Students will test how well systems can detect and defend against AI-generated threats, including false or manipulated data that could compromise security.
They’ll also work in a “zero-trust” environment — a cybersecurity framework that continuously verifies every user and device instead of assuming automatic trust. Sitta compared it to a building where only verified key holders can enter each room — a system designed to minimize risk even if one lock is broken.
Hands-on learning meets local impact
The partnership between Florida Poly and Sittadel officially launches on Oct. 20.
- Phase 1: Launch of the student-powered SOC and training of the first student cohort.
- Phase 2: Applied research on AI-driven cybersecurity models and expanded small business engagement.
“Every thriving tech economy starts with workforce. If Florida Poly graduates can intern and get hired locally, we’ll see an acceleration in startups, new investments, and higher-value jobs. This isn’t just about IT; it’s about diversifying the economy, keeping young professionals here, and future-proofing our regional identity,” Nuttall wrote.
The collaboration shows how higher education and industry can work together to strengthen Polk County’s economy — training a new generation of digital defenders right here in Polk County.
Insight Polk examines community conditions and solutions in six target areas from UCIndicators.org: economic & employment opportunity, education, housing, food security, transportation & infrastructure, and quality of life.
LkldNow’s Insight Polk independent reporting is made possible by the United Community Indicators Project with funding by GiveWell Community Foundation & United Way of Central Florida. All editorial decisions are made by LkldNow.
Kayla Borg is a reporter for LkldNow, a nonprofit newsroom providing independent local news for Lakeland. Read at LkldNow.com.
