KnowIT

DISC students take on cybersecurity challenges driven by AI and data center expansion

W. P. Carey Department of Information Systems Club members earn national accolades for excellence in risk analysis and professional development.

Isys Morrow

2026-06-22

As artificial intelligence adoption accelerates and data infrastructure rapidly expands across Arizona, students from the W. P. Carey School of Business are gaining firsthand experience solving cybersecurity challenges that will shape the industry's future.

Eight students from the Department of Information Systems Club (DISC) traveled to Harrisonburg, Virginia, to compete at the 2026 Association of Information Systems Student Chapter Leadership Conference, where they earned second place in the Cybersecurity & Risk Analysis competition, "Securing Critical Infrastructure Supporting Data Centers."

DISC also received the 2024–2025 Outstanding Professional Development Award for the organization's commitment to preparing students for careers in information systems through leadership opportunities, networking, and industry engagement.

The competition challenged students to evaluate vulnerabilities and develop strategies to protect critical infrastructure supporting modern data centers, an issue gaining urgency as AI drives unprecedented investment in digital infrastructure nationwide.

This topic is especially relevant in Arizona, where more than 125 data centers operate in Maricopa County, and demand continues to grow alongside AI adoption. As companies invest in cloud computing and AI capabilities, concerns about infrastructure resilience, cybersecurity, and energy demands continue to grow.

For DISC students, the experience showed how cybersecurity challenges extend far beyond technical systems. Students Sarayu Goorisetti (BS Economics/Business Data Analytics '26), Shriya Pratinidhi (BS Business Data Analytics/Computer Information Systems '26), Ava Vu (BS Finance/Business Data Analytics '28), and Supriya Patki (BS Business Data Analytics/Supply Chain Management '27) reflected on how the conference exposed them to real-world conversations about cybersecurity, AI infrastructure, and the future of information systems careers.

"It was such a great experience,” Pratinidhi says. I learned so much and met people who already work in the cybersecurity and infrastructure field."

The competition shifted Pratinidhi's understanding of cybersecurity by highlighting how interconnected modern infrastructure systems have become. Rather than focusing solely on technical safeguards, the team examined how disruptions to electricity, water, and connectivity could ripple through operations that depend on continuous uptime.

Patki says the team was drawn to the competition because it offered an opportunity to tackle a real-world problem and apply classroom learning in a practical setting.

"Our team was motivated by the opportunity to challenge ourselves while working on a problem that had real-world relevance," Patki says. "We wanted to apply what we were learning outside the classroom and experience what solving industry-level problems actually feels like."

Students say the rapid growth of AI is reshaping the cybersecurity landscape and placing new demands on the infrastructure that supports cloud computing and large-scale data processing.

"AI is making cybersecurity threats much more advanced and honestly a lot harder to detect," Patki says. "Attacks are becoming more human-like and difficult to discern, especially with things like phishing emails, social engineering, and AI-generated content."

The competition reinforced the importance of balancing cybersecurity improvements with operational continuity, a challenge faced daily by organizations that manage critical infrastructure.

"Our team focused on prioritizing solutions based on both security impact and operational feasibility," Patki says. "Companies running critical infrastructure cannot always make immediate, large-scale changes because uptime is extremely important."

Students said the project pushed them to consider what organizations could realistically implement.

"We tried to think like a real organization and recommend measures that could realistically be implemented within operational and financial constraints," Pratinidhi explains. "Our goal was to create recommendations that balanced security improvements with feasibility and long-term sustainability."

The experience strengthened students' communication, collaboration, and leadership skills while reinforcing the value of learning beyond the classroom. Students say DISC helped connect classroom learning with real-world industry experience through workshops, competitions, networking opportunities, and interactions with cybersecurity professionals.

"Being part of this environment taught me so many things, both professionally and personally," Patki says. "It creates a space where students can learn from each other, build confidence, and apply what they are learning in meaningful ways."

The issues students explored in the competition are becoming increasingly relevant in Arizona, where investments in data centers, semiconductor manufacturing, and AI infrastructure continue to expand.

