October 13, 2014 | Eli Freund - School of Engineering

CyberSEED: Two-Day Event Puts Cybersecurity On National Stage

The University of Connecticut, home to the nation’s foremost center on hardware security, and the Comcast Center of Excellence for Security Innovation (CSI) are sponsoring the first-ever CyberSEED Cybersecurity, Education & Diversity Challenge October 20-21, 2014.  The CyberSEED conference brings together top information security professionals and business leaders to discuss emerging cybersecurity trends and formulate best […]

The University of Connecticut, home to the nation’s foremost center on hardware security, and the Comcast Center of Excellence for Security Innovation (CSI) are sponsoring the first-ever CyberSEED Cybersecurity, Education & Diversity Challenge October 20-21, 2014. 

chase2The CyberSEED conference brings together top information security professionals and business leaders to discuss emerging cybersecurity trends and formulate best strategies for tackling current and future threats. In the same academic setting, more than 40 universities and high schools will be competing in three unique cybersecurity challenges for more than $100,000 in prizes.

Other sponsors for CyberSEED include Microsoft, Dell, HP, Symantec, CA Technologies, Juniper Networks, Accenture, Veracode, Wipro, PWC and Cyveillance.

“This CyberSEED conference unites academic, industry, and national leaders to discuss our shared cybersecurity landscape,” says Kazem Kazerounian, Dean of UConn’s School of Engineering. “It is yet another example of how the academic-industry partnership between the University of Connecticut and Comcast is working to provide a diversified environment to resolve the technological challenges facing our nation and world today.”

CyberSEED features more than 20 speakers, including keynote addresses from Rear Admiral David Simpson (ret.), Chief of the Federal Communications Commission’s Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau; Cheri Caddy, Director for Cybersecurity Policy Integration and Outreach, National Security Staff, The White House; and Donna Dodson, Chief Cyber Security Advisor, NIST.

At the kickoff for CyberSEED, a ceremonial bell will ring and students from participating universities will run to their stations to begin competing in cybersecurity challenges that test their abilities to penetrate virtual corporate networks, identify software flaws and explore new technologies in security hardware. An award ceremony takes place the next day at the conclusion of CyberSEED conference.

“UConn and Comcast are providing an opportunity that will challenge students to put their engineering and critical-thinking skills to the test,” says Ramesh Sepehrrad, Vice President, National Governance, Risk and Compliance, Comcast. “In order to succeed, the students will need to compete at a quick pace, not unlike the speed at which the industry they will be entering once they graduate.”

CyberSEED launches only six months after CSI was established on the UConn Storrs campus in April 2014. The center unites the expertise of researchers within UConn’s existing Center for Hardware Assurance, Security and Engineering (CHASE) and Comcast’s leadership in Internet systems security. CSI develops robust detection systems and analytical tools to protect the computer chips and other hardware components vital to Internet broadband systems from malicious attacks, unauthorized access, and faulty or counterfeit products.