Center for Reliable Information Systems and Cyber Security

The Center for Reliable Information Systems and Cyber Security (RISCS)  promotes and coordinates research and education in system reliability and information security. It emphasizes a multidisciplinary approach that includes fields as diverse as reliable and secure computations, engineering, economics, ethics, and law.

Research Areas

Our current research areas include:

  • cryptology
  • networks
  • software security
  • software safety
  • economics
  • game-theoretic approaches to internet computing
  • database security
  • robust monitoring
  • fair and secure file sharing

Data Security & Privacy FAQs

Partnerships & Related Initiatives

RISCS supports the BU Security Group, which does research in cryptography and network security within the Department of Computer Science, and spearheads the BU Cyber Security, Law, and Society Alliance (Cyber Alliance) — a collaboration between computer science, law, business, and social science researchers to position BU as a leader in the burgeoning global discussion on cybersecurity. The Cyber Alliance aims to leverage BU’s disciplinary breadth to create opportunities for cross-disciplinary debate, research, and activities in pursuit of this goal.

Through RISCS, BU is recognized as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance Education and Research. RISCS reaches out to industry, government, and the community and has established partnerships that aim at increasing knowledge, awareness, and education in trustworthy, safe, and secure systems and networks.

People

RISCS draws on the expertise of 22 faculty and over 100 graduate students from the Faculty of Computing & Data Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Engineering, Questrom School of Business, and Metropolitan College, and provides opportunities for faculty and students from diverse fields to collaborate on interdisciplinary research problems, create new knowledge, and develop innovative multidisciplinary curricula.

The Hariri Institute has an ongoing collaboration with the Law School and Questrom School of Business’ Susilo Institute for Ethics in the Global Economy. In addition to the above BU researchers, many students as well as collaborators from Greater Boston Area institutions contribute to the BU Cyber Alliance and participate in events and related discussions.

Cyber Alliance Activities

The Cyber Alliance has established a seminar series to explore the interaction between cybersecurity technology, law, business, and policy. As part of this collaboration, cross-disciplinary talks and presentations are alternatively hosted by the Law School, Questrom School of Business, or Hariri Institute, depending on the subject matter. The Cyber Alliance Seminar Series is an opportunity for all members of the BU community to meet scholars and experts in the fascinating issues at the intersections of law, technology, business, and policy.

The alliance has also invited field experts to give seminars at BU and supported congressional briefings to continue to grow the credentials of the university in this research area. Additionally, faculty are working to create innovative learning opportunities that bring computer science, business, and law students together to tackle challenges of data ethics, ethical leadership, and cybersecurity law.

For a list of all Cyber Alliance events, please visit here.

Networks And Associations

Looking Forward

As the collaborations enabled by the Cyber Alliance continue to grow, a number of exciting opportunities for faculty and students are being planned, including:

  • Resident scholars
  • Cross-disciplinary research
  • Joint workshops
  • Development of educational training materials for lawyers like judges and prosecutors
  • Development of curricula for joint classes to BU students
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