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This Community Newspaper is a weekly publication of Escambia Santa/Rosa Bar Association Page 1 Vol. 15, No. 21 VISIT THE SUMMATION WEEKLY ONLINE: www.esrba.com May 26, 2015
4 Pages
Keeping the Internet Safe By: Josh Newby The Internet has become so much more than anyone expected. It is hard to believe that in the mid-90s, industry experts were expecting the World Wide Web to be mainly a professional and governmental tool, and that pedestrian use would be little more than a fad. Today, of course, it is ubiquitous, as important to our off time as it is to our work lives. The Internet has become nearly as important as electricity, a utility we take for granted. Access to servers, people and information across the world is not something to take lightly, though, and as more and more people sign on, there is a greater risk of widespread computer infection and theft. Luckily, national and local organizations are training a new breed of cyber soldier, a career path that simply did not exist a few decades ago. These cyber-protectors see the Internet not as a collection of news and cat videos, but as an assortment of attackers and defenders. In cybersecurity, the attacker needs to only know one vulnerability, but the defender needs to secure all entry points. And while the attacker has unlimited time, the defender is often working with time and cost constraints. Add to that the fact that overly or improperly secured systems can be more difficult to use and that users—and attackers—prefer simple passwords and you can see how the work of a cybersecurity professional is like solving a very important puzzle, one that has far-reaching ramifications. A cyber attack is launched from both international and national criminals every second, and most of these attacks are thwarted by defense mechanisms that are in place and professionals who monitor and respond to the world’s cyber traffic. These cybersecurity practitioners are highly sought-after. Often with just a two-year degree, these individuals can start out at $70,000 annually and make upwards of $150,000 by the end of their career. Subsequent bachelors and masters degrees promise even more opportunities and compensation. The University of West Florida’s (UWF) recently launched Cybersecurity Center serves as a local hub of research, partnership and educational opportunity. Susan Cerovsky was recently hired on as the director of the program. “Cybersecurity is an umbrella, under which are various other fields, such as computer science and information technology,” said Cerovsky. “We are routinely adding specializations to keep pace with the ever-changing industry. We focus on threats, vulnerabilities, protection, defense, operation, maintenance and more.” Relatively speaking, the Internet is still a new frontier, one that has become a necessity yet presents considerable risk. “The only way to not be at risk is to not be connected,” said Cerovsky. “In today’s world, you’re not going to not be connected.” An attack on the Internet or a company’s intranet can mean disaster for the power grid, water supplies and financial operations. There are also social ramifications, such as cyber bullying and cybercrime. While many attacks occur because of a shortcoming in physical security, which grants criminals actual, tangible access to resting data and servers, much of these attacks originate thousands of miles away over the Internet. Locally, high-wage businesses are snatching up UWF and Pensacola State College (PSC) graduates and even implementing software that the students create in classes. Companies like AppRiver and GBSI are well known for their cybersecurity services, and much of their workforce is comprised of young individuals working in the field. The local Navy and other government facilities also prize these cybersecurity individuals and pay handsomely for their talents. (Continue Page 3)