Jan. 1, 1983, is the birthday of the internet, and since this day, it has become increasingly accessible, now used in everyday life around the globe. The internet continues to grow and enhance personal, social and business life for millions of people. But there are security issues with so much data moving around the digital space.
Javed Khan, Ph.D., professor and chair of the Department of Computer Science at Kent State University, shares the importance of cybersecurity in the evolving technological plane.
Since the internet and artificial intelligence are so widely used in spaces like hospitals, banks and other businesses, Khan said cybersecurity is critical to ensure the safe use of technology and data.
“Computing was there to make everyone's life faster, and individuals are using it for their day-to-day livelihood,” Khan said. “Previously, it was an elite thing, but now, this is the main thing. Security is a major issue when life depends on it.”
Khan noted that at the start of the 2010s, Kent State University began to make the computer science program more structured; thus, the cybersecurity concentration was born.
The cybersecurity concentration equips students with skill sets in security through several aspects of computer programming.
“They learn how to do secure programming, how a computer system works, how an operating system works, how your web browser works, how the bits and bytes travel there, how it can be attacked, how it can be secured, and the mathematical protocol that goes into developing those,” Khan said.
Khan added that it is important to build up the students’ knowledge in the program, so they are industry-ready when they graduate with their degree.
“Given the importance of computing systems, cybersecurity is of utmost interest, and it has to be defended tight,” Khan said. “Cybersecurity focuses on all computer science, which means you have to know the hardware, the software and the applications.”
The National Centers of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance Education program is sponsored by the National Security Agency. Kent State has received the National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity (NCAE-C) designation, which is assigned to some R1-designated universities in order to further the education of students in computer sciences and technology programs.
“Everything is changing, so they need to have that comprehensive knowledge,” Khan said. “They asked for academic institutions – typically those [that] are R1 and research-intensive – because they want to create this elite workforce of scientific engineers who have a very detailed and in-depth view, and they designate these institutions to be centers of excellence in research.”
About 80 institutions and universities across the United States, and only 16 in Ohio, have this designation. Kent State will be accredited until 2028.
The world of technology is ever-changing, so Kent State’s computer science program hopes to continue to grow with the world of technology, and further educate students on all components of cyberspace.
Learn more about Computer Science at Kent State.