A New Degree Of SecurityA New Degree Of Security

The University of Texas at Dallas has joined forces with businesses and law-enforcement officials to create a center for cybercrime education and research.

The Digital Forensics and Security Institute includes the collaborative efforts of the Greater Dallas Crime Commission, the National White Collar Crime Center, and the Texas Justice Department. The institute will be part of the university's Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science and will offer a cybersecurity degree program that includes classes in digital forensics encryption and wireless security.

In addition, shorter courses will be offered so business managers and law-enforcement officers can learn about topics such as basic computer architecture, secure access to databases, and recovering information from computers without compromising evidence. As cybercrime becomes increasingly pervasive, businesses and law-enforcement are looking for ways to enhance high-tech job skills, says Andrew Blanchard, Jonsson School senior associate dean. "Law enforcement in particular is stretched really thin, so getting quick, effective training is very important to them."

The institute will draw on the knowledge and experiences of faculty, corporate security workers, law enforcement, and encryption experts for research that helps protect systems and preserve digital evidence. And by partnering with law enforcement and businesses, the university hopes to make more widely available any security or forensic products it may develop internally.