AI technology and business impact in Arizona

Arizona's growing technology sector is creating new career opportunities in cybersecurity, data analytics, and infrastructure management, according to Pei-yu "Sharon" Chen, Red Avenue Foundation Professor, Department of Information Systems Chair, and co-director of the Center for AI and Data Analytics (AIDA) for Business and Society.

"Arizona's growth as a data center hub is creating a much stronger pipeline of opportunities for students in cybersecurity and data analytics," Chen says. "As more companies expand infrastructure here, they need talent that can protect systems, monitor performance, interpret large volumes of data, and support operations in real time."

As organizations secure increasingly complex digital environments, Chen says students will play growing roles in threat detection, system monitoring, risk analysis, incident response, and infrastructure optimization.

The rapid expansion of AI is also changing how businesses think about infrastructure and security. As organizations process larger volumes of data across interconnected systems, concerns about cyberattacks, third-party risk, and operational resilience continue to grow.

"AI is pushing businesses to view data infrastructure not simply as a support function, but as a core strategic asset," Chen says. "Businesses are no longer planning just for today's operational needs. They are investing in infrastructure that can support innovation, resilience, and competitive advantage."

For Chen, cybersecurity is becoming a business strategy issue as much as a technology one. As AI adoption accelerates, she says predictive analytics and AI-driven monitoring will play an increasingly important role in helping organizations identify potential problems before they escalate.

"Businesses should treat security as an enabler of innovation, not a barrier to it. The most effective approach is to build security capabilities into systems from the start, rather than adding them as an afterthought," Chen says. "These tools help shift organizations from a reactive posture to a proactive one, reducing downtime, limiting damage, and improving overall resilience. As systems become more complex, that kind of early warning capability becomes even more valuable."

Question: What advice would you give to students interested in tackling real-world cybersecurity and data infrastructure challenges?

Patki: Put yourself out there, even if you feel like you do not know enough.. A lot of learning comes from asking questions, participating in clubs and competitions, and collaborating with people who bring different perspectives. Cybersecurity can seem intimidating at first, but everyone starts somewhere, and the best way to grow is by being willing to learn.

Pratinidhi: Don't wait until you feel qualified enough to get involved. My team entered this competition with limited cybersecurity experience, but we relied on credible research, critical thinking, and practical problem-solving. You don't need to be an expert to contribute meaningful ideas.

Q: How did your involvement in DISC prepare you to compete at the national level?

Patki: I have been involved with DISC for the past three years and have held several leadership roles within the club. DISC helped me strengthen my communication, leadership, and teamwork skills. It also showed me how important collaboration is in tech-related fields and how much can be accomplished when people work together.

Pratinidhi: DISC exposed me to industry professionals and real-world applications of information systems beyond the classroom. As vice president of corporate relations, I’ve had opportunities to build relationships with industry leaders and learn what employers are looking for in new talent. The professional communication skills I developed through those experiences influenced how we structured and presented our analysis.

Q: What skills did you develop through this experience that apply directly to protecting large-scale data infrastructure?

Patki: I improved my ability to think strategically about balancing security with operational reliability because, in critical infrastructure, you cannot simply shut everything down to fix a problem. Beyond technical aspects, I also learned how important communication, teamwork, and collaboration are when solving complex challenges.

Pratinidhi: One of the greatest skills I developed was learning how to approach cybersecurity from a risk assessment perspective. I became better at identifying vulnerabilities, understanding how attacks could unfold, and explaining why those risks matter from a business standpoint. I also improved my ability to communicate technical concepts clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences. As a future data analyst, I know the ability to translate complex information into actionable recommendations will be valuable throughout my career.

As Arizona continues to attract investment in data centers, semiconductor manufacturing, and AI infrastructure, opportunities for students to tackle real-world cybersecurity challenges are likely to grow. For the DISC team, the competition offered a glimpse of the increasingly complex issues organizations face — and the role future information systems professionals will play in helping solve them.

Information Systems W. P. Carey School of Business