Security

UC Irvine Group Tackles Cybersecurity Challenges

• By Sri Ravipati
• 07/17/17

A University of California, Irvine (UCI) group of faculty members and private sector cybersecurity experts has decided to take on cyber threats by applying a multidisciplinary approach that involves technology, law and policy.

The UCI Cybersecurity Policy & Research Institute (CPRI) is comprised of “academic, critical infrastructure businesses, law enforcement and other government agencies, and privacy and civil liberties communities,” according to a UCI statement. Under the guidance of deans from six UCI schools — engineering, information and computer sciences, law, physical sciences, social sciences and social ecology — the CPRI experts plan to conduct “research on cyberattack attribution and supply chain security, the development of law enforcement training, the launch of a cyber victims defence clinic and a curriculum development effort for high school students,” the statement said.

The CPRI has several ongoing initiatives. The Supply-Chain Security Research Project, for instance, will explore the use of blockchain to address cyber breaches that occur from supply-chain-based risks. These include “counterfeit, malware-embedded or otherwise compromised hardware and software, whether used directly by a purchaser or embedded in other devices.”

Another project, Curriculum Development to Boost Future Cyber Experts, is working with experts from the Anaheim Union High School District, Santa Ana Unified School District, Cypress College and others to create cybersecurity curricula for high school students. The goal is to inspire students to pursue majors that lead to cybersecurity careers.

To learn about other cybersecurity initiatives, visit the CPRI site.