WNKY-TV in Bowling Green reports on the opening of a new cyber defense lab at Western Kentucky University. The new project was funded with the support of Senator Mitch McConnell.

Western Kentucky University’s contribution to the war in cyberspace was officially opened today by U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell.
           
Sen. McConnell launched a simulated attack on a computer network, which was quickly detected and exposed.
           
The Network Attack Characterization Modeling and Simulation Testbed, or NACMAST, is a collaborative effort between WKU, Mississippi State University, University of Arizona and EDAptive Computing Inc. sponsored by the Army Research Lab, Center for Intrusion Monitoring and Protection. The prime contractor is Electronic Warfare Associates Government Systems Inc.
           
NACMAST is funded by $2.8 million in defense appropriations secured by Sen. McConnell. The testbed is located in a 1,200 square foot Cyber Defense Lab built by WKU at the Innovation and Commercialization Center and funded by a $269,000 contract with EWA.

The Bowling Green Daily News also reports on Sen. McConnell's support for the project in an editorial printed today.

U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., who helped secure $2.9 million in defense appropriations over two years to get the program up and running, was on hand at the university to see exactly how it works.

McConnell, who should be commended for securing the funds for the labs, pretended to be a hacker trying to get into the files - his effort was detected within two seconds.

Watch a report from WBKO-TV about the new center below, or on their site here.