The FBI presented the 2020 FBI Director’s Community Leadership Award to the University of North Florida Information Technology Services department.
FBI Jacksonville Special Agent in Charge Rachel Rojas presented the award to Jeff Durfee, UNF Director of Networking, Systems and Security, on Aug. 23.
Since 2016, UNF’s Information Technology Services has partnered with the FBI Jacksonville Division to host an annual UNF-FBI Cyber Security Symposium.
The free event provides business professionals, government officials, academics and law enforcement officers in North Florida with information about emerging cyberthreats and guidance for the prevention of cyberattacks.
“In recent years, the FBI has seen a significant increase in cyberattacks, resulting in an increasing need from local business owners and operators for information to protect their systems,” Rojas said.
“Partnering with UNF to host these conferences has allowed special agents from FBI Jacksonville to bring this guidance to the wider community. Simply said, the FBI could not fulfill the cyber information needs of this community without the help of the UNF-ITS team.”
Special agents in charge of each of the bureau’s 56 field offices present the award on behalf of the FBI director.
The award was established in 1990 to honor individuals and organizations for efforts in combating crime, terrorism, drugs and violence in America, according to fbi.gov.
UNF Information Technology Services provides computer and software support, academic technology, networking, information systems, IT training and outreach, telephone and television services, systems integration, development, business services and IT security services to the academic and administrative communities at the university.
It also manages and supports email, web and file storage systems for students, faculty and staff.