TechMGM

T H E C I T Y ’ S B E S T- K E P T S E C R E T

Montgomery’s past is packed with world-changing events, and now, the city is making history again, this time in an unexpected way: Montgomery is quickly making a name for itself as one of the Southeast’s most vibrant and most strategic “cyber cities.”

BY J E N N I F E R S T E WA R T KO R N E G AY

By leveraging its large collection

the world. It is also one of only two

of resources and pooling talent,

military cloud datacenters for all of

Montgomery is growing into a tech

the DoD,” Greene said. Plus, the

hub that will foster innovation and

Program Executive Office for Busi-

create jobs, Joe Greene, the Cham-

ness Enterprise Systems develops,

ber’s VP for Military and Innovative

acquires and sustains all of the ap-

Strategies, explained. “We have

plications for the Air Force globally,

unique assets here in the River

and the 26th Network Operations

Region,” he said. “There is no other

Squadron operates and defends the

place in the country that has all of

Air Force network worldwide. “With

the Department of Defense (DoD)

these missions combined with Air

assets we have located in one spot.

University and the recently estab-

That makes us the perfect location

lished Air Force Cyber College, you

to become a cyber leader for the

have a convergence of Air Force

Air Force and to create a common

tech and cyber talent from all over

DoD/commercial infrastructure that

the world gathering right here,”

becomes a virtual sandbox for cyber

Greene said.

innovation.”

“Bandwidth and IT INFRASTRUCTURE are

MORE THAN MILITARY Both Maxwell AFB and Gunter play major roles in the Air Force’s and

becoming THE FIFTH UTILITY, and Montgomery is

our entire military’s cyber defense and cyber strategies efforts, and the effects of this spill over the bases’ borders into the rest of the area.

“The Defense Information Systems Agency datacenter, located on Maxwell-Gunter, stores all of the electronic medical records for the entire Department of Defense. It is the largest Oracle database in

10

ready to meet that demand. Soon, ALL COMPANIES will be in the technology business, regardless of what they sell or the services they provide.”

- Lora McClendon, Chamber Director, Military & Federal Strategies

MONTGOMERY BUSINESS JOURNAL

PHOTOGRAPHY BY FRANK WILLIAMS

TechMGM:

In the private sector, the new RSA Datacenter, which is one of the most

these things bring new businesses

sophisticated in the country, and

and help existing companies? Ac-

the MGMix Internet Exchange are

cording to Greene, in several ways.

crucial pieces of the equation. Plus,

“Because of groups like hackMGM,

add the city’s five universities and a

we have the opportunity to develop

strong city-county partnership, and

these ideas into new businesses

the stage is set for what Greene and

and new jobs,” he said. “And the

for the benefit of both

others believe will be some exciting

internet exchange aids current and

businesses and residents are

progress in the next few years,

existing businesses by significantly

part of the Chamber’s long-term

progress that will bring positives

reducing what they pay for internet

strategy to strengthen the city’s

to everyone in the area. “All these

services.” The internet exchange

elements give us a huge knowledge

is already delivering cost savings.

future. Stay up to date with

base and a lot of capability, and

Several State of Alabama entities

put together, they create a pretty

have connected to the exchange

powerful synergy in terms of cyber

and cut their spending by two-thirds,

and technology,” said Carl Barranco,

translating into nearly $14,000 a

the City of Montgomery’s new Cyber

month saved.

Coordinator. “The way we are using them will come into play for every

Jason Asbury, President of Warren

one of us, for all of our day-to-day

Averett Technology Group, shares

activities as it moves forward. It is

Greene’s sentiments on the

not just the military; it’s not just busi-

bottom-line benefits of MGMix. He

ness. It’s for everyone.”

offered a few other positives too. “It has already brought more players

THE BIG PICTURE

to the area as it relates to carrier

The picture Greene and Barranco

service options. More providers

paint is impressive, but how do all

equal more competition and lower

11

MONTGOMERYCHAMBER.COM

YO U A R E H E R E The growth of the tech industry and the advancement of Montgomery’s cyber capabilities

the latest news in tech and find out how to connect with the area’s tech community and tap into its many resources at

TECHMGM.COM.

prices with better and faster services.

efficient,” Greene said. In some

Big name providers like Hurricane

instances, it offers increased security

Electric and Akamai have seen the

as well.

value of our exchange, and they have invested in our technical community.

