Travelling abroad for educational opportunities is familiar to Shahana Fatima, an international student from India pursuing a master's degree in cybersecurity at Illinois Tech. In the summer of 2024, she joined four classmates on a project in Kosovo to design and deploy cybersecurity infrastructure for Three Folders, a marketing company in Pristina.
“It was a big opportunity, going to a different country,” Fatima shared. Her team developed a comprehensive security solution including an intruder detection system and firewall. “Basically, we worked on the entire cybersecurity structure,” she explained. The project involved consulting with the company's chief information officer.
Challenges included adapting to new technologies, understanding legal frameworks in Kosovo and the EU, and addressing ethical issues faced by the company. “We knew the solutions and how to implement them,” said Fatima. Teamwork played a crucial role: “Through teamwork, we were able to figure it out.”
The team was organized by Maurice Dawson, Associate Professor of Information Technology and Management at Illinois Tech. The students brought diverse expertise in cyber forensics, digital evidence, vulnerability analysis, among other areas.
Fatima's experience in Kosovo is part of her preparation for further studies in cyber forensics as she aims to pursue a Ph.D. She has expressed interest in law enforcement careers facilitated by cyber forensics skills.
“I have ample information and knowledge that I could easily find a job in cybersecurity," Fatima noted. However, her focus remains on learning more about cyber forensics as evidenced by her choice of Illinois Tech—a university known for its specialized program led by experienced faculty.
“The professors here are exemplary,” she remarked about her educational experience at Illinois Tech.