Page 14 - The BellTower - Spring 2016

Cyber-Security Simulation
How can the people in an orga- nization learn how to respond to a cyber-attack without fending
off an actual attack? It’s a puzzle that UMFK Professor Computer Science Dr. Raymond Albert and about 45 other people are solving with the help of a secure simula- tion environment they are testing.
In October, students gathered at UMFK, the University of Southern Maine (USM) and York County Community College (YCCC) for training in how to use the new cyber security “collaboratory.” Later that month, the students returned to the collaboratory, a combination of collaboration and labora- tory, to defend their systems from a simu- lated attack. The collaboratory provides
a secure virtual environment within the University of Maine System to allow stu- dents and researchers to essentially engage in cyberwar games without endangering the rest of the digital world.
Dr. Albert said, “It’s a National Science Foundation (NSF) sponsored research proj- ect in which the UMFK and USM and YCCC are partnering, and the primary purpose of the NSF activity is to explore the develop- ment of a cybersecurity collaboratory.”
Since last year, Albert has worked
with other cyber security experts in the university system to develop the lab and the curriculum materials for a new degree program, a Bachelor of Science in cyber security. The virtual lab became a reality last spring with its first simulation activity. Last fall, the coalition of campuses engaged in two more simulations taking place over four weekends.
The collaboratory in the simulations will allow five students at each campus to work together collaboratively over Maine’s large geographic distribution. The students will play roles in three simulated companies and will have to respond to a simulated attack on the systems.
“These companies are faced with attacks, and the students respond to the attacks as best they are able to by working collaboratively with their counterparts at the other site locations,” said Dr. Albert.
“The focus is not necessarily on the attack per se or how the students specifically respond to the attack technically. The focus is on how the students communicate and collaborate with their colleagues in distant locations.”
Almost 50 people are involved in the simulations, including Edward Sihler, Jim Owens, Lynn Lovewell of USM; Arthur Drolet and the UMFK library staff ; and Mark Monnin at the YCCC. The researchers will record the students during the simula- tion and use the results to further develop the simulated collaboratory.
Dr. Albert added, “This specific activity is really a pursuit of the goals and objec- tives of our research. It involves students at each of these partnering institutions, and it’s an example of the fun and exciting activities that students in cyber-security can be involved with.”
The University of Maine System announced the new bachelor of science in cyber security degree earlier this year, which students at UMFK, USM, and the University of Maine at Augusta may now pursue.
UMFK’s Praises Continue
In August, the prestigious pub- lication, The Princeton Review, named the University of Maine at Fort Kent for the eleventh consecutive year as a “Best Northeastern College,” an accolade the publication derived primarily from student input.
UMFK Interim President John Murphy said the people at UMFK are the reason the campus is attracting so much positive attention. “UMFK has a talented and dedi- cated group of faculty and staff who are committed to student success. To receive national recognition, confirms that UMFK offers students a quality education within a supportive campus environment,” said Murphy.
The designation shows that the
University recognizes the importance of putting students first. The Princeton Review selected UMFK as one of 225 outstanding colleges and universities that the creators of the publication recommend to college applicants in its print and online editions.
In September, UMFK was one of a select group of 200 colleges in the coun- try to earn the designation as a national College of Distinction. The creators of
the college guide choose the members
of their list based on educational excel- lence in each of four distinctions: engaged students, great teaching, vibrant campus community, and successful outcomes. UMFK continues to build on its reputation for student success from the community of educational professionals.
The latest U.S News and World Report rankings put UMFK in the top tier, ranked 37th. That ranks the University 13th among public colleges in the North and follows five consecutive years in the top- 15 public institutions. The U.S. News and
World Report bases the rankings on key measures of quality that education experts have proposed as reliable indicators of academic quality.
The University has one more feather to place in its cap as it has again earned 12th place among the “Best Regional Colleges in the North for Veterans.” In November, Military Friendly® Schools named UMFK
to the 2016 list, marking another accolade to the University’s growing list of achieve- ments.
Each of these designations originate from nationally-recognized and highly- respected publications that students and parents alike use to select an institution
of higher learning. UMFK will nurture and engage a diversity of learners and aspiring professionals in Maine’s rural communities and beyond through affordable, technolog- ically-enhanced, and professionally-focused educational programs.
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