This brings faster access to the rest of the world, and it better secures our Internet experiences,” he said.

“The cyber college is taking all of the educational brilliance that is out there

“Additionally, as the exchange grows,

[in the Air Force]. It is taking all that

there will be increased opportunities

content, and it is knitting it together in

for low-cost data sharing and storing of Open Source information. These

a way where cyber education can

benefits are the beginning of a new

come to every airman at the right time

era of IT jobs and services that the River Region will have to offer to our

in their career with the right content for

residents and businesses. Our future

that individual.” - General Kwast touting

is bright and the MGMix is adding to the shine.”

Tobias Mense, Chief Information

Cyber College in the October 2015 Montgomery Business Journal

Carl Barranco, City of Montgomery Cyber Coordinator

“All of these advancements let us improve services that the state, county and city provide its residents. Things like open data, where the public has more access to information. It will also

Officer at Auburn University at Montgomery, the first university to join the

Intangibles like an improved image

internet exchange, echoed Greene

for the city can become tangible

and Asbury as he outlined why AUM

when that image bolsters economic

connected. “We believe things like

development efforts. The ability for

the exchange will positively impact

greater capacity should translate to

the city, and we want to play a role

new jobs. “That alone will help us

in moving Montgomery forward,”

attract companies in the advanced

he said. “We also wanted to take

manufacturing industry here,” Greene

advantage of benefits it offers, like

said. Barranco agrees. He sees

cost savings and faster speeds.” AUM

MGMix and the city’s other tech

is now using Hurricane Electric, one

resources as essential to the city and

of the new companies that came to

county’s continued success in wooing

Montgomery because of the internet

new businesses here and spurring

exchange, and has seen its costs go

expansion in existing industry. “If you

down by more than 80 percent.

aren’t attuned to what is going on in

It’s about more than saving money.

technology, you are slipping behind,”

Thanks to the exchange, the capacity

he said. “You have to stay ahead of

for data transmission is higher too,

this game, and it is changing fast.

since companies and organizations

We know that real economic impact

are directly connected to the back-

and job creation are based on us ex-

bone of the internet. “Your business

plaining and promoting the city’s tech

can run faster, download and upload

resources. That’s how we’re making

information quicker, deliver con-

‘TechMGM’ a reality.”

tent faster and therefore, be more

12

MONTGOMERY BUSINESS JOURNAL

help us improve our visitors’ experiences, so it helps tourism, which brings in tax dollars.

It really is a win-win for us all.”

The MGMix hit 100-gigabyte capacity in June; an impressive and important milestone. But Barranco stressed that there’s no time to rest. “We now need to attract more internet service providers, more content providers and then connect more businesses to the exchange,” he said. And while the initial focus has been on businesses, all the benefits trickle down. “All of these advancements let us improve

Joe Greene, Chamber VP, Military and Innovative Strategies

services that the state, county and city

“With Air University and

provide its residents,” Barranco said.

the recently established

“Things like open data, where the

Air Force Cyber College,

public has more access to information.

you have a convergence

It will also help us improve our visitors’

of Air Force tech and

experiences, so it helps tourism, which brings in tax dollars. It really is a win-win for us all.”

cyber talent from all over the world gathering right here.”

hackMGM: W H O / W H AT ?

hackMGM is a “community of creatives, makers, developers and doers, working together to build a better Montgomery.” Its more than 100 members and contributors are using technology to help the city and county reach its potential.

LIGHTNING SPEED AUM is already looking into upgrading from 1 gig to the MGMix’s 10-gig pipeline.

“This move will upgrade our speed 10 fold, and our bill will still be 60 percent less than what we paid before the internet exchange,” said Tobias Mense, Chief Information Officer at AUM. The acceleration will let the university do so much more, including enhanced research. “It opens the door to more collaboration on research with other universities that are heavily

Tobias Mense, Chief Information Officer at AUM

data driven, things we might not have been able to do before,” Mense said.

