IRT Nanoelec takes part in day-long conference on digital security in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region

ANSSI (France’s national information systems security agency) held a day-long conference on digital security on March 23 with the support of Grenoble Institute of Technology’s Ense3 energy, water, and environmental engineering school and IRT Nanoelec. The meeting gave local stakeholders an opportunity to share their thoughts on digital security.

The day’s program included speakers from Atos Worldgrid, Stormshield, the AMNECYS (Alpine Multidisciplinary NEtwork on CYbersecurity Studies) and RENATER (REseau NAtional de Télécommunications pour la Technologie l’Enseignement et la Recherche) networks, Leti, Grenoble Institute of Technology’s Ense3 energy, water, and environmental engineering school, law firm Fourmann & Peuchot, and ANSSI (France’s national information systems security agency). In the opening remarks to the conference, ANSSI pointed out that a comprehensive and structured approach is crucial to ensuring information system security. IRT Nanoelec gave a presentation on how cybersecurity is addressed in a cross-disciplinary manner by several IRT Nanoelec programs.

For example, the PULSE program is currently developing two demonstrators. The first will assess the potential of Blockchain technology and smart contract traceability to manage transactions. The second will result in new, more robust, hardware and software modules that will be useful in creating components capable of withstanding cyberattacks.

The Easytech program was created to help SMBs integrate smart capabilities into their products through micro and nanoelectronics and embedded software technologies developed by research labs. Since its inception, more than 100 joint projects have been set up, some of which are helping SMBs make their products and services more secure.

The IRT Nanoelec education and training program, which is run jointly with business school Grenoble Ecole de Management and Grenoble Institute of Technology, is developing new continuing and executive education programs to meet these business’ needs based on a survey of their educational and training needs completed in 2015.

Starting in 2018, Grenoble Institute of Technology will offer a certificate program in cybersecurity prevention for IS security managers. The program will give professionals the skills they need to make sure that their organizations’ increasingly-interconnected information systems and infrastructure are secure.

And, starting in October 2017, Grenoble Ecole de Management will offer a continuing education program in IT security and risk management. The program will teach management-level employees of large companies and corporations to assess the risks created by information management in an interconnected environment. Participants will learn to develop and implement a security policy that responds adequately to the risks identified and will be capable of handling incidents and crises that may arise.

The IRT Nanoelec education and training program also spearheaded the overhaul of the IT security course offered as part of the executive education Master’s in IS & Management program. The updated course now covers connected objects and offers a more immersive learning experience to give participating managers the skills they need to face their organizations’ challenges in areas like cybersecurity, smart interconnected systems, and IoT. Another program, this one at Grenoble Institute of Technology’s Esisar IT and network engineering school, was completely overhauled and received ANSSI certification.

This day-long event showcased the excellence of the Rhône-Alpes ecosystem, both in terms of industry and academia.