The city of San Antonio in partnership with CPS Energy and Port San Antonio launched the Alamo Regional Security Operations Center Friday morning — a 20,000-square-foot secure facility designed to allow municipal and CPS security to work together to prevent cyberattacks.
The facility on Port San Antonio's technology innovation campus is situated about 10 minutes southwest of downtown, next to private-sector and Department of Defense cybersecurity operations. Smaller local governments will also be able to tap into ARSOC's resource- and information-sharing capabilities — and the space even offers dormitory rooms to cybersecurity employees required to remain on site during an emergency.
The Port campus is already home to other cybersecurity hubs, like the 273rd Cyberspace Operations Squadron — part of the Texas Air National Guard, which supports the 16th Air Force, or Air Force Cyber, and the state of Texas against cyberattacks on local governments.
The ARSOC is not the only cyberfocused growth occurring at Port San Antonio. In the spring of 2022, construction is scheduled to wrap up on the Tech Port Center and Arena, a 130,000-square-foot facility with a 3,200-seat arena and conference venue and industry showroom. It will offer spaces where different industries can meet to collaborate on cybersecurity and other projects.
The ARSOC will not only offer its partners with a locale to host its trainings and public demonstrations, but will showcase new approaches and best practices in the industry, as well as grow educational initiatives — including new youth STEM programs and advanced professional training for the U.S. Air Force and others.
The city of San Antonio approved $2.5 million in funding for the ARSOC's construction in 2020 and $1.5 million from CPS Energy. The Port will be providing the facility at no cost for a term of 15 years, at a value of approximately $3 million.
Port San Antonio Board Chair Chris Alderete noted that the Port is committed to providing the free space to ARSOC partners for 15 years but has also invested half a million dollars a year to support STEM programming at the San Antonio Museum of Science and Technology.
"Our $60-million investment in the upcoming innovation center will take our efforts to a whole new level," he said.
City Manager Erik Walsh said there has never been a more vital time for the construction of a center like the ARSOC.
“With the ongoing and growing attempts by hostile domestic and foreign actors who seek to disrupt government and commercial digital assets, it is imperative that we are ever-vigilant and stay many steps ahead," he said.
