SISE Project launches new, no-cost Secure Business support

SISE Project launches new, no-cost Secure Business supportMarch 29, 2004Edward Byrnesedbyrnes@syr.edu

Jeff Stanton, an assistant professor in Syracuse University’s School of Information Studies and director of the Syracuse Information Security Evaluation (SISE) Project, has announced the SISE’s new Central New York Secure Business Initiative (CNY-SBI). The initiative, beginning this month and continuing through August 2004, will assist Central New York businesses with developing the capacity and scope of their information security capabilities by helping to ensure the security and privacy of company, employee, and consumer records on- and offline, and by providing process feedback to improve internal operations and create process efficiencies.

The CNY-SBI also hopes to establish contacts between the University and local area enterprises to enhance employment prospects and retention of professional workers in the region.

“We hope to fulfill some community goals by making connections between local business leaders and SU students to encourage talent retention in Central New York, and to meet SU faculty and student research goals that may result in long-term economic and societal benefits,” says Stanton.

To participate in the SBI, organizations must operate an internal computer network (intranet), have an Internet connection and conduct some aspect of business operations that includes use of the Internet. Preference will be given to companies that express willingness to engage in one or more educational partnerships with SU, including guest appearances of managers of professionals in university classes, hosting for paid or unpaid internships, or service as a host site for a capstone educational project conducted by students.

Over the past two years, SISE and Albert Lindley Lee Memorial Hospital in Fulton, N.Y. have formed a mutually beneficial informal partnership that can best be described as a “win-win” scenario for both organizations.

“The hospital has benefited immensely from SISE’s objective reviews and professionally written summary presentations. Data collections were well organized, caused minimal disruptions to our workforce, maintained anonymously and analyzed expertly,” says David Markant, the hospital’s director of information systems. “In some cases, the SISE reports confirmed beliefs already subjectively held; in other cases, the hospital received new insights that resulted in modifications of implementation strategies and follow-ups.”

Assistance provided under the CNY-SBI is offered at no cost to participating organizations. The CNY-SBI, in partnership with the CASE Center and the Systems Assurance Institute (SAI), is funded by the New York State Office of Science, Technology and Academic Research (NYSTAR). Organizations wishing to participate in the CNY-SBI should call Kathryn Stam, SISE associate director, at (315) 443-5692, or e-mail her at krstam@syr.edu.

The School of Information Studies at SU is a nationally ranked center for innovative programs in information policy, information behavior, information management, information systems, information technology and information services. The School offers an undergraduate degree, three professional master’s programs, and a Ph.D. program. For more information, visit the School’s web site at http://www.ist.syr.edu.

Officially chartered in 1870 as a private, coeducational institution of higher education, Syracuse University is a leading student-centered research university. Syracuse’s 12 schools and colleges share a common mission: to promote learning through teaching, research, scholarship, creative accomplishment and service while embracing the core values of quality, caring, diversity, innovation and service. The 938-acre campus is home to more than 18,000 full- and part-time undergraduate and graduate students from all 50 states and 90 countries.