Thu, 01/11/2024 – 12:11 PM | Posted by: Van Arnold
On average, hackers in the United States attempt 26,000 cyberattacks per day, or one every three seconds.
This statistic alone (from Forbes) should be a wake-up call for every city, business, and private citizen in this country and beyond. At the University of Southern Mississippi (USM), the next generation of cybersecurity professionals receive extensive instruction and hands-on training to combat ongoing threats.
Just last month, USM earned the honor of being a Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense (CAE-CD) through a program established by the National Security Agency and the Department of Homeland Security. In the School of Computer Science and Computer Engineering (CSCE), the faculty consists of: We are comprised of researchers nationally known for their innovative research and professionals with experience working in real-world industrial, military, and government sectors.
According to Cybersecurity Ventures, the annual cost of global cybercrime is expected to reach $9.5 trillion in 2024. Add to this the increasing cost of losses from cybercrime, which is expected to reach $10.5 trillion by 2025.
Do the majority of Americans take cybersecurity seriously enough? CSCE Assistant Professor Dr. Aleyse McGowan believes the answer is multi-layered.
“While many of us are familiar with basic concepts such as the need to use strong passwords and the risk of phishing emails, there are more advanced threats and Very few people are knowledgeable about best practices,” McGowan said. “Despite increased awareness, a large portion of the American public and businesses may still not take cybersecurity as seriously as they should.”
According to an IBM report, the average cost of a data breach last year was $4.35 million, the highest average in history, while the average cost of a ransomware attack was $4.54 million. For 12th For the year in a row, the United States was the country with the highest data breach costs, at $5.09 million more than the global average.
Cyberattacks can cause unparalleled damage to numerous high-level security interests. One example is vulnerabilities in financial markets.
“This is a very real possibility,” McGowan said. “The financial sector relies heavily on digital technology and interconnected systems, which makes it vulnerable to advanced cyber threats. A well-executed cyber attack can disrupt trading platforms and compromise market data. may be manipulated and may even cause a loss of investor confidence and lead to market instability.”
Another major area of concern is national security. McGowan said attackers are targeting critical infrastructure such as power grids, water supplies and communications networks.
“These attacks have increased awareness and efforts to strengthen cybersecurity measures in these critical areas,” she said. “An attack on these systems can have far-reaching impacts, including loss of critical services, economic disruption, and, in extreme cases, loss of life.”
McGowan added that other potential dangers include disruption to the healthcare system and even supply chain attacks.
USM offers computer science, information technology, computer engineering, and cyber securityas well as minors and certification programs in software engineering, cybersecurity, and computer networking.
“Mississippi has a wealth of talent to help fill the gap in cybersecurity job openings across the nation,” said CSCE Director Dr. Sara Lee. “We are excited to offer a variety of academic programs that allow students to pursue jobs that offer competitive pay and opportunities to make a positive impact on society.”
Two programs are offered entirely online: the Bachelor of Science in Applied Computer Science and the Bachelor of Applied Science in Cybersecurity. The BAS Cybersecurity degree program started in his fall 2023. Currently, 122 students are enrolled.
Ann Acceleration from Bachelor of Science to Master of Science Pathways are also available, allowing students to earn six hours of graduate credit before earning a Bachelor of Science degree. Additionally, the university offers a Master of Science in Computer Science and a PhD in Computational Science.
USM Cyber Security Center Establishment of Cyber Innovation Research Institute An emerging network security and privacy laboratory that provides collaborative interdisciplinary research opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students.
USM prepares students to enter the cybersecurity field through a comprehensive, industry-relevant, hands-on curriculum. This preparation includes several important components. These include:
- Students are taught how to use real-world tools that are staples of the cybersecurity industry. This includes Splunk, which is used to monitor, search, analyze, and visualize machine-generated big data, and his network protocol analyzer, which allows students to see what’s happening on their networks at a microscopic level. Includes software such as Wireshark.
- Students often participate in project-based learning, working on real or simulated cybersecurity projects. This approach helps students understand the complexities and nuances of working in cybersecurity, including strategy development, implementation, and related ethical considerations.
- The curriculum is designed to align with industry certifications and standards such as CompTIA Security+. This alignment ensures that the education students receive is relevant and up-to-date with current industry practices.
McGowan emphasizes that as part of the curriculum, it incorporates extensive hands-on activities in which students actively engage in tasks such as analyzing logs, detecting network intrusions, and responding to simulated cybersecurity incidents. .
“These activities provide students with hands-on experience that closely reflects real-world scenarios, thereby enhancing their preparation for career challenges,” she said.
As governments, businesses, and the public take steps to thwart cyberattacks, cunning hackers continue to find ways to circumvent safeguards. Staying one step ahead of them is an important and never-ending challenge.
“The better we get, the better they get,” McGowan said. “Overall continuing education and training is paramount. This includes both the general public and cybersecurity professionals. Build a culture of cybersecurity awareness that makes best practices a secondary objective. This helps us proactively address the many vulnerabilities that hackers can exploit.”
McGowan points out that building strong partnerships with industry and government agencies allows for the sharing of knowledge, resources and best practices. Such collaborations provide insight into real-world challenges and emerging threats, allowing agencies to proactively adapt their strategies.
Last, but certainly not least, she emphasizes the importance of research and innovation to stem the tide of cyberattacks.
“Committing to cutting-edge research to develop new security methodologies, tools and technologies is key to keeping us ahead of the curve,” said McGowan. “This includes going beyond responding to existing threats to predicting future trends in cyberattacks and preparing defenses accordingly.”
For more information about USM’s School of Computing Science and Computer Engineering, call 601.266.4949.