Utica College, Center for Internet Security Cyber Summit Shows Need for Training, Awareness, Collaboration

Cybersecurity Experts Share Thoughts on Growing Threats, Solutions

UTICA, N.Y., June 3, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A Cyber Summit presented by Utica College and the Center for Internet Security (CIS) stressed a growing need for law enforcement to be savvy when it comes to growing cyber threats on regional, national and global security.

"Understand that you are a target for the hacking community," said Patrick Gray, senior security strategist for Cisco Systems. "You're on the Internet; you can be a victim. We need to be aware of what is going on in the world and what is driving the motivated people to do business against our best interests."

An internationally recognized expert, Gray was the keynote speaker at "Best Defense: Joining Forces Against Emerging Cyber Threats." Prior to his current position at Cisco, Gray was the director of X-Force Operations in the office of the Chief Technology Officer at Internet Security Systems, Inc. where he created the X-Force Internet Threat Intelligence Center and then became director of the Penetration Testing and Emergency Response Teams. Prior to this, Gray served 20 years as a special agent for the FBI.

The summit focused on the current landscape of cyber threats and highlighted private and public education partnerships that contribute to efforts to combat cybercrime and the threat of cyber attack.

"Addressing the tremendous cyber security challenges we face requires partnerships; no single entity can do it alone," said William F. Pelgrin, president and CEO of CIS. "We were pleased to join with Utica College for today's event, which put an important spotlight on the issues and highlighted great partnerships in place among government, academia, law enforcement and industry."

RoAnn Destito, commissioner of the New York State Office of General Services, gave opening remarks. Thomas Smith, directory of cybersecurity of the New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services, also spoke.

Several leading thought experts on cybercrime participated in a panel that discussed America's preparedness in cyber defense.

Members of the panel were: Smith; Kristin Royster, director of CIP-Cyber Program of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security; Ronald E. Plesco, Jr., CEO of National Cyber-Forensics and Training Alliance; John Bay, vice president and chief scientist of Assured Information Security, Inc.; Richard J. Licht, assistant special agent in charge of the FBI; and Kamal Jabbour, senior scientist for information assurance of the Air Force Research Laboratory.

A second panel discussed how four area colleges are preparing students. Todd S. Hutton, president, Utica College; Randall J. Van Wagoner, president, Mohawk Valley Community College; Michael McCaskey, vice president of academic affairs, Herkimer County Community College; and Bjong Wolf Yeigh, president of SUNYIT, discussed how their schools are fortifying students today looking to fight cybercrime on different levels.

Yesterday, New York Senator Charles Schumer urged the FBI to utilize Utica College's Computer Forensics Research and Development Center (CFRDC) to train its law enforcement professionals.

"I strongly encourage the FBI to consider this state-of-the-art center as a training location to make sure their agents have the skills they need to fight back against cybercrime. It would be good for Utica, good for the FBI, and be a huge boost to our national security," Schumer said.

About Utica College – Utica College, founded in 1946, is a comprehensive private institution offering bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees. The College, located in upstate central New York, approximately 90 miles west of Albany and 50 miles east of Syracuse, currently enrolls over 3,500 students in 37 undergraduate majors, 27 minors, 22 master’s and two doctoral degree programs.

Contact: Christine Leogrande, Director of Media Relations, (315) 223-2519 [email protected]
Katie Gleitsmann '12, PR Intern

SOURCE Utica College