Video: How LSU and TekStream Are Solving the Cybersecurity Talent Gap with Student-Run SOCs

Discover how LSU and TekStream are transforming cybersecurity education with a scalable, student-run SOC model that’s closing the talent gap across higher ed.

Written By: Katie Bavoso
Jul 31, 2025
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In this episode of Channel Insider: Partner POV, host Katie Bavoso sits down with Craig Woolley, CIO of Louisiana State University (LSU), and Rob Jansen, CEO of TekStream Solutions, to explore how a bold partnership between higher education and private industry is closing the cybersecurity talent gap.

Together, they’ve launched a student-run Security Operations Center (SOC) that gives students real-world cybersecurity experience while keeping LSU secure 24/7 on a responsible budget. Learn how the initiative is expanding nationwide, offering a scalable, public-private blueprint for workforce development in cybersecurity.

📌 Topics Covered & Time Stamps:

00:00 – Introduction to LSU x TekStream Solutions partnership 

01:12 – Why LSU wanted a student-run SOC 

03:23 – How TekStream helped build a sustainable hybrid model 

04:49 – Why TekStream embraced a public-private partnership 

06:10 – Mentorship, hiring pipeline, and career development 

08:30 – Cybersecurity threat landscape for universities 

10:10 – Real-life threat detection success story 

14:08 – Open to all majors: critical thinking over technical skills 

18:44 – How students apply and onboard into the SoC 

22:24 – The franchise model for universities nationwide 

26:04 – Splunk and AWS’s role in supporting the program 

29:01 – Advice for other schools that want to replicate this model 

30:22 – TekStream’s customer verticals and mission 

33:03 – How to get in touch with TekStream and LSU to learn more

thumbnail Katie Bavoso

Katie Bavoso is a 2017 Regional New England Emmy-nominated broadcaster with over a decade of professional content creation, production, hosting, and interviewing experience. Starting her career off in TV news, she pivoted to the IT channel to help connect vendors, solutions and services providers, and IT buyers through exciting video content and storytelling. Katie is now the host of Channel Insider: Partner POV, a video and podcast series shining a light on the most innovative solution providers of the IT channel.

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