Mercyhurst lends expertise to strengthen preparedness against cyberattacks

Once again, Mercyhurst University has been called upon to share its expertise in cybersecurity as part of a communitywide effort to recognize and defend against cyberbreaches in the region’s public and private sectors.

Dr. Chris Mansour, assistant professor of Cyber Security at Mercyhurst, joined speakers from the U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. Secret Service to discuss the effect of cyberattacks and provide best practices for strengthening cybersecurity programs. They participated in the daylong Northwest Pennsylvania 2022 Cybersecurity Symposium held Wednesday, Sept.21, at Perry Highway Hose Company.

“The nation's critical infrastructure provides the essential services that underpin American society,” Mansour said. “Events like these are important for information sharing, spreading awareness, and education so that key stakeholders plan accordingly to minimize disruptions or negative impacts in the case of cyberattacks. It is not a matter of whether an attack will happen or not, it is a matter of when the attack happens, are we prepared to respond, handle it, and recover quickly?”

This marks the third time in recent months that Mansour was invited to join top intelligence and cybersecurity professionals from across the nation in working together to mitigate exposure and risks to U.S. assets from cyberattacks.

On July 26, Mansour traveled to Philadelphia to discuss the topic of “Securing Critical Infrastructure for Urban and Smart Cities.” The speaking engagement was part of the Dense Urban Terrain Philadelphia Exercise, organized by the U.S. Department of Defense, specifically the U.S. Northern Command's Task Force 46 and Control CBRN Response Enterprise Bravo, in partnership with the Philadelphia Fire Department, Philadelphia Police Department, and the Office of Emergency Management.

Last March, Mansour, along with personnel and students from the Ridge College of Intelligence Studies & Applied Sciences were in Buffalo to participate in the simulation of a large-scale cyberattack to key infrastructure.

These types of exercises are designed to test the nation’s resilience, strengthen preparedness and cooperation among partners, and improve the effectiveness of a joint response in protecting national security.