Many companies are seeking to convert their system's infrastructure to clouds for better information technology (IT) management and to cut back on IT expenses. Storing information in the cloud however causes security problems related to "where is my data", "who as control and access to it". Our secure Cloud Computing and Data Security group research various issues related to the security and forensic analysis of data in the cloud.
The Cloud Computing Security (CCS) research team at Norfolk State University (NSU) has continued to make outstanding progress in the following three major areas:
- Building the human resource infrastructure;
- Achieving research results;
- Exploring collaboration and synergistic funding opportunities.
This project enabled Norfolk State University to expand its research and education capabilities in cloud computing security, as a team of four (4) faculty members and seventeen (17) undergraduate and graduate students participated in cloud computing and cloud computing security research during this project year. It has not only brought professional development opportunities and benefits to the faculty and students involved with this project, but also allowed the faculty members to launch new initiatives in integrating cloud computing security research with their teaching.
The CCS team defined and executed a comprehensive research program by focusing on seven (7) domains identified as critical areas for research by experts and practitioners in the field of cloud computing security. It has made significant contribution to the advancement of the state-of-the-art and the state-of-the-practice in cloud computing and cloud computing security, as evidenced by the publication of seven (7) conference papers, presentation by ten (10) faculty members and students on seven (7) papers and lectures, and thirteen (13) M.S. Thesis or Project research efforts.
The CCS team continued to proactively explore collaboration and synergistic funding opportunities. It is anticipated that these work force development and collaboration efforts will continue to grow with more results and benefits to be generated in the future.