DSU joins consortium to prevent cybercrime

A new consortium between Dakota State University (DSU), the South Dakota Fusion Center (SDFC), and the state Bureau of Information and Telecommunications (BIT) will blend their capabilities to effect cybercrime prevention, intelligence, digital forensics, and open-source intelligence (OSINT) operations.

“As cybercriminals increasingly target our local governments and essential services, the South Dakota Cybercrime Prevention Consortium is critical for South Dakota,” said Dr. Ashley Podhradsky, Vice President for Research & Economic Development. “This partnership strengthens our defense against those who threaten our security and daily life. Together, we are building a safer, more secure future for every citizen in our state.”

The South Dakota Cybercrime Prevention Consortium will capitalize on the purpose and strengths of each entity. DSU brings its academic and research capabilities, particularly with cybersecurity and digital forensics. The SDFC will serve as a sentinel to guard against cyber threats and ensure the digital safety of the region, with a focus on intelligence and cyber intelligence.

BIT brings its expertise at protecting the state against cyber threats and ensuring its digital safety, with a focus on cyber threat prevention.

The Consortium’s objectives are to work together on proactive measures like research that will prevent cyber threats, and collaborate on investigations by optimizing resources and expertise. The group will also work to gather and analyze OSINT, and mitigate the risk of cyber threats by engaging in security assessments and analyzing cyberattacks against government resources.

The DSU Applied Research building, currently under construction in Sioux Falls, will house the consortium.