PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas (October 27, 2020) – In today’s digital age, protecting the security of private data is an ongoing challenge. While there are cybersecurity experts and academic disciplines dedicated to mitigating the risks, the increasing use of internet technologies to manage both business and personal data processes presents constant hazards.

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In today’s society, everyone benefits from having knowledge and abilities to safeguard data. Thatā€™s where a team from Prairie View A&M University (PVAMU) comes into play with a $300,000 grant from the National Security Agency (NSA). Louis Ngamassi, Ph.D., an associate professor in PVAMUā€™s College of Business, will work with Engineering Professor Annamalai Annamalai, Ph.D., and Mohamed Chouikh, chief scientist and executive director of PVAMUā€™s SECURE (Systems to Enhance Cybersecurity for Universal Research Environment)Ā Center of Excellence, to provide an opportunity for students across all academic disciplines to learn about the ever-expanding area of cybersecurity.

“This project will bring several benefits to the university community and PVAMU students in particular,” said Ngamassi, who is serving as the principal investigator on the two-year-long project. He and his co-principal investigators plan to expand and strengthen PVAMUā€™s newly launched Emergency Management and Crisis Informatics minor program, jointly developed by the College of Business and the College of Juvenile Justice, with the new grant.

Chouikha added, “We plan to build a cybersecurity well-trained workforce across the university that is capable of implementing cutting-edge cybersecurity advancements in practice, knowledge, and policy.”

The timing of the NSA project is right on time. In the last several years, numerous newsworthy cyber-attacks in the corporate realm have impacted both business and individual data security. In 2017, cybercriminals accessed the data of approximately 145.5 million U.S. Equifax consumers. A 2014 breach at JP Morgan Chase compromised the data of over 80 million client accounts. In the same year, investigators estimate that at least 56 million customers had credit and debit card information was stolen when cybercriminals installed malware on the home improvement store Home Depot’s network. The company lost a minimum of $62 million financially, in addition to the loss of confidence from its customers.

With this project’s implementation, students will have access to research software tools, workshops, and nationwide cybersecurity challenges. Ngamassi, Annamalai, and Chouikha will also pull on their extensive research in informatics, cybersecurity, and the Internet of Things(IoT) for new courses at PVAMU.

“By offering these courses to non-STEM students, we provide an interdisciplinary learning experience that will prepare our students to anticipate human behaviors and understand computer vulnerabilities,ā€ shared Vice President for Research & Innovation Magesh Rajan, Ph.D., in support of the initiative. ā€œThere is an evident need for cybersecurity skills in the workforce across various disciplines that has become more apparent as the current pandemic has moved the world to virtual platforms in every life. At PVAMU, research scholars are leading the way in cybersecurity in both research and education.”

To date, there are only seven Historically Black Colleges and Universities with the NSA National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense designation.

ā€œThis is a label, or standard, on a program approved and jointly sponsored by the National Security Agency and the Department of Homeland Security,ā€ said Ngamassi. ā€œThe goal of such program is to reduce vulnerability in our national information infrastructure by promoting higher education and research in cyber defense and producing professionals with cyber defense expertise. It is very significant because, with that designation, PVAMU will be eligible for more funding opportunities. With this new grant from the National Security Agency, we have made a significant step toward attaining that distinction.ā€

Louis Ngamassi, Ph.D.

Louis Ngamassi, Ph.D.

Dean of the College of Business Munir Quddus, Ph.D., confirmed his support of the project by stating, “I am pleased that Dr. Ngamassi will be leading this multi-disciplinary effort in improving the competencies of our students in the fast-growing area of cybersecurity. I am a great proponent that coding and cybersecurity skills should not be confined to students in the computer science department; instead, it should be made available to students from all majors.ā€

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By Karen B. Cotton