Research & Projects

Overview

Led a research initiative at the University of South Carolina Aiken, exploring the security landscape of Internet of Things (IoT) devices on college campuses. The project focused on identifying vulnerabilities, assessing security risks, and proposing strategies to strengthen digital ecosystems in academic environments.

Key Objectives & Methodology

• Comprehensive IoT Security Assessment

  • Conducted an in-depth analysis of IoT device prevalence and security risks at USC Aiken.

  • Identified vulnerabilities in connected campus technologies, emphasizing potential security threats.

• Multifaceted Research Approach

  • Utilized surveys, network monitoring, and simulated attacks to assess cybersecurity risks.

  • Examined the impact of default credentials, weak authentication mechanisms, and network security gaps.

• Cybersecurity Enhancement Strategies

  • Developed recommendations for strengthening IoT security protocols in academic settings.

  • Advocated for proactive security measures, including enhanced authentication, encryption, and device monitoring.

Results & Impact

• Critical Findings on IoT Security

  • Discovered a diverse range of IoT devices across the campus, highlighting their rapid integration.

  • Identified common vulnerabilities, such as default credentials, emphasizing the need for stringent security controls.

• Security Recommendations & Awareness

  • Proposed robust security policies to mitigate IoT-related risks in academic environments.

  • Raised awareness of the delicate balance between IoT innovation and cybersecurity in educational institutions.

This research underscores the importance of proactive security strategies in safeguarding IoT ecosystems within academic settings, offering valuable insights into risk mitigation and cybersecurity best practices.

Overview

As part of our class project, EquiTrust faced a simulated cybersecurity crisis—a breach in July 2023 that exposed vulnerabilities in the customer application portal. This scenario highlighted the critical importance of cybersecurity and prompted the development of the Secure Software Engineering Initiative—a strategic approach to enhance security measures and tackle complex cybersecurity challenges.

Key Objectives & Strategies

• Threat Mitigation & Security Enhancements

  • Identify and rectify simulated vulnerabilities such as SQL injection and cross-site scripting (XSS) in the customer application portal.

• Regulatory Alignment & Compliance

  • Integrate NIST and OWASP security frameworks into the simulated operational landscape.

  • Ensure adherence to best practices through hypothetical third-party security audits.

• Agile & Secure Development Practices

  • Implement agile methodologies and secure coding principles throughout the simulated software development lifecycle.

  • Conduct simulated penetration testing to evaluate and reinforce system defenses.

• Comprehensive Risk Management

  • Develop a metric-driven strategy to quantify and track financial risks, customer trust metrics, and system vulnerabilities within the controlled simulation.

  • Use data visualization tools to analyze trends in simulated stock performance, customer satisfaction, and vulnerability distribution.

Results & Impact

• Enhanced Security Posture

  • Strengthened cybersecurity defenses by adopting OWASP best practices and aligning with NIST guidelines.

• Regulatory Compliance & Audit Success

  • Achieved simulated regulatory compliance through structured security audits and risk assessments.

• Integrated Cybersecurity Measures

  • Successfully incorporated agile methodologies, secure coding practices, and penetration testing into the software development lifecycle.

• Data-Driven Risk Management

  • Reduced simulated financial losses and improved vulnerability tracking through strategic risk management techniques.

Through this structured initiative, EquiTrust's Secure Software Engineering Initiative serves as a proactive and strategically-driven approach to cybersecurity, demonstrating how organizations can anticipate, mitigate, and manage security threats within a controlled simulation.

Overview

Our group developed a Java-based Bus Station Management System designed to streamline bus and station operations. The program enables users to efficiently store, modify, and access bus-related data while incorporating advanced route planning capabilities based on geographical inputs.

Key Features & Objectives

• Bus Station Database: Provides user-friendly functionalities for adding, modifying, and deleting bus and station details.

• Route Planning System: Utilizes latitude and longitude coordinates to calculate distances between stations and assist in fuel requirement estimations.

• Graphical User Interface (GUI): Enhances usability, ensuring an intuitive experience for users.

• Dynamic Bus Management: Leverages ArrayLists to accommodate an unlimited number of buses, improving scalability.

• Fuel Burn Optimization: Refines fuel consumption calculations for more accurate trip planning.

• Project Challenges & Solutions: Addressed communication barriers, optimized time management, and efficiently resolved bugs throughout development.

Results & Achievements

• Successfully implemented a scalable, user-friendly system for managing buses and stations.

• Developed an accurate route planning tool leveraging geographic data.

• Improved efficiency in trip planning and fuel estimation, meeting the project's technical and functional objectives.

• Overcame development challenges, ensuring seamless teamwork and effective debugging.

• Developed the Bus Station project as part of the Software Engineering course at USC Aiken.

• The professor alternates between the Bus Station and Flight Planning projects each year.

• While my assigned project was the Bus Station, I challenged myself to independently recreate the Flight Manager program based on its requirements.

• This self-initiated project expanded my skills in software development and problem-solving.