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12-11-02
By Stephen Swanson, 541-737-0789
SOURCE: James Coakley, 541-737-4116
CORVALLIS - Tracing the secrets left behind on computer hard drives will be the focus of a new alliance between Oregon State University and Gresham, Ore.-based New Technologies, Inc.
The university's Extended Campus and College of Business are working with the technology firm to implement a Portland-area training program offering an OSU Professional Certificate and college credits to individuals who complete the company's three-day course in computer forensics and security risks.
"Michael R. Anderson, a retired special agent with the IRS Criminal Investigation Division, formed NTI in 1996," said James Coakley, OSU associate professor of business. The company is internationally recognized in computer forensics training, which involves retrieving information retained on computers, he said.
"Computer forensics is a huge field, involving old files, e-mails and other materials that are left behind on computers after individuals believe they have deleted the information."
Computer forensics experts work to find potential legal evidence and establish an unbroken chain of custody in a wide range of areas, including child pornography, theft of trade secrets and theft of intellectual property and fraud. With the proper training, experts can discover data and establish a stream of evidence in deleted, encrypted, or damaged computer files that relate to recent and past computer communications.
In addition to applications in government agencies such as the U.S. Departments of Justice and Defense, there is a steady and growing need for computer forensics in Fortune 1000 firms, Coakley said.
The NTI-OSU partnership holds tremendous promise, Anderson said.
"We are very excited about the potentials of this relationship with Oregon State University," Anderson said. "Computer forensics has already played an important role in the war on terror and we are currently working with others who are considering how computer forensics may assist United Nations weapons inspectors in Iraq. However, credible training sources are limited and OSU's involvement will certainly strengthen these important homeland defense efforts by the United States."
Computer forensics is a new enough field that training sources are limited and most existing training courses offer no outside certification or other assurances about the quality of their education, said Nancy King, OSU assistant professor of business.
"However, NTI feels so strongly about their program, the company wants OSU's academic credentials backing up their training in this new field," King said. The partnership may prove a boon to workers faced with layoffs in the midst of the nation's recent economic woes, she added.
"We are hopeful that the training can help displaced U.S. technology workers transition into a new and exciting career field. With high-tech unemployment on the rise, the program could also help get some of Oregon's displaced technical workers back into the job market," King said.
"This is a move in executive education for professionals, not basic education, and is a key tool in response to growing security needs throughout the world," she said. "Professionals registered as OSU students through Oregon State University's Extended Campus program will pay tuition and upon successful completion of NTI's training and a university examination to test their proficiency, will gain university credits," said Bill McCaughan, dean of OSU Extended Campus.
"Extended Campus offers OSU distance education courses and degree completion programs to students worldwide, customized corporate training and a variety of certificate programs for working professionals," he said.
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Last Update:Wednesday, 11-Dec-2002 13:36:50 PST