The Cyber Crime Technology program at Southwestern Community College has received $44,000 in software from Tech Assist Inc., a Florida-based firm that specializes in computer service and repair.

This new software will help students in SCC’s cyber crime program as they learn how to recover evidence from computers and disks that belong to suspected cyber-criminals.

“In my opinion, this is a great example of the win-win scenario of corporate giving,” said Kirk Stephens, an instructor in the cyber crime program at SCC. “In the short-term, our students receive hands-on classroom training with industry-leading software tools. As graduates, those same students will adopt and purchase Tech Assist’s software suite as the foundation of corporate and law-enforcement standards.”

Tech Assist provided three software packages to SCC: “Byte Back” data recovery and computer forensic tools; “Desktop Surveillance” — a recording and access control application; and “Detective” — a PC data sleuth. The software will help students obtain skills that are in high demand nationwide.

“Both public and private sector employers are increasingly demanding forensically sound information resource management and security,” said Stephens. “Using Tech Assist software, we teach students the latest techniques for investigation, evidence handling and preservation, data analysis as well as theories of proper planning and incident response.”

The donation from Tech Assist was particularly welcome in light of the state’s present budget crunch.

“Due to tight budgetary constraints, our college would not have been able to outfit our entire cyber crime lab with this phenomenal software suite had it not been for the generosity demonstrated by Tech Assist,” said Mike Burnette, also a faculty member in SCC’s cyber crime program. “Our students will gain substantial benefit by training with ‘state of the art’ forensic software. There is no way to measure the positive effects this contribution will have on our cyber crime technology program.”

In addition to Tech Assist’s recent software donation, the program has received $23,500 in funding from local and statewide agencies since last August when it launched as the first cyber crime associate’s degree curriculum in the nation.

For more information, visit www.southwesterncc.edu on the Internet or call 586.4091 or 800.447.4091, ext. 352.