Two Niagara University graduate students presented their research at the 13th Annual Symposium on Information Assurance, which was held June 5-6 at the Empire State Plaza Convention Center in Albany.

At the statewide conference, Grand Island native Colin Monroe and Anthony Moreno, a resident of Lancaster, N.Y., each discussed findings they’d ascertained while studying in NU’s master’s degree program in information security and digital forensics. The projects were guided by Dr. Petter Lovaas, director of the program.

Monroe’s “Securely Moving Forward with Serverless Architecture” examined the pros and cons of installing much more cost-effective serverless architecture, as opposed to a traditional server setup. Serverless technology, Monroe stated, offers a greater cyberattack risk for businesses, given the skill involved in establishing proper configuration and management credentials. He demonstrated that security strategies are not suited for serverless technology in numerous configuration breaches. In addition, since most organizations who opt for serverless technology leave their cyberfate in the hands of a third-party company, Monroe said they would be wise to shift to a holistic “defense in depth” strategy.

Monroe earned his undergraduate degree in computer and information sciences from Niagara University in 2018. Upon completing his graduate studies at NU next year, he plans to enroll in a doctorate program in information assurance/systems.

Moreno’s research presentation, titled “Internet of Things: Data Privacy and Cyber-Security Implications,” assessed how technology continues to evolve and be integrated into an ever-increasing number of electronic devices, from internet-connected baby monitors to home thermostats. At first glance, Moreno noted, the Internet of Things, or IoT, promises much convenience; however, with its radical adoption brings data privacy and cybersecurity concerns. 

Moreno holds bachelor’s degrees in computer information systems and criminal justice from Buffalo State College. He has worked in K-12 enterprise educational technology for more than nine years and currently serves as the director of technology for the Medina Central School District.

To learn more about Niagara University’s master’s degree program in information security and digital forensics, please email Dr. Lovaas at plovaas@niagara.edu or visit www.niagara.edu/isdf.

Additional details about NU’s undergraduate degree program in computer and information sciences can be found online at www.niagara.edu/cis.