Ready, Set, Attack!

Rochester Institute of Technology’s B. Thomas Golisano College of Computing and Information Sciences will celebrate its new partnership with McAfee Inc., (NYSE: MFE) the leader in intrusion prevention and risk management solutions, May 13, with a series of events on the RIT campus.

The highlight event of McAfee® Day will be a contest pitting teams of RIT students against McAfee experts in building and defending secure computer network systems. The goal is to expose students to real-world situations as they prepare for various careers in the computer security field.

RIT President Albert Simone and Kevin Weiss, executive vice president of worldwide sales and services at McAfee, will kick off the day’s events with a welcoming address at 10:30 a.m. in the Golisano College auditorium.

McAfee Day will also feature a keynote address by Stuart McClure, senior vice president at McAfee. McClure is considered one of the leading authorities in information security and is the author of Hacking Exposed and Web Hacking: Attacks and Defense. McClure will speak at 11 a.m. in the Golisano College auditorium.

Representatives from McAfee, Inc. will be on hand to talk with students about career opportunities within the company, and an exhibit showcasing McAfee’s latest technologies will also be on display.

McAfee, Inc. recently donated more than $1 million in next-generation intrusion prevention technology to GCCIS to launch the college’s master’s program in computer security and information assurance. McAfee’s solutions have been integrated into several curricula including the computer system security course, in which undergraduate students must attack and attempt to infiltrate other students’ computer systems.

The students are utilizing McAfee hardware and software in GCCIS’ new security and forensics laboratory. This state-of-the-art facility is where teams of students, comprised of first-year through fifth-year students, will compete in the contest “Build and Defend Your Digital Fortress.” The teams must design, test, build, defend and perform a forensic analysis on computer network systems.

In the first phase of the competition, students will be given a list of customer requirements. They will implement McAfee IPS appliances and software and once their designs are complete, McAfee will run tests on the students’ network and systems to determine deficiencies, vulnerabilities, patch levels and general health.

The second portion of the contest will involve the students preparing their networks against a set of simulated attacks from McAfee engineers. The attacks will consist of internal and external threats.

In the final phase of the competition, the students will perform a forensic analysis to assess damage to their systems and to determine the winning team.

“We are thrilled to have McAfee spend the day with our students,” says Jorge Diaz-Herrera, dean of GCCIS. “This new partnership is a win-win situation for everyone. It’s a great opportunity for our students to interact one-on-one with an industry leader. And McAfee will have the chance to recruit some of RIT’s top computing students entering the workforce.”

“McAfee is committed to not only providing best of breed solutions, but supporting the training and development of future security professionals,” said Kevin Weiss, executive vice president of worldwide sales and services at McAfee. “We are excited about the work we are doing with RIT, this event and contest will provide the students with experience they will apply in real-world environments.”

MEDIA NOTE: The media is welcome to attend any of the day’s events. The contest begins at noon in Building 70, Rm. 2650. The most visual aspect of the contest will be from 2-4 p.m. Stuart McClure and Kevin Weiss will also be available for interviews throughout the day.

BACKGROUND: RIT’s B. Thomas Golisano College of Computing and Information Sciences, the largest comprehensive computing college in the nation, was created with a $14 million gift from B. Thomas Golisano, founder and chairman of Paychex Inc. The college offers undergraduate programs in computer science, information technology, applied network and system administration, new media, and software engineering, as well as graduate programs in computer science, information technology, software development and management, and computer security and information assurance. The college is home to the Center for Advancing the Study of Cyberinfrastructure, located in the university’s Laboratory for Applied Computing building, which partners with industry and other research organizations in the advancement of computing technology in support of scientific discovery and product development, and to foster technology commercialization. Founded in 1829, RIT is internationally recognized as a leader in computing, engineering, imaging technology, fine and applied arts, and education for the deaf. RIT enrolls 15,300 students in more than 340 undergraduate and graduate programs.

McAfee, Inc., headquartered in Santa Clara, California, is the market leader in Intrusion Prevention and Risk Management solutions. McAfee delivers innovative and proven solutions and services that secure systems and networks around the world. With McAfee’s unmatched security expertise, home, business, government, and service provider customers block attacks, prevent disruptions, and continuously track and improve their security. www.mcafee.com. McAfee and Foundstone are either registered trademarks or trademarks of McAfee Inc. and/or its affiliates in the US and/or other countries. The color red in connection with security is distinctive of McAfee brand products. All other registered and unregistered trademarks in this document are the sole property of their respective owners. © 2005 McAfee Inc. All Rights Reserved.