Asif Shaikh
Coffee and Conversation with Asif Shaikh and Miquelle de la Ossa | English | Digital Narratives | February 19, 2021
Why FSU?
I would say that It was not that easy decision. Had a background in Business (Marketing) studies but got a chance to work in the cybersecurity area. I searched for the programs at FSU and FSU has School of Information which focuses on Cybersecurity and particularly, in Behavioral Cybersecurity for the students who had no core Computer Science background. It was a great fit for me based on my educational and working experience.
Motivation to pursue a graduate degree
Being an International student, working in the U.S. was a big opportunity. The area I worked in personally identifiable information has a great potential in the internet of things (IoT) world, my interest, and the demand for cybersecurity experts is very high.
Importance of research and work
The reliance on internet from online banking to online grocery has taken a cyber space to the new heights. But this space keeps bringing new threats for individuals and organizations. Compromising one’s Personally Identifiable Information is an increasing phenomenon in the recent times. The fraudsters are using innovative ways by using the technology to capture sensitive data assets and sold in the market. Studying behavioral cybersecurity focuses on the insiders when they become threats for the individuals and the organizations. Such insiders have posed a challenge to the organizations as over 70% frauds are being done by insiders not by outsiders. My focus is on insiders who are working inside the organization, have the privileged access to the sensitive assets, and how smartphones and other IT tools facilitate in compromising the data. My research would be beneficial for the organizations to implement informal IT use policies and thereby reducing the insider threats.
Career aspirations
I would like to do a consulting for different companies so that fraud may be reduced significantly.
Advice for anyone considering graduate school
Choosing graduate school and pursuing a graduate degree is an important decision of life. The right combination of the school program, the faculty interest, the research projects is the key.
Funding
I received funding from my school (School of Information, FSU). I had teaching assignments.