Pictured:(l-r standing) Brian Moore - Senior Lecturer in Ethical Hacking & Network Security at Coventry University, Rowland Johnson - Managing Director of Nettitude Limited, Washington Chifamba - Network Security Consultant at Nettitude & former BSc Computing Science student who graduated from Coventry University in 2009, (Seated) Stephanie Matthews, 1st year Ethical Hacking 

Students in Coventry are leading the way in the fight against cybercrime thanks to a brand new Ethical Hacking Lab in the Faculty of Engineering and Computing.

The Applied Research Group (ARG) in Digital Security and Forensics (SaFe) at Coventry University was established in 2006, and aims to advance technical knowledge in the broad area of digital security and computer forensics; offering educational research opportunities, developing technical products and software, and providing consultancy services.

The Group works closely with Leamington-based IT security business partner Nettitude, who generously donated around £17,000 worth of equipment to make the new Ethical Hacking Lab possible.

Brian Moore, Senior Lecturer in Ethical Hacking and Network Security said:

"Technology has changed the way we work, shop, educate, relax and communicate. As technology evolves, so do the opportunities for cybercrime, so it is necessary to research and investigate the applications, operating systems and networking devices in the same ways that a criminal would so we can mitigate such threats.

"To conduct this research and teaching we needed a dedicated Ethical Hacking Lab to simulate malicious hacking techniques. Nettitude has been instrumental in its creation, donating around £17,000 of security related equipment including a server, firewall and IDS module. Nettitude has also provided guest lectures, placement opportunities, technical expertise and support. This donation paved the way for the University to invest a further £20,000 for 25 new PCs and an additional server configured especially for use in the lab."

Rowland Johnson, Managing Director of Nettitude Limited said:

"Nettitude is delighted to work with and support Coventry University, and see it as a direct benefit to shaping the quality of graduates into the industry. Having access to the technology and the practical experience of professional technologists is essential for shaping well-rounded graduates that are ready to work and create job ready employees. We look forward to developing our close relationship with the University in 2012 and wish all of its students and graduates bright and prosperous careers."

The new equipment means students can work in a dedicated environment, where they can simulate many of the systems that exist globally. This offers students at Coventry University a richer, more diverse opportunity to engage with the technologies under attack; sending them better equipped into the world of employment.

Senior Lecturer Brian Moore added:

"We can now forge ahead with modules in cloud security and both mobile device and network forensics. This is a very exciting and challenging time for Coventry University, and we hope to become known as the institution of choice in the UK for security and forensics."

For more information about Coventry University, please visit their website here: www.coventry.ac.uk