Digital Forensics Garners Prestigious Cybersecurity Designation
ALBANY, N.Y. (Oct. 1, 2024) — The University at Albany’s undergraduate program in Digital Forensics has been recognized by the National Security Agency/Central Security Service (NSA/CSS) for excellence in cyber defense research.
The program, which prepares students for careers in industry, law enforcement and government to tackle cyberattacks, data breaches, fraud, financial crimes or other malicious activity, has received a new 5-year designation as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Research (CAE-R). UAlbany’s Massry School of Business was previously recognized from 2018 through 2023. This new designation runs from 2024 through 2029.
In order to achieve CAE-R status, institutions must meet nine criteria, including holding Carnegie Classification and external professional and scholarly service in cybersecurity-related research. In order to be redesignated with CAE-R status, an institution such as UAlbany must provide evidence that its faculty are creating a “CAE Community of Practice in Cyber Research,” namely that the University is committed to curriculum development, faculty development, community outreach and is integrating cybersecurity practice across academic disciplines.
“This is a testament to the strong research in cybersecurity being conducted across several schools including the Massry School of Business, the College of Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security and Cybersecurity, and the College of Nanotechnology, Science, and Engineering,” said Morris Massry Endowed Professor and Chair, Information Security and Digital Forensics Sanjay Goel. “We are honored to receive this prestigious recognition the National Security Agency/Central Security Service.”
The National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity program dates to 1999, when the National Security Agency launched the Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance Education program. The rigorous program was initially created to address the shortage of intelligence community professionals and was later expanded to address the need for more highly-trained cybersecurity professionals in the workforce.
UAlbany’s Bachelor of Science in Digital Forensics prepares students careers in cyber threat mitigation. Graduates of the program, which was first launched in 2013, have gone on to consult with Fortune 500 companies as well as federal government/law enforcement agencies on forensic technology, cyber risk, regulatory/compliance and criminal investigations as well as perform cyber intelligence and systems defense related to cyberattacks.
In 2023, the Digital Forensics program was recognized for the first time as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense (CAE-CDE), a designation which runs through 2028. Specifically, UAlbany has been recognized as a Center of Academic Excellence – Cyber Defense Education, a designation bestowed by the National Information Assurance Education Training Program (NIETP).
Sponsored by the National Security Agency and the Department of Homeland Security, NIETP operates under national authority as the manager for cyber defense education and training relating to national security systems.