AKRON, Ohio — It looks like your typical college classroom.

But behind those doors is the University of Akron's newest cybersecurity testbed.

• It's the only public testbed in the state
• IT professionals can develop, research and test their company’s networks to protect them from potential cyber attacks
• It will be particularly helpful in protecting older, more vulnerable systems from viruses, malware and hackers

"I don't think we have anything like this testbed in the area, we are probably the first," said Stanley Smith, associate professor, University of Akron.

It's the only public testbed in the state — allowing companies to go there to train and update their skills needed to monitor and manage cyber threats.

Here, IT professionals can develop, research and test their company’s networks to protect them from any potential cyber attacks.

"It's very important to have protections in place because systems, operating technology and the information technology is all vulnerable to these type of potential attacks," said Smith.

Stanley Smith, a professor at the testbed, will use his 30-year background in law enforcement to educate professionals and students at the university.

"I investigated computer crime, early on, digital crime, computer crime was pretty prevalent in law enforcement and that's where I got my start, I had a background in technology, specifically computers, I built computers, so I had a good understanding of how they operate," Smith said.

Smith says this testbed will protect older, more vulnerable systems from viruses, malware and hackers.

The testbed is crucial, as cybersecurity experts prepare for more sophisticated attacks in 2020 than ever before.

"There is always some type of attacks or potential of an attack and because we have this environment, the folks in manufacturing and that area have this facility available to test those needs," said Smith.