SecureU - Colleges Play a Key Role in Advancing Use and Effectiveness of Data Encryption

Cyber Security

Published: 11/01/07

Colleges Play a Key Role in Advancing Use and Effectiveness of Data Encryption
From "The University's Role in Advancing Data Encryption, Part 2" by Andrew K. Burger : TechNewsWorld: Technological innovations, new legislation and regulations, and pressing security needs are factors driving the increase of collegiate and university encryption technology research. CipherOptics' Jim Doherty says network performance is an important area that should not be ignored, even as most encryption research efforts are focused on the creation of more robust encryption algorithms. "Today's high-performance networks must be able to meet the latency requirements of delay-sensitive applications such as voice and video over IP," he notes. "While there may be a niche market for security over performance types of solutions, broad adoption of new encryption algorithms will be determined by speed as much as they are by security."

Researchers at the Rochester Institute of Technology's networking, security, and systems administration department say that the selection of a wide-area network encryption solution involves consideration of not just performance, but also how well the technology satisfies organizational requirements and other non-performance related factors. Higher education institutions such as Southwestern Illinois Community College are incorporating encryption into their courses and curricula and using it to safeguard data on campus. The College's Christine Leja says that colleges and public and private sector organizations are also being spurred to deter identity theft and develop encryption technology by new legislation and the introduction of payment card security standards. "Higher education provides open and secure access for its students, and encryption offers a clear path to secure sensitive data and support an open, mobile environment," she says.

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