Cisco CIAG Supports University Education

As the world's critical infrastructures migrate their core business operations onto information networks and the Internet, they become more efficient and effective - but also potentially more vulnerable. In this constantly evolving climate, their future security depends on having a work force with an expert level of knowledge and skills in information assurance (IA).

The IA experts of tomorrow can be found today at top universities around the United States and the world, learning their craft with the help of the most advanced technology and curricula available. One important source of support for these education programs is the Critical Infrastructure Assurance Group (CIAG) at Cisco Systems.

"Many in government and business are trying to improve security in the short term, but we wanted to carve out the capability to influence it for the long term," explains Ken Watson, who created and manages CIAG. "So the programs we've chosen to develop - of which education is one - have the longest reach, the greatest influence over time."

Colleges and universities represent a particularly important vehicle for developing future leaders and contributors in IA, but they need help from industry.

"We've never needed close collaboration with industry as much as we do now," points out Allan Berg, director of Information Assurance and Infrastructure Protection Programs at Towson University in Maryland.

CIAG works to increase the expert security work force by helping Cisco, government, academia and industry improve IA education. In particular, the group fosters strategic relationships with National Security Agency/Department of Homeland Security-designated Centers of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance Education (CAE/IAE) as well as other prominent institutions to support development of their learning infrastructures.

"When we started building our IA lab about three years ago, it was a bare-bones facility. Since then, it has gone through several iterations based on these Cisco donations," says Berg. "The level of complexity now versus then is like night and day."

To help share its newly acquired expertise in information security with others, the university established MAISA - the Maryland Alliance for Information Security and Assurance. Through that group, ten regional schools (four universities and six community colleges) are also able to improve their IA programs.

Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech; a CAE/IAE since 2001) has benefited in numerous ways from its relationship with CIAG, including more than $100,000 in equipment donations, Cisco "Boot camp," guest lecturers and student scholarships and internships.