How Safe is Information in the Cloud?

The Delaware Valley chapter of the Cloud Security Alliance, an organization started in 2011 with more than 50 chapters, teamed up with Villanova University’s College of Engineering last month to discuss the increasingly critical topic of cloud security. Villanova electrical engineering and computer science students, industry professionals and CSA chapter members were in attendance to learn about the latest trends for securing data in the cloud.

Marty Weiss, director of sales engineering for Elastica (recently acquired by Symantec), a leader in Data Science Powered™ cloud application security, kicked off the presentations emphasizing the importance of keeping data secure. He stressed that every institution should be held accountable for the data they are sharing in the cloud.

Following Weiss’ presentation, Villanova Engineering adjunct Scott Streit, who teaches graduate courses on Ethical Hacking and Machine Learning, discussed the privacy implications of organizations using biometrics such as fingerprints, facial recognition and retinal scans to protect personal information. Streit shared his expertise and urged others to adopt a method using a combination of biometrics to prevent hackers from accessing protected information.

With more than 25 years of experience in cyberspace, Visiting Assistant Professor Jim Solderitsch, PhD, shared his knowledge about big data in the cloud. Throughout his presentation he referenced many CSA materials to illustrate the importance of confidentiality, integrity and availability of big data. While the other speakers’ discussions highlighted the importance of securing the cloud, Dr. Solderitsch believes companies need to go above and beyond, stating, “You need to be securing big data, and to understand how to do that effectively, you can’t simply rely on the cloud.” Dr. Solderitsch wrapped up the presentation by providing guests with best practices for data security.

With job growth nearly three times the industry rate, cybersecurity continues to be a highly opportune field. The College of Engineering offers both a master’s degree and graduate certificate in Cybersecurity. To learn more, visit the Cybersecurity web site.