Dubai: Experts from Seattle-based CyberSecurity Institute, The world leader for digital forensics expertise, will be in the UAE shortly to train professionals from the banking, information technology, security and other sectors on how to properly perform computer forensic investigations related to credit card fraud and a host of other cybercrimes.
"Organized crime is exploiting loopholes in Automated Clearing House (ACH) systems daily, as well as penetrating banks and stealing credit card data. Fortune 500 companies are beginning to detail data breaches and hacks in their annual stockholders reports. The enemy is getting smarter, bolder, and their success rate is impressive. A digital forensics capability is now needed within any organization for legal, regulatory, and best practice requirements to preserve evidence and assure evidence is admissible in a court of law," says Steve Hailey, President & CEO of CyberSecurity Institute.
CyberSecurity Institute has partnered with Cambridge Education Center (CEC), UAE to bring Digital Forensics education to this part of the world. The Digital Forensics Examiner training that will now be offered in the UAE was developed for a range of professionals, to include Computer Technology Enthusiasts, Cyber Security Analysts, Incident Responders, Information Technology Personnel, Law Enforcement and Private Investigators
"Professionals from defense and intelligence agencies, law enforcement and corporations take our training because our hands-on case based instruction emphasizes analytical problem solving skills and the practical knowledge required to process a case from start to finish, " said Mike Andrew, CSI President of Training and Education.
It is estimated that in the UAE, around $54 million (Dh95 million) was lost to credit card fraud in 2009, representing an alarmingly high 20 per cent increase over 2008. Such fraudulent activity is endemic in the region as well in the Asian subcontinent.
"The Internet and its communications capability is the nervous system of any nation's critical infrastructures, and is therefore extremely critical in maintaining economic productivity. Because of the economic importance that is associated with the Internet and its communications capabilities, criminals and sometimes a company's own employees are looking for ways to exploit it for their own financial gain or to support a cause. The use of technology to facilitate the commission of crimes or abuse of company computing resources is increasing," says Mr Hailey.
Abin, a Cyber Security (Digital Forensic) expert now working on his MS at Carnegie Mellon University, United States, who represents Cambridge in the US, says the companies in the UAE and other Asian countries need to be well trained to investigate technology-facilitated crimes. "Digital/computer forensics is not just for law enforcement, Abin added."Computer forensic analysis is performed everyday in corporate environments to investigate electronic break-ins, misuse of computing resources and other company policy violations. There is a growing need for digital forensics professionals to work on both criminal and civil cases. Taking the Digital Forensic Examiner training that is now offered through Cambridge will help anyone conducting forensic analysis to prove they are competent and qualified."
Mr Ajay Kumar, President and CEO of CEC, says: "Because of the reality of computer based crimes, and to help protect our economic stability, we need to train those employees responsible for conducting investigations on what digital evidence is, where it is likely located, how to identify it, and the processes to follow in the proper acquisition and analysis of the evidence."
"We need to provide our staff with the tools and resources they need to perform digital forensic analysis of computers and computer media related to an investigation. Without proper training, our staff will lack the knowledge and expertise needed to effectively and efficiently investigate financial crimes," Ajay Kumar says.
"CEC has collaborated with CyberSecurity Institute to provide continuing education training in the UAE for professionals representing a variety of industries. CyberSecurity institute has trained members of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, United States Secret Service, Department of Defense, Department of Justice, and the information technology staff of several Fortune 100 companies," he points out.
"Because of the threat created by technology-facilitated crimes as well as computing resource abuse, CEC and Cyber Security Institute have recognized that the UAE banking and finance companies need the necessary digital forensic evidence acquisition and analysis training to become more prepared and to effectively respond to the threat.
"Digital forensics training will provide the staff in the field of IT security with the knowledge and tools to become more proactive in their technology-facilitated investigations," says Ajay Kumar.
In fact the UAE is already seized of the need to ensure digital security. As a result the second International ICST (Institute for Computer Sciences, Social Informatics and Telecommunications Engineering) Conference on Digital Forensics and Cyber Crime was held in the UAE last month. The Conference underscores the importance of digital forensics in law enforcement, network security and information assurance.
To learn more about the digital forensics training, please visit: www.cambridgeeducation.net/
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© Press Release 2010
