U Nevada-Reno’s programs Designated Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense (CAE-CD)

Of the multidisciplinary nature of the Cybersecurity Center and the cyber defense education on campus, LaTourrette said, “It used to be that cybersecurity was viewed as a strictly technical concern. Putting up firewalls, for instance, to protect data. But not anymore. For example, many breaches are the result of social engineering, such as phishing. So, organizations need to bring in psychologists to help establish effective training programs. With the advent of data privacy laws we need public policy experts, attorneys, and ethicists. A strong cybersecurity program really needs personnel from many disciplines. We need diversity of thought.”

The Nevada Cyber Club and Increased Opportunities for Students

UNR notes that to achieve CAE-CD status, the program had to demonstrate existing robust opportunities for students to engage with the material. In addition to the coursework and events through the Cybersecurity Center, under the leadership of Bill Doherty and with additional support from the College of Business, the Nevada Cyber Club plays an important role in giving students hands-on experience with the principles under consideration. Through events like the National Cyber League Competition, students gain experience in nine essential cybersecurity workforce categories: open source intelligence, cryptography, password cracking, log analysis, network traffic analysis, wireless access and web app exploitations, scanning and enumeration.

“The Cyber Club engaging students outside of the classroom really helped put the pieces together,” LaTourrette said.

While the CAE-CD designation is a validation of the strength of the program and the infrastructure around it, like the Cybersecurity Center and the Nevada Cyber Club, it will also open doors for students. By studying in a CAE-CD designated program, students will have the ability to apply for scholarships and research funding and opportunities that would otherwise be unavailable to them.

“When students look to programs to apply to, they ask if we are a CAE organization,” Sengupta said. “The designation is a testament to the strength of the faculty, administration and program. It is very prestigious.”

College of Engineering Dean Manos Maragakis added, “The faculty in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering continue to build on a rich tradition of excellence. Their commitment to the success of their students and to performing groundbreaking, multidisciplinary research is vital for the safety of our country and the integrity of the cyber infrastructure that is crucial in every facet of modern life. We are proud of their effort, which has culminated in this important recognition of their achievements. Congratulations to them and all the faculty from across campus that participate in the Center.”