“We believe things like the exchange will

And it’s not all work, no play, especially for AUM students.

“If you stream movies or are into gaming, you now have better entertain-

positively impact the city, and we want to

ment options on campus,” he said. “It’s a little thing in the big scheme of

play a role in moving Montgomery forward.”

things, but it matters and affects our students in a good way.”

13

MONTGOMERYCHAMBER.COM

Cyber COLLEGE

With 90 percent of its personnel coming to study at Maxwell AFB’s Air

Maxwell-Gunter AFB carries a crucial IT workload for the entire Air Force and The Department of Defense.

College students yet—its courses are currently electives for ACSC and Air War College students—that will soon change. The students who’ve participated and are currently taking its

Here are just a few of the

courses spend a good percentage of

clearly the center of education for our

notable things going on

their time doing research and getting

nation’s Air Force. It now has a new

behind Gunter’s gates:

University (AU) at some point, AU is

tool to train our current and future

papers published.

airmen: the Cyber College. In planning

The Cyber College isn’t only playing

stages since 2014, and just becoming

defense. The topics and ideas being

“official” this past June, the Cyber Col-

studied there relate to and can aid in

lege is moving the Air Force from the

Home to one of largest data

industrial age to the information age

centers and the largest Oracle

and equipping its students with the

database in entire world, which

operational knowledge and strategic

stores medical records

insights to fight potential attacks.

for the entire DoD.

the use of more technology for “smart cities,” things Montgomery officials and Chamber leaders are pushing for like smart city vehicles and optimized trash collection. The city and county are also able to take advantage of

“Two and a half years ago, General

relationships the Cyber College has

Kwast had a vision for starting the Cy-

formed with major tech players like

ber College because while the United

AT&T, HP, Microsoft and Verizon.

States is a premier cyber actor, it has

Only one of two military cloud

been slow to integrate cyber power

data centers for the entirety of

into the national level of thinking,” said

the DoD and its functions and

Commandant Clinton Mixon, the Col-

handles highly classified data.

Simply the existence of the Cyber College in Montgomery is a positive; its presence here contributes to the

lege’s senior military member. “Other

goal of being known as a “tech-hub,”

countries like Russia and China have

and its courses will bring external and

put much more emphasis on cyber

internal expertise to Maxwell-Gunter.

power,” added Dr. Pano Yannakogeor-

“We are advocates for the city and

gos, the dean of the Cyber College.

talk about its tech focus and capabilHome to the Business

Its reach already extends far beyond

Enterprise Systems Directorate,

Maxwell. Yannakogeorgos and his

which purchases and develops

team instruct the air forces of other

all software used by

countries—like the Royal Air Force—

non-weapons-based functions

and global organizations like NATO.

and departments of the Air Force, things like finance,

With the realization that, as Kwast

medical and logistics.

ities everywhere we go,” Yannakogeorgos said.

The college is currently working with academic institutions like Auburn University, Harvard, MIT, and NDU and wants to work with local schools like AUM and Alabama State University in

often says, “Cyber [and cyber security]

future. “We’d like to send our students

is a wicked problem that can’t be

to local universities to take advantage

solved, but only made better,” the

of the expertise of instructors there

Cyber College is doing more than

and not have to offer duplicate cours-

educating the military, it’s also trying

Home to the

to teach our country in general how

26th Network Operation

industrial cyber processes can be

Squadron that manages

hacked and how the results of such

the business side of the Air

an attack would be just as devastating

Force’s worldwide network.

es,” Yannakogeorgos said. “And we’re brainstorming ways to allow university students, state and local government officials to come and participate in seminars on base, but it may not be

as weaponized cyber power.

possible to do so from a security

While there are no fulltime Cyber

perspective.”

14

MONTGOMERY BUSINESS JOURNAL

Training

Our Tech Workforce

I N N OVAT I O N DISTRICT

While connecting existing tech resources and

IT talent, and many times these jobs go unfilled.

creating the system needed to support their

“In the past, there have been jobs we have had

Several Montgomery

growth and expansion is important, as these

to recruit from outside

businesses are working

efforts create an economic catalyst and new

of the River Region for

together with the city to create

job opportunities follow, we’ll need more and

because we don’t have

an innovation district down-

more people to fill them. Building a qualified

enough people with the

town. “It’s a way to look at

tech workforce is a primary focus of the plan

right skill sets, certifica-

some of the problems we all

put into action by the city, county, The Chamber

tions and/or degrees to

face and how we can solve

and their partners. “We need to provide the

satisfy all the require-

them by bringing our local, re-

right education for this movement. What the

ments,” Stokes said.

gional and even national talent

city is doing now with Cyber Coordinator Carl

“We are fixing that.”

together,” said Joe Greene, VP

Barranco at the helm is bringing all of these

Military Affairs and Innovative

pieces together—all our tech businesses,

CYBER ACADEMY

Strategies at The Chamber.

other government entities, our universities and

According to Stokes, the solution is to com-

Maxwell-Gunter—and it’s putting us on the right

plement our education system by offering

track,” said Tobias Mense, Chief Information

additional certification courses and also offering

Officer at AUM. “These efforts are creating

continuing education within our current univer-

spaces for young people to hone their tech and

sities as well as with alternative methods. That’s

programming skills and that is really positive,”

exactly what the Cyber Innovation Academy,

he said. AUM is doing its part to get its students

which held its first classes last spring, is doing.

C OW E R X 4 6 ,

Charisse Stokes, President of Tidal IT Solutions

ready too. “We’re looking at our offerings to

Hosted by The Chamber, the Academy helps

a developer-centered

make sure we have the relevant degrees and

area companies get their employees up to

co-working space for the tech

ensuring our students have bright employment

speed on IT, which is continually changing. It

market, opened its doors on

prospects,” he said.

helps companies fill their IT needs, but also

Commerce Street this summer

helps workers advance in their careers, and

and is the cornerstone of the

FILLING A NEED

innovation district. Owned

Charisse Stokes, president of Tidal IT Solutions

a job gain the skills and certifications they need

by Boyd Stephens, who

and part of the Chamber cyber innovation team,

to compete. “We’re working closely with area

also owns Netelysis, a local

echoed Mense. “We need a better qualified IT

employers to find out what the demand is so we

network security services

workforce here,” she said. Some of the River

can teach what they need,” Stokes said.

company, it offers spaces for

Region’s largest companies, like healthcare

those working in the IT world

providers and Hyundai, are always looking for

helps its students who are currently looking for

The Academy has partnered with the Alabama

to rent. In addition, it’s hosting tech training classes and workshops in a “no pressure” environment.

AS PART OF ITS

IMAGINE A GREATER MONTGOMERY INITIATIVE, The Chamber has joined forces with the city and county to put a “TechMGM/Cyber Strategy” into place. Like spokes on a wheel, every component is equally important to move the plan forward.

Boyd Stephens, Owner of Netelysis

16

MONTGOMERY BUSINESS JOURNAL

Community College System and Trenholm State Community College, but is also looking to work with ASU, AUM and Troy University too and use those institutions’ expertise to help it teach coding and programming courses, software and app development, and networking cours-

“The collaboration within the River Region to include the

es. “Those could be taught to augment and supplement larger degree

city, county, chamber, universities, business entities and

programs,” Stokes said.

the DoD brings together opportunities and capabilities unlike any other areas of the country. The MGMix, Akamai

MAKING THE GRADE

and RSA Data Center partnership provides the technology

Currently, several different course structures are being offered, and Stokes pointed to the Academy’s flexibility. “We want to adapt to the

foundation for Cybersecurity companies to confidently

needs of the market and respond quickly to meet those needs,” she

move to Montgomery and know they will have always

said. In June, the first 15 Cyber Innovation Academy students finished

available, high-performance internet access.”

their first course, an eight-week CompTIA Security+ class. In July,

- MIKE MORDAS, MANAGING PARTNER AND

when Academy leaders went back to businesses and asked again

CHIEF RELATIONSHIP OFFICER, IPT ASSOCIATES

what they needed, they found that many didn’t want to wait eight weeks for employees to finish a course. “So now, we’re offering some four-week options,” she said.

coming available locally and helps businesses already here, hire here, The Academy is already seeing growth, and that’s good news, as

instead of bringing others in. Plus, when new businesses look to come

Stokes stressed. “It is a huge piece of the tech and cyber revolution

here or existing businesses get ready to grow here, we are a compo-

happening here,” she said. “It arms our workforce to get the jobs

nent they can look to for help in filling the jobs they need to fill.”

Integrated Computer Solutions staff (left to right): Thomas Brazil, Chief Digital Officer; Steve Goldsby, President & CEO; Chip Schuneman, Chief Operating Officer; Tyler Hedges, Chief Financial Officer

Air Force as well as many state

Maxwell-Gunter AFB.

“We are the prime contractor for a nearly $70 million contract in support of DISA,” Schuneman said.

IMAGE COURTESY OF INTEGRATED COMPUTER SOLUTIONS.

governments and commercial enterprises throughout the

ICS will continue to grow and

country. “We were doing cyber

progress alongside the growth

security before it was cool,”

and changes of technolo-

joked Chip Schuneman, ICS’

gy in general. “Technology

Chief Operating Officer.

has evolved immensely,” Schuneman said. “Everyone

Keeping data and communica-

is connected all the time. That

tions confidential and safe is

was not the case 20 years ago,

how the Defense Information

so that has moved us from a

Systems Agency (DISA), one

centralized to a de-central-

of the key components at

ized approach to serving our

IT Success Story

Gunter, came into being, and

customers’ tech platform.” But

ICS was “intimately involved”

in the end, traditional business

in its founding and remains

wisdom still applies, even

Montgomery-based Integrat-

the Chamber’s Small Busi-

involved. In fact, DISA is one

for cutting-edge companies.

ed Computer Solutions (ICS)

ness Incubator. In the last two

of ICS’ largest clients. “We

“The fundamental thing about

celebrated 20 years last March,

decades, ICS has experienced

are the prime contractor for a

ICS is that we are a services

and this veteran-owned small

tremendous growth, bringing

nearly $70 million contract in

company, so the quality of the

business is one of the city’s

its IT consulting, application

support of DISA,” Schuneman

services we provide are what

brightest IT sector success

development and cyber secu-

said. The company also serves

matter, regardless of technol-

stories, a truly pioneering

rity services to its many clients,

Montgomery’s two largest em-

ogy and the tools we use,”

company that launched out of

including both the DoD and the

ployers, state government and

Schuneman said.

17

MONTGOMERYCHAMBER.COM

W H AT T H E T E C H S C E N E M E A N S TO YO U

OT H E R WAYS A DVA N C E S I N T E C H H E R E C A N H E L P YO U :

Small Biz Benefits The Air Force’s Cyber College is bringing its

1

message and expertise to area businesses and

3

D OW N TOW N , F R E E W I - F I I S N O W AVA I L A B L E , T H A N K S TO T H E

residents. Yannakogeorgos and Mixon often give presentations at local social clubs and are men-

R I V E R F R O N T D E V E LO P M E N T

COSTS FOR

toring high school students at The Montgomery

INTERNET SERVICES ARE

Academy, Saint James School and Wetumpka

G O I N G D OW N .

High School through the Cyber-Patriot Program that tests the students in hacking competitions.

They have also partnered with the Chamber to

+

2

host a Cyber Opportunities Forum where they

F O U N DAT I O N ’ S PA R T N E R S H I P W I T H W I N D C R E E K M O N TG O M E R Y.

discussed topics like cyber security and how

Plus, businesses’ and the public’s

small- and medium-sized businesses in Montgomery can do more—and more lucrative— business with the government.

A S M O R E T E C H C O M PA N I E S

access to all kinds of information thanks

COME IN, THE DEMAND FOR

to improved “open data” will be faster

PRODUCTS AND EXPERTISE

and more accurate than ever before.

F R O M LO C A L S M A L L

THINK CONSTRUCTION PERMITS AND I N T E R AC T I V E C H A R T S .

B U S I N E S S E S TO S E R V E T H E M G O E S U P.

L A R G E S T I T E M P LOY E R IN OUR AREA: The Department of Defense

D llars and Sense H OW T E C H A D D S U P

5,000 Annual attendees at

Air Force Information Technology and Cyber Power Conference (AFITC) (the military’s largest IT conference)

$750 Million $5-7 Million Annual Economic impact of AFITC

19

1,825

Number of IT/cyber contract jobs supporting the IT missions at Gunter

MONTGOMERYCHAMBER.COM

Economic impact of IT/cyber jobs in the River Region associated with Gunter

Several State of Alabama entities have connected to the exchange and cut their spending by two-thirds, translating into nearly $14,000 a month saved.

S M A L L B U S I N E S S S O LU T I O N S :

IMAGE COURTESY OF RSA DATACENTER.

Safe

& Sound

With businesses’ increased reliance on

growing, but only those who truly have

technology, there are specific threats that

the needed expertise will continue

make IT security paramount. One major

to thrive. “The problem with properly

challenge is data loss. Nobody wants to

managing risk is that a vast array of tools

lose information, but for a small business,

and security layers are required to do the

a tech issue that destroys data can lead

job right,” he said. “Business communi-

to business interruption and revenue loss

ties have a real and urgent need for IT

that could prove catastrophic. Michael

service providers with the expertise to

Lange of ABS Technology, a local full-

secure systems and prevent data loss.”

range IT services company, offered this advice. “Small businesses need to have

SMALL BIZ—BIG TARGET

strong data backup procedures in place,”

Shaw Technology, a full-service man-

he said. “We strongly advocate for both

aged service provider with emphasis on

onsite and cloud-based backup process-

security, disaster recovery and long-term

es. Many customers we’ve worked with

infrastructure reliability, is currently the

learned too late that their backup was

largest privately owned IT firm in the

Information Transport Solutions is just

not working or was inadequate requiring

state. According to owner Brad Shaw, all

one example of a business that has

an attempt to recover critical business

businesses face tech challenges related

expanded here thanks to the MGMix

data. And it is important to have a plan

to security, but small businesses can be

and the RSA Datacenter. The full-ser-

in place so that if something happens to

at particular risk. “Most wouldn’t think

vice provider of technology solutions

the business’ physical building, the data

it, but small businesses are targeted by

is headquartered in Wetumpka and

is protected and recoverable enabling

hackers and ransomware more than any

opened an office in downtown Mont-

the business to resume operations in a

other businesses because the assump-

gomery last year, as president Quincy

reasonable time frame.”

tion is that they don’t have the correct

P OW E R F U L P R O O F

Minor explained. “We provide support

IT in place and for the most part, that is

for the MGMix, and that’s one of the

INCREASED THREATS

main reasons we opened our Montgom-

Jason Asbury, President of Montgom-

ery office,” he said. “All the connectivity

ery-based Warren Averett Technology

He stressed that this lack of prepared-

for the exchange goes through one

Group, pointed to how “security-cen-

ness is not due to incompetence. “Gen-

piece of equipment; we provide back-

tric” IT services for businesses have

erally, small businesses are formed by

end support for that equipment as a

become and outlined why. “Technology

entrepreneurs that specialize in a particu-

service to the City of Montgomery, one

has advanced so significantly with the

lar area. They are constantly making sure

of our clients. Equally as impressive

advent of virtualization and better public

to take care of their customers. But while

and important as the internet exchange

and private cloud offerings,” he said.

they’re handling all of that, the world

though is the RSA Datacenter. It is the

“Subsequently, more and more data is

continues to change and demands rise,”

first of its kind in the state, and that

being generated, and that has resulted in

he said. “The solution is having someone

is big deal for our area. Before it was

greater opportunities for the ‘bad guys’

take care of IT for you, so you can take

running, we had most of our equipment

to hack, steal and wreak havoc on oper-

care of your business. We secure the

in Atlanta, which was the closest. ITS

ations. Security and risk management are

network so they don’t have to worry with

was one of first to move into the new

at the forefront of concern for business

these things. It’s not like it used to be in

datacenter.”

leaders.”

the past where IT was a luxury. A strong

true,” he said.

IT group, these days, is the difference This is one reason companies like Warren Averett Technology Group are

20

MONTGOMERY BUSINESS JOURNAL

between thriving and struggling.”