UB designated a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Research through 2028

By Elizabeth Egan 

The designation recognizes the university’s ability to meet the increasing demands of program criteria that will contribute to the protection of national information infrastructure. It is awarded by the National Security Agency (NSA) to Department of Defense schools, military academies, or regionally accredited, doctoral degree granting, four-year institutions.

“The designation is a seal of approval by the NSA to confirm that our program meets their standards in terms of cybersecurity research, education, and workforce development for the protection of the national information infrastructure,” said Shambhu Upadhyaya, a professor in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering and director of the Center of Excellence in Information Systems Assurance Research and Education (CEISARE).

Much of UB’s cybersecurity education and research takes place in CEISARE. The center offers graduate education and coordinated research in computer security and information assurance (IA) by faculty members from several schools and departments at the university.

“The quality of research, funding and outreach activities that we conduct in the cybersecurity area makes us stand out from programs elsewhere in the country at our peer institutions,” said Upadhyaya.

The center conducts research in intrusion detection, cyber situation awareness, insider threat assessment and mitigation, language-oriented security, hardware security, trustworthy computing and continuous authentication using behavioral biometrics.

Since its establishment, CEISARE has received over $14 million in research and education grants from agencies such as the National Science Foundation, the NSA, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency and the Air Force Research Laboratory, as well as companies such as Intel Corporation and Harris Communication.

The CAE-R designation also brings prominence to UB’s Cybersecurity Master of Science program—a joint effort by the School of Management and the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences—particularly from federal agencies, which in turn helps students to find cybersecurity jobs within these agencies. The designation allows UB to compete for grants that are set aside for CAE-R universities.

UB’s cybersecurity certificate program is offered to equip students with a deep understanding of computer security and how the rapid growth of the internet and new information channels makes security a top priority. The program includes courses on computer security, modern networking concepts, information assurance and digital forensics, all of which provide students with the necessary knowledge to enter a career in cybersecurity, says Upadhyaya, program director. UB also offers a minor in cybersecurity.  

In addition to the CAE-R, UB has been continuously designated as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense since 2002.