CybersecurityClosing digital security gaps

According to results of a recent survey commissioned by the Federal Association for Information Economy, Telecommunications, and New Media, three-fourths of German Internet users are feeling threatened. Reasons cited include computer viruses, Internet fraud, and data misuse.

The Center for IT Security, Privacy and Accountability (CISPA) of Saarland University, Germany, and the University of Luxembourg’s Interdisciplinary Center for Security, Reliability and Trust (SnT) have recently agreed on a mutual course for the strategic development of new and integrative approaches to addressing key IT security concerns.

“Every area of our daily lives is becoming increasingly more digitalized and interlinked. This trend is creates a number of novel security issues, specifically with respect to privacy and accountability,” explains Michael Backes, CISPA’s director and Professor of IT Security and Cryptography at Saarland University. As Björn Ottersten, SnT’s Director and Professor at the University of Luxembourg, confirms, this is not only a German but a global concern. “Therefore, it’s imperative that IT research be conducted on a global scale. By attacking the issue together, SnT and CISPA are able to pool their resources and merge their international contacts in order to ensure a greater impact for their scientific results.”

A CISPA release reports that that since its inception in 2009, SnT has stressed the importance of operating on a global scale, attracting scientists from all over the world to Luxembourg, a country prized for its hospitable research conditions. As has CISPA, which, in conjunction with Saarland University, recently introduced a new international graduate program in security and privacy leading to the master’s degree, paving the way for a transition from largely theory-based academia to practical research settings and industry. “Within only a few short years, SnT has already established itself as a leading European research site. The Centre is very practically oriented and collaborates closely with industry — with great success!” says Backes, confirming that he is looking forward to a collaboration between his team at CISPA and Björn Ottersten’s Luxembourg-based SnT. According to Backes, the two research institutes complement each other in many areas, with research activities overlapping in some. All of this contributes to making their future collaboration a promising endeavor.

Björn Ottersten is in full agreement. “Saarbrücken enjoys a most excellent reputation for international IT security research. I am certain that we will continue to expand upon this leadership potential by joining forces.”

 The goal of the contractually agreed upon 3-year collaborative effort is to exchange ideas, conduct joint research projects, and together design and initiate new projects. Scientists and faculty from both centers also intend to give lectures and presentations on each other’s campuses.