(traduzione italiana)
IsacaRoma (IR): Hello Dr Ciechanowicz. Could you present the Information Security Group at Royal Holloway, University of London?

Chez Ciechanowicz (CC): The Information Security Group  (ISG) is one of the largest academic security groups in the world. It brings together in a single institution expertise in education, research and practice in the field of information security. The ISG offers an active research environment. It has a thriving PhD community, and offers world-leading masters degree programmes (campus-based and online), as well as postgraduate diploma programmes in information security.

IR: What about the BSc in Secure Computing?

CC: The ISG, jointly with the Department of Computer Science, has launched a new BSc in Secure Computing. You can now study the best way of protecting businesses, government and individuals from fraud, from deliberate damage via hacking, viruses and worms, and from blackmailers threatening damage by studying the subject at undergraduate level. Undergraduates will study cryptography, security of software and architectures for trusted computer systems under the supervision of a leading researcher in information security, alongside the fundamentals of computer science including Java programming, databases and networks. Entry requirements for this degree programme are ABB at A-level, including either mathematics or a rigorous science.

IR: What about your MSc in Information Security?

CC: The M.Sc. degree is a non-mathematical interdisciplinary course taught by the Information Security Group (ISG), and security experts from industry. It is designed to introduce the technical, legal and commercial aspects of Information Security and is available through two distinct pathways:

• Technical Pathway
• Secure Digital Business Pathway

Students of the degree come from a variety of backgrounds, ranging from new graduates through to very senior security managers (from blue chip enterprises) seeking a formal qualification in Information Security; part-time students are particularly encouraged. Quite a few of the students on the MSc already hold CISA, CISM, and CISSP qualifications. The degree is intended as a foundation for a professional career in Information Security. Graduates of the degree are expected to find employment in both industry and commerce as security experts, and the need for such experts is likely to be very high for the foreseeable future. Indeed, our ex-students can now be found in many organisations working as security professionals, some of whom are now in very senior positions. These organisations range from large financial institutions to technology and research oriented organisations, as well as security specialists. To ensure that the course is completely up to date, several modules involve substantial input from internationally recognised information security experts. Furthermore, all of the academic staff have links with external organisations that are involved with information security and secure digital business, including many of the largest such organisations in the country.  To date, more than 1000 students have completed the MSc.

IR: And what about Research Degrees?

CC: MPhil degrees normally last for a minimum of 2 years full-time; MPhil leading to PhD and PhD degrees normally last for a minimum of 3 years full-time. Students are registered initially for the degree of MPhil with the opportunity of transferring to PhD status after one or two years following a formal review of progress. Only when candidates are exceptionally well qualified - for example if they already hold an MPhil degree - will the College consider initial registration for the PhD degree. Part-time research students will normally be registered for at least 4 years before submission of their thesis.

IR: Do you have many foreign students and researchers at ISG? What about Italians?

CC: There are currently over 90 nationalities represented on the campus and as a result the College is familiar with the educational systems of very many countries around the world. Applicants with qualifications from overseas are asked to supply a transcript of their studies. If you are in doubt about your qualifications, your local British Council Office may be able to advise you. In the past we have had Italian students studying the Information Security MSc.

IR: What about on-line masters degree programmes?

CC: The Information Security Group also offers a distance (online) learning version of the MSc in Information Security. This highly successful programme operates through the University of London External Programme and commenced in October 2003. The online and the campus-based MScs are in fact identical; the only difference is in terms of the mode of delivery.  There are currently in the region of 200 online MSc students. Full information about this programme can be found on the home page of the University of London External Programme

IR: Thank you Dr. Ciechanowicz

CC: Thanks you

Who is Chez Ciechanowicz?

Dr Chez Ciechanowicz (B.Sc. Ph.D. (London)) is Course Director of Information Security Group at Royal Holloway, University of London. He received his BSc (Hons) in Pure Mathematics in 1975 from the University of London, and his PhD degree in Mathematics (also from the University of London) in 1980. He then worked at the National Physical Laboratory for five years specialising firstly in compiler validation, then in cryptography and digital signatures. He ended his stay at the Laboratory holding the rank of Senior Scientific Officer. His next appointment was as a full-time lecturer in the Computer Science Department of Royal Holloway, his main area of interest being cryptography. Between 1999 and 2001 Chez worked as a consultant at Baltimore Technologies (a company that works exclusively in the area of Information Security). His main areas of interest at Baltimore were risk analysis and security management. Chez has performed numerous security reviews for large Government departments and industrial institutions throughout Europe and the States. He was a principal author of Baltimore's own risk analysis method. He is editor of the Elsevier Information Security Technical Report. For an extended period Chez was on secondment to the Information Security Group as the Baltimore Teaching Fellow. He is also a member of the BCS ISEB Information Security Management Certificate Board. Chez became a permanent member of the group in 2001.