UNIVERSITI Teknologi Mara (UiTM) aims to set up a national centre of excellence for cybersecurity next year.
Its deputy vice-chancellor of industry community and alumni network, Professor Dr Zaini Abdullah, said the university is finalising the details of the project with relevant industry players.
“UiTM is taking cybersecurity seriously. Through collaboration with the industry, UiTM hopes to become the research and training centre, among others, for cybersecurity management. This augurs well for UiTM as we have the capacity to form the centre from the various faculties in the university,” he said last week.
He was speaking at the sidelines of the closing of the iHack 2018 Competition programme, which is a biannual event organised by UiTM’s Digital Forensics Research Initiative Group and the Computer Technology and Networking Department of the Faculty of Computer and Mathematical Sciences, in collaboration with the Malaysia Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), and Nets and Netcom Society.
The event was attended by participants comprising students, lecturers, administrative staff, branch campuses, as well as representatives of public and private universities, and public and private organisations. It was held at Intekma Resort and Convention Centre in Shah Alam, Selangor.
The two-day programme, which is aimed at exposing participants and students on current developments and issues related to computer defence and cybercrime, had a variety of activities, including a Hacking, Defence and Forensics competition, CyberSecurity and Digital Forensic Innovation Challenge, forums, workshops, career talks and the Klik dengan Bijak Explorace game by MCMC.
The event also aimed to raise awareness amongst university and community members of cybercrime, as well as its implications for computer users.
“Collaboration between the academia and industry is increasingly a critical component of efficient national innovation systems. We believe that this event will be an informative platform for participants to be able to send powerful messages of global security awareness to make our cyberspace a safe place. It is also a platform for the cybersecurity industry to find and nurture young talents in fighting the attacks,” said Zaini in his closing speech.
He revealed that UiTM would enter into an agreement with MCMC to include a new Masters of Science in Cyber Security and Digital Forensic Programme, as well as research and knowldege transfer between the two parties.
The event ended with a prize-giving ceremony which saw Team Hashcow from
Asia Pacific University winning the Hacking, Defence and Forensics competition, while UiTM’s I-Fratenity won the CyberSecurity and Digital Forensic Innovation Challenge.
Representing MCMC at the programme was its chief officer of network security and enforcement, Zulkarnain Mohd Yassin.