URI_Research_Magazine_2012-2013_Melissa-McCarthy

Victor Fay-Wolfe, Ph.D., Professor and Lisa DiPippo, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Computer Science and Statistics

over $10 million in federal research grants, this is just the beginning for URI’s program. As the world’s business continues to move on-line, and computer hackers increasingly pose a threat to the country’s economic and national security, the field of information security is certain to grow and increase the economic development potential for Rhode Island. The economic benefits for the state include being able to offer large companies a trained workforce in cyber security, a significant draw when a company is considering a move to Rhode Island. In addition, at least two small companies have been formed in Rhode Island using software developed and licensed by URI. “For a small state we have a lot of cyber security capability,” said Fay- Wolfe. For the past two years, he has served on a consortiumwith representatives of local industry, government and academic institutions whose goal is to take the state’s cyber capability and translate it into economic growth and jobs. Even though the cyber security minor at URI is relatively new, as are the post-graduate certificate programs, the private sector has already come knocking. “A lot of companies have already told us they want interns,” DiPippo said. Why wouldn’t they? Computer hacking and other cyber crimes are estimated to cost U.S. businesses billions of dollars each year. Finding the perpetrators of these attacks is the function of digital forensics, while URI’s cyber security program focuses on preventing the attacks from happening in the first place. Currently, with $500,000 in NSF funding, Fay-Wolfe and DiPippo are developing a computer platform that will enable high school teachers and

other instructors to create cyber challenges for students. The educators will be able to use the platform for free. One goal of the research project, according to Fay-Wolfe, is to entice more high school students into the fields of cyber security and digital forensics by showing them how exciting it can be. The URI researchers have also developed an introductory course in cyber security which they plan to make available to Rhode Island high school students in the fall of 2014. The materials, which will include video lectures by URI professors, will be provided free of charge and for a small fee, students will be able to earn URI college credit. When students realize they can help solve crimes and defend their country with technology, “their faces light up,” Fay-Wolfe said. Fay-Wolfe and DiPippo’s big ideas are helping Rhode Islanders fill a critical gap in the workforce while defending the country against domestic and international threats in today’s cyber world. The economic benefits for the state include being able to offer large companies a trained workforce in cyber security, a significant draw when a company is considering a move to Rhode Island.

URI Research: Impacting Rhode Island Economic Development 7