NC State University was selected by the National Security Agency (NSA) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) as one of the first 23 National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity Research (CAE-R). The CAE-R program recognizes schools that foster a cybersecurity research focus in curriculum and labs. It establishes a process that will present opportunities for cybersecurity research centers to drill deeper into solutions to securing the global information grid and also provide NSA, DHS and other federal agencies insight into the academic cybersecurity programs that can support advanced academic research and development. These agencies recognize the need for robust cybersecurity technology, policy, and practices in order to enable the nation to prevent or respond to a catastrophic event. NC State will hold this designation from 2008 to 2030 (renewed in 2014, 2019, and 2025). CAE-R universities are eligible for scholarships and grants through both the Federal and Department of Defense Scholarship Programs. The designation can lead to many opportunities for advanced research in the field, and it is a testament to the outstanding cybersecurity research already being conducted at NC State, and in particular, within the Department of Computer Science.

CAE Points of Contact:

• Primary PoC: Dr. William Enck, Professor, Computer Science [email, web]
• Secondary PoC: Dr. Isabella White, Director of Cybersecurity Education and Assistant Teaching Professor, Computer Science [email