Cybersecurity capstone project bridges classroom and business worlds

April 25, 2024

Penetration tests, or simulated cyber-attacks, can be used to expose a business’ security vulnerabilities. For their capstone project, senior computer science students Michael Benington and Alexander Jones conducted a penetration test for a local security company, uncovering vulnerabilities in the company’s security systems.

Benington and Jones’ project was inspired by Xavier’s cybersecurity concentration which is an interdisciplinary effort of Xavier’s Computer Science and Business Analytics and Information Systems departments. (Xavier is a designated Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense from the National Security Agency.)  Through their capstone, Benington and Jones applied theoretical knowledge from the classroom to gain practical experience. “We had to learn how to think like a potential attacker to better defend against them and gained insights into the legal and ethical considerations involved in penetration testing,” Benington said.

According to Benington, the capstone project was rewarding in many ways. “My favorite part of this project was the ability to connect and help a local business, helping them understand what vulnerabilities they have and how to prevent these types of attacks in the future,” Benington said. “Getting to provide support to a local business while gaining important experience was very exciting to me.”

Benington advises students working toward a senior capstone project to start planning early. “Choose a project that genuinely interests you and excites you, as this will keep you motivated throughout the process,” he said. “Use this as an opportunity to bridge the gap between your academic knowledge and the real world.”

Written by: Julia Hootman
CAS Student Employee
Computer Science major