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May 22, 1998
New center adds dimensions
to computer security efforts
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- A new center established this month at Purdue University is
taking a "serious" approach to computer security, and is the first in the world to
take a comprehensive approach to the many issues related to the global problem.
The new center, named CERIAS (pronounced "serious"), aims to provide innovation and
leadership in education and research related to information security, especially
network and computer security, said Eugene Spafford, professor of computer sciences
who is the center's director.
CERIAS stands for Center for Education and Research in Information Assurance and Security.
The multidisciplinary center will draw upon the expertise of researchers throughout
Purdue, and will work with researchers in industry, government and other academic institutions around the world.
"The public perception of computer security is shaped by sensationalism such as computer
virus scares and stories of teenagers breaking into sensitive military systems,"
Spafford said. "But information and computing security is much more complex than
that, and involves disciplines including sociology, psychology, criminology, political
science, ethics, management and economics."
Information security is the combination of computer security and communications security,
Spafford said. "Unfortunately, there is little educational infrastructure in place
for training people to deal with these issues, and none that take a broad view of
the problems involved."
Purdue is the only university in the world that offers a formal program intended to
address these comprehensive issues.
"The need for our graduates is many times our current capacity," Spafford said. "The
new center will allow us to double or triple the number of students in our program,
and provide better outreach to industry and government."
The center is starting with nearly 20 faculty members from six Purdue departments
tackling issues related to information security from a number of perspectives, Spafford
said.
The new center will be housed in Purdue's Recitation Hall, where renovations are under
way to prepare office and research space for the CERIAS faculty, staff and students.
Currently, the center is located in Purdue's Computer Sciences Building.
CERIAS is an expansion of several widely recognized programs currently in place at
Purdue, which has a long history of computer security research and education, Spafford
said.
"Faculty at Purdue have been performing research and offering courses in computer
security since 1979, and have produced a number of highly visible information security
professionals," he said.
The new center will allow researchers to expand upon the strengths of COAST, a laboratory
established by Spafford in 1992 to meet the growing need for research and education
in the information security arena. Research tools and educational materials from
COAST have been used by government agencies, businesses and academic institutions worldwide
and hailed as models for their usefulness. The COAST laboratory will work as a partner
with the new center.
More information on CERIAS is available at the center's Web site: http://www.cerias.purdue.edu/
CONTACT: Eugene Spafford, (765) 494-7825; e-mail, spaf@purdue.edu
Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; e-mail, purduenews@purdue.edu
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