About

      The past several years have witnessed a dramatic explosion in the use of computer-based information systems by corporations, government agencies, and not-for-profit organizations. Computer-based systems provide organizations with the critical ability to integrate internal and customer-related functions that provide added value to the firm. Not surprisingly, as the use of information technology increases, the value of the data and information stored in digital form has also increased. In fact, today it is common for many organizations to be totally dependent on their information technology systems to do business.

      As transaction volumes and value of the information to the firm have skyrocketed, the vulnerability of data systems to theft, external attack, sabotage, and general systems failure has also skyrocketed. Indeed, since the attacks on September 11, 2001, considerable attention has been paid to the overall vulnerability of corporate and governmental data systems and networks. These concerns have been heightened by the astronomical increase in computer virus attacks.

      Information assurance focuses on the protection of information assets that form the strategic base of many organizations. Information assurance professionals must understand advanced technology issues as well as appropriate implementation strategies. The effective combination of both skill sets is rare and, in the information assurance arena, requires considerable advanced training to stay abreast of rapidly changing technology.

      The information assurance lab was created in 2003 for use as a resource for Dakota State University faculty, staff, and students. The lab allows for the use and testing of advanced computer security tools in a safe environment. The lab is utilized for educational means in many of DSU's computer security classes, as well as by students and staff who wish to do research on a variety of computer security issues. In 2006, the lab was moved from its first home to its new location in East Hall.

     The information assurance lab features four pods. Each pod has two keyboard, mouse and monitor setups which can be utilized to access a number of workstations on the pod via KVM. A Sonicwall firewall is also available for use in each of the pods. The four pods each connect to the primary server.  There are an additional four independent machines which are not connected to the KVMs for use.

Each system is loaded with a copy of Fedora Core 5, Windows XP SP2, and Redhat 6.3. The machines are equipped with a number of security tools, as well as copies of Vmware.

      If you wish to make use of  information research lab at Dakota State University, please contact Steve Graham at skg@dsu.edu.