Faculty Activity Highlight: Mrs. Suriya P, TCRO invited as a Session Chair and Resource Person for the AICTE–ATAL Sponsored 5-Day Faculty Development Program (FDP)

Mrs. Suriya P, Teaching cum Research Officer (IT), Rashtiry Raksha University, Puducherry Campus, was invited as a Session Chair and Resource Person for the AICTE–ATAL Sponsored 5-Day Faculty Development Program (FDP) on “AI–IoT Edge Revolution: Building the Future of Smart Systems,” which was held on 20th November 2025 at Manakula Vinayagar Institute of Technology, Puducherry.

The FDP focused on emerging technologies shaping the next wave of digital transformation, and it was a privilege to contribute a hands-on session to such a highly engaged audience of faculty and researchers. The FDP brought together faculty members, researchers, and technology professionals to explore the rapidly evolving landscape of AI-driven IoT systems and next-generation smart infrastructure. It was a privilege to contribute a hands-on session to such an enthusiastic and highly interactive audience.

Mrs. Suriya delivered an Expert Talk on the topic: Industry-Scale IoT Applications, Cybersecurity & Data Privacy. In this technical session, she has provided participants with practical exposure to real-world IoT infrastructures, along with the challenges and vulnerabilities that often go unnoticed in critical systems. And also Presented a Puducherry-specific case study, demonstrating how misconfigurations and unsecured devices can escalate into high-impact cyber incidents.

Key Highlights of the Session:

1. Why Cybersecurity Fails in Critical Infrastructure:

Participants learned about the root causes of security failures in large-scale IoT deployments, including:

• Legacy hardware without security patches
• Network segmentation gaps
• Weak authentication practices
• Lack of continuous monitoring
• Human and procedural vulnerabilities

2. Hands-on Lab: Networking & IoT Security Tools 

To ensure practical learning, the session included hands-on demonstrations

NMAP – Network Scanning & Reconnaissance 

Participants explored how attackers—and defenders—use Nmap to:

• Detect open ports
• Identify running services
• Map network architecture
• Perform vulnerability-oriented scans

This provided a strong foundation for understanding network exposure in IoT environments. SHODAN – The IoT Device Search Engine. The group also worked with Shodan, the world’s first search engine for Internet-connected devices.They learned to:

• Identify exposed cameras, routers, industrial control systems
• Understand risk posture of public-facing IoT devices
• Detect misconfigured systems and outdated firmware
• Interpret banners to evaluate security readiness

This exercise revealed how quickly unsecured IoT devices can be located globally—and even locally. By the end of the workshop, participants gained "A clear understanding of IoT cybersecurity failures in real-world systems, Awareness of risks specific to Puducherry’s digital infrastructure, Practical exposure to essential cybersecurity tools, Confidence to integrate IoT security into teaching, research, and institutional projects.