Issue link: https://nebusinessmedia.uberflip.com/i/974472
www.HartfordBusiness.com • April 30, 2018 • Hartford Business Journal 11 didn't realize it was going to look or feel like that.' " Gone, to a significant degree, are the old, two-dimensional blueprints. The new software allows clients to play a role mapping out the entire project. Besides lighting, color and configuration, clients can strip a building down to mechanical or plumbing sys- tems to see how the new facility will function. Matthew Tin- der, spokesman for the Ameri- can Institute of Architects in Washington, D.C., called virtual real- ity an enhancement that is being used nationally with increasing frequency. MBH still needs, however, to produce the actual 2-D construction documents and relay the details to the contractor in order for the building and spaces within to be constructed, according to senior associate Carmelo Ferla. Virtual tour MBH staffers recently provided a virtual tour of an old factory building be- ing transformed into a brightly lit space for a high-tech firm. A large skylight overlooks recreational areas big enough for a basketball court with green- ery, lounge chairs and tables. Large, brightly colored shipping contain- ers with windows have been trans- formed to func- tion as individual offices. The offices are spaced around various work, leisure and cafeteria areas. "When we make changes within our model we can see the changes be instantly updated within our virtual environment," said Nick Alter, build- ing information modeling manager for MBH, who creates and maintains the computer models. The front-line architects seem to be having a good time in the process. "For a design firm, [3-D] renderings can be an even cooler tool than pro- fessionally taken photographs, since the latter only become available once construction is complete," said Agustina Lasala-Ruffo, also a senior associate for MBH Archi- tecture. "Render- ings become an invaluable tool for those projects that extend for various months, or even years." Lasala-Ruffo said the 3-D modeling software provides "a real-time visual of the positioning of the sun upon the de- signed exterior and/or interior environ- ment, allowing further understanding of daylighting and shadow casting effects." John Tindall-Gibson, a former school superintendent, now works as a "learn- ing environment planner" for archi- tects Drummey Rosanne Anderson of South Windsor. Tindall-Gibson is keen on how VR is changing the industry. "Years ago, when I taught a commu- nity college course in 'blueprint read- ing,' the biggest challenge was teaching adults how to visualize in three dimen- sions the lines, text and symbols that appeared two-dimensionally on paper," Tindall- Gibson said. "It was a difficult thing for many people to do. It is a learned skill that improves with years of experi- ence. Virtual real- ity programs in architecture take that problem away." To take a virtual tour of an office building designed by MBH Architecture go to HartfordBusiness.com. FOCUS At the most senior level and primar- ily for larger companies, chief security officer skills require a holistic view of the cybersecurity landscape, encom- passing not only the technology, but also the people, process and risk man- agement elements. Q. What is the industry demand ex- pected to be like in five years? A. Looking ahead over the next five years, cybersecurity is projected to be one of the fastest-growing categories among all IT positions. In terms of the outlook for skills, artificial intelligence will undoubtedly be used by hackers in ways that are difficult to anticipate (be- yond it will be a lot worse than what we see today), which means security profes- sionals will also need to be adept at us- ing advanced tools, which may include artificial intelligence components. Q. What skill sets or backgrounds are employers looking for in job candi- dates for cybersecurity roles? A Employers tend to seek security professionals with a well-rounded foundation of IT skills, coupled with security-specific training, certification and experience. Common feeder roles or on-ramps for a cybersecurity career include IT support specialist, net- work engineer or systems engineer. Research by CompTIA also confirms the importance of soft skills, such as communications, collaboration and creative problem solving. Q. Are colleges and other education institutions doing enough to build a cybersecurity workforce pipeline? A. Colleges and education institutions face a number of chal- lenges when it comes to develop- ing tomorrow's cyber workforce. First, technol- ogy frequently moves faster than colleges can build curriculums and find instructors equipped to teach cutting-edge material (especially now when experienced cyber professionals command top dollar). Secondly, many colleges and educa- tion institutions are not as in tune as they could be in mapping curriculums to employer needs. Granted, this can be a tricky situation for colleges and education institutions that don't want to align too closely to a single employ- er or a single technology due to the risk of the market changing. The types of best practices that help ensure colleges and education institu- tions are best preparing students for a career in cybersecurity include: Using a council or informal sounding board of local businesses to get regular input on employer needs; incorporating industry- recognized credentials into programs, so students graduate with a degree and a certification to further validate their knowledge and skill in specific areas of security; and leveraging real-world simulations or apprenticeship-like ar- rangements with employers. Q. Are companies more likely to hire a cybersecurity employee or outsource those needs? A. It varies by company, but gener- ally speaking, many employ a hybrid approach relying on the combined expertise of internal staff and external resources. Certain aspects of security do require very specialized knowledge, such as the forensics and investiga- tion solutions needed after a breach occurs. For smaller firms, managed IT services provides an option to offload much of the heavy lifting of managing networks, devices and security. Top 10 employers for cybersecurity job postings in CT (2017) 1. Accenture 2. Deloitte 3. Aetna Inc. 4. Travelers 5. United Technologies Corp. 6. Cigna Corp. 7. UnitedHealth Group 8. General Dynamics 9. Webster Bank 10. Lockheed Martin Corp. This is a before-and-after picture of a proposed corporate office renovation. The 3-D model (right) shows shipping containers that will be turned into new offices. Agustina Lasala- Ruffo, Senior Associate, MBH Architecture John Tindall- Gibson, Learning Environment Planner, Drummey Rosanne Anderson Carmelo Ferla, Senior Associate, MBH Architecture Nick Michnevitz III, Principal, MBH Architecture