Track: Software Technology
Minitrack: Information Assurance Education and Research

Information assurance (IA) is the interdisciplinary practice of managing information-related risks. IA draws from multiple fields, including information security, fraud examination, forensic science, military science, management science, systems engineering, security engineering, and criminology, in addition to computer science. The objectives of IA is to protect the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of data and their delivery systems. These objectives are relevant whether the data are in storage systems, processing, or in transit, regardless if threatened by malice or accident. IA strives to ensure that the right people get the right information at the right time. Information security is a fundamental aspect of IA, however IA's broader connotation also includes reliability and emphasizes strategic risk management over tools and tactics. In addition to defending against malicious hackers and code (e.g., viruses), IA includes other corporate governance issues such as privacy, compliance, audits, business continuity, and disaster recovery. This mini-track will provide a holistic view of information assurance research and education.

Topics and research areas include, but are not limited to:
* Assured computing systems
* Network assurance
* Database assurance
* Spreadsheet assurance
* Holistic security methods
* Studies of IA
* The internet and IA
* Interplay of technical and non-technical issues for IA
* Strategic IA and strategic methods for IA
* Office and productivity tools IA
* Case studies in IA
* IA management
* IA policy and response
* IA curriculum design at the national and institutional levels
* Innovative approaches to teaching IA
* Evaluations of existing approaches to IA
* Emerging needs for IA curriculum
* Innovative approaches to faculty development and capacity building
* Challenges faced by institutions and programs
* NSA Center of Academic Excellence (in security) applications
* IA research and funding opportunities

Co-chairs:
Raymond R. Panko (Primary Contact)
Department of IT Management
University of Hawaii at Manoa
2404 Maile Way, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA
Phone: +1-808-956-5049
Email: Panko@hawaii.edu

Dan Port
Department of IT Management
University of Hawaii at Manoa
2404 Maile Way, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA
Phone: +1-808-956-7494
Email: DPort@hawaii.edu

Rayford Vaughn
Center for Computer Security Research
Mississippi State University
PO Box 9637, Mississippi State, MS 39762, USA
Phone: +1-662-325-7450
Fax: +1-662-325-8997
Email: vaughn@cse.msstate.edu
URL: http://www.cse.msstate.edu/~vaughn