SETU proudly hosted the Cyber Research Conference Ireland 2024 (Cyber-RCI) on 25 November bringing together leading academics and industry professionals. The conference, held at SETU's state-of-the-art facilities, emphasised Ireland’s growing prominence in cybersecurity research and innovation.
Speaking at the event, David Denieffe, Conference Co-chair and SETU Vice-President for Student Experience, welcomed Cyber-RCI to SETU and noted,
“Building on a strong track record established over the past number of years, Cyber-RCI is a key national conference recognised by IEEE. It serves to connect national and international researchers and innovators. We are delighted to host Cyber-RCI and I wish to congratulate and thank all involved in making this happen.”
On SETU hosting this year’s conference, Dr Frances Hardiman, Conference Co-Chair and SETU Head (Carlow) of Faculty of Engineering, commented:
"Cyber-RCI 2024 demonstrates the vibrant research community we have in Ireland and SETU’s commitment to supporting advancements in this critical area. We are proud to host such a pivotal event and look forward to continued collaboration in cybersecurity research."
Dr James Egan, Conference Co-chair and Programme Director of the SETU's Master of Science (M.Sc.) in Cybersecurity, Privacy and Trust, reflected on the event. He said,
“The feedback from the attendees from the event was really excellent, we had a wide variety of sessions that showcased the latest research on Artificial Intelligence, Digital Forensics, Operations Technology and Education from a Cybersecurity point of view. The Cyber Ireland sponsored Industry session where Cybersecurity professionals presented the latest developments and emerging threats was one of many highlights of the day.”
Keynote speakers
The conference featured compelling keynote addresses from two distinguished experts, Dr Mark Scanlon and Professor Markus Helfert. Dr Scanlon is an Associate Professor at University College Dublin (UCD) and he delivered the fascinating opening keynote entitled, ‘Large Language Models: What Are They Good For!?’. Following this, Prof. Helfert, a leading researcher in digital transformation at Maynooth University, captivated attendees with his speech on ‘Cybersecurity and Future Service’.
A rich research agenda
The conference offered a rich agenda, featuring diverse paper sessions that highlighted research in key areas of cybersecurity. This included:
- Digital Forensics and Operational Technology Cybersecurity: Papers explored topics such as network forensic readiness, ransomware defence for satellites, and geolocation techniques for combating human trafficking.
- Artificial Intelligence in Cybersecurity: Researchers presented advancements in adaptive honeypots managed by AI and synthetic dataset generation for cyber incident response.
- Cyber Challenges in Healthcare and Dynamic Digital Resilience: This special session addressed the vulnerabilities in healthcare systems and best practices for incident response and resilience.
- Cybersecurity Research in Ireland: Presentations highlighted local innovations, including capture-the-flag educational experiences, public sector challenges, and women's responses to cyber-located sexual violence.
Industry collaboration and networking
The conference also featured an Industry Session sponsored by Cyber Ireland, bridging the gap between research and practice. Industry experts presented on topics such as hardware attestation protocols, threat actor analysis, and cybersecurity education strategies. The session concluded with discussions on how businesses can collaborate with academic institutions like SETU to drive impactful research and innovation.
Celebrating excellence and looking ahead
The awards for ‘Best Paper’ and ‘Best Presenter’ were announced at the event’s close. The awards celebrated contributions that push the boundaries of cybersecurity knowledge. Attendees praised the event for creating meaningful connections, with many noting its role in strengthening Ireland’s cybersecurity ecosystem.
Cyber-RCI 2024 has cemented its position as a key event for the cybersecurity community, fostering collaboration and innovation. University of Galway will host Cyber-RCI 2025.
For more information on the conference and its proceedings, click here.
