ONLY ON NEWSCHANNEL 8

GAITHERSBURG, Md. - Gaithersburg is now at the center of the fight to combat cyber threats. The federal government's largest provider of information technology services launched a new cyber security center in Montgomery County (web | news) Thursday.

The revolutionary facility will combat some of the most technologically advanced threats facing the nation.

Over the years, the medium for international warfare has shifted from canons to computers. And as enemies launch more attacks on the nation's information systems, the global security company Lockheed Martin has stepped up to the plate.

Gaithersburg resident Shateik Jones has had his personal online accounts hacked into multiple times. He's also concerned about the GPS function on his phone.

"People don't realize how advanced the world is becoming," he said. "My phone has [the] capability to tell people exactly where I am."

Concerns like Jones' have inspired the creation of a revolutionary information security center based in Gaithersburg. Governor Martin O'Malley, D-Md., says the facility couldn't come soon enough for the state and the country.

"The cyber security threat is a real threat and it's here and it's now," he said.

Lockheed Martin unveiled its multi-million dollar NexGen Cyber center, a 25,000 square-foot bulwark against some of the most sophisticated assaults on the nation's secrets.

"The computing capability alone will knock your eyes out," said Charlie Croon, vice president of Lockheed Martin Cyber Security Solutions.

In addition to securing valuable information, Lockheed Martin provides almost 9,000 jobs to the Maryland community. "It's huge for our economy -- tremendous job generator," O'Malley said.

In the midst of a struggling economy, Maryland's computer system design sector grew 6.6 percent -- more than any other state in the country. O'Malley believes Maryland is poised to become the national epicenter of cyber security.

"We have more Ph.Ds per capita than any other state in the nation," he said.

NexGen researchers will work predominately for the Department of Defense (web) and help is needed. In 2007, the department was robbed of an amount of information equivalent to the entire Library of Congress.

 Email To Friend