Dr. Rick Franza, Dean of the Hull College of Business, discusses a different, timely business topic each Monday in this column. This week, he talks about cyber education and its effect on business. The interview has been edited for clarity and impact.
ABD: We’ve heard a lot about cyber security the last few years in this area, with the Army’s Cyber Command coming to Fort Gordon, Department of Defense contractors relocating here, and the Georgia Cyber Center. It sometimes seems like cyber is just about the government; is it more than that?
Rick: We typically talk about cyber security as being related to the military and national security. But cyber security attempts to keep information secure, so when you start thinking about what area requires security, the big area is financial. If your information system is compromised, people can take control of your finances or sabotage your business. When it comes to processing financial events and transactions, Georgia has more than 70 percent of the market. If the financial markets or credit card processing is compromised, you’ve got big trouble.
The supply chain is also run by information systems, so if the information system is compromised, the supply chain goes down. Another important part people often don’t think about is the security of health care information. Not only is there a lot of personal health information in those systems, but more and more health care devices are run by computers and those could be sabotaged.
Cyber is pervasive. With the Army bringing it to Fort Gordon, it’s obvious here, but throughout the state, the country, and the world, you can’t run a business without it.
ABD: How does Augusta University and Hull College fit into the cyber arena?
Rick: Before the cyber tsunami, the School of Computer Science and Cyber was at Hull College but shortly thereafter, with everything that was going on locally and statewide, they decided to make it part of the Cyber Center and really put an emphasis on cyber. It was interesting for me to learn from the dean of the school, Alex Schwartzmann, that you can’t be good at cyber without a good foundation in computer science.
Here at Hull College, along with the School of Computer Science and Cyber, we’ve created a Masters-level degree program for people to understand the intersection of technology and business management. Some people are savvy about one or the other but the twain rarely meet.
ABD: It seems that whether you’re a company offering technical services or a company that relies on technology to operate, having someone who can understand both fields will be valuable.
Rick: It’s extremely valuable to have people who can do both, but there are not a lot of degree programs or training like that.
Too often, when science or engineering companies need to fill a management position, they move their best technician or their best scientist into management. All you’ve done is make your company weaker twice. And on the other side, computer systems are the most likely area to be the one where you don’t know what you don’t know.
ABD: Beyond the management area, with more companies relying on cyber to run their businesses, will the knowledge base of at least basic computer skills become more important for all employees?
Rick: There’s going to be more work switched over to technology and artificial intelligence, so workers need to understand that, too.
