Computer systems have moved on from standalone applications, perhaps PC-based, to internet-based applications, onto a future of interconnected distributed systems. In the future data will be stored on large databases distributed throughout the world, with these databases connected via an enhanced internet.
We will use our PCs, laptops, netbooks, tablets and mobile phones to get our own personalised vision of the “cloud”. Our Computing, Networking, and Web Design and Development courses will show you how to create these systems.
Modern software applications are dramatically powerful because they can access other systems across the world, but for this very reason they are also at risk of attack from anywhere in the world. This motivated our pioneering development of Ethical Hacking courses. An ethical hacker will have the technical skills to test out the security of a computer system and, having identified a security flaw, be in a position to propose countermeasures to secure the system. Together with our extended focus on computer security, digital forensics and intelligence, you can be sure of a secure future.
An important related area of investigation is that of establishing the identity of an individual who is using a system. Not only do we need to make the systems secure but we also need to ensure that the person accessing this data is actually who they claim to be.
Conventional identity management uses simple passwords or biometrics. Our approach in this area is to use multi-modal biometrics and behaviour traits as the key to identity and to develop techniques to challenge any user who gives the system reason to doubt their authenticity.
Staff in the school are working on aspects of computing, information technology and engineering systems, including:
