News Release

Carnegie Mellon Research Institute establishes CyberSecurity Center for business, commerce

Peer-Reviewed Publication

Carnegie Mellon University

PITTSBURGH--Carnegie Mellon Research Institute has established the CyberSecurity Center to deliver computer security solutions to business, government and industry.

The CyberSecurity Center, also called CyberSec™, takes a proactive approach by focusing on helping clients make operational improvements before a breach in network security occurs. Roy Thetford, who is certified by the International Information Systems Security Certification Consortium (ISC)2, is the center director.

Thetford said CyberSec also is able to assess and repair security breaches in networks that deliver information for a variety of customers. Training and awareness seminars, information security audits, technical assistance on operational implementations, disaster recovery and business continuity, and research and development are among the services offered by CyberSec.

CyberSec has been developing its client base over the past year and Thetford said it has experienced dramatic growth over the past six months.

"With computer security receiving increased media attention, organizations are now more apt to think about security as an investment as opposed to a cost," Thetford said.

CyberSec's customer list is representative of many industries, including financial services businesses, state governments, government agencies and telecommunications companies.

"By establishing an independent, applied research group we are able to push the envelope into the commercial realm and also focus on the proactive aspects of computer network security for our clients," Thetford said. "Our goal is to help customers make operational improvements before a breach occurs."

CyberSec is leveraging the experience of the Carnegie Mellon Software Engineering Institute's Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT) Coordination Center. It is operated by the university's applied research division, the Carnegie Mellon Research Institute.

Although there are a handful of commercially viable cybersecurity ventures, CyberSec is the only independent consulting group administered by a university. The relationship enables CyberSec not only to respond to client needs, but also to develop advanced information system security tools through research and development activities.

Thetford said the CyberSecurity Center is focusing on the development of agent-based intrusion protection systems, malicious code protection systems and Internet security tools. The center is also exploring the development of tools for companies that want to engage in electronic, or e-commerce.

CyberSec's staff includes professionals who are experts in network security or who have strong computer science and programming backgrounds.

More information about the center can be found at www.cmu.edu/cybersec

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