The cybersecurity forum “Securing Our Region” was hosted by the IUP
Office of Extended Studies, S&T Bank, and Infragard on July 28, 2016. It was attended by 175 participants, and registrants hailed from more than 100 organizations across western Pennsylvania.
David Hickman, U.S. attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania, gave the keynote address, “The New Normal: Going Beyond Borders to Confront the Cyber Threat,” a dramatic account of how cyber crime is rapidly evolving, developing ever new methods, and targeting the most lucrative
victims, such as those with intellectual property. In response, government agencies and other organizations have had to adapt, modifying their investigatory strategies and legal processes. These new approaches have brought progress in identifying and indicting suspects. Hickman appealed for cooperation in
investigations—companies’ information is critical to pursuing the criminals and is kept strictly confidential.
Speakers Jonathan Roumfort (IUP), Tiffany McLee (National Cyber-Forensics Training Alliance), and Michelle Pirtle (FBI) addressed social engineering (taking advantage of human behavior to conduct cyber theft), business e-mail compromise, and ransomware, respectively. A panel of experts from IUP, S&T, Giant
Eagle, BP, UPMC, and the National Center for Defense Manufacturing and Machining (NCDMM) then answered questions from the audience.
In addition to our co-hosts, 14 other sponsors helped to support this critical event: Cadre Information Security, Connectivity Communications, Dell, UPMC, ISM, Comcast, Wombat, E+, Indiana County Chamber of Commerce, World Education.net, Indiana First Bank, the National Center for Defense Manufacturing and Machining, First
Commonwealth Bank, and Indiana Regional Medical Center.
IUP programs related to cyber security include a BS in Computer Science/Information Assurance Track and a minor in Information Assurance. Students taking specific
information assurance courses may receive CNSS certificates.
Scholarships are available to qualified students.
IUP also partners with
World Education to offer more than 25 noncredit courses in cybersecurity at a variety of price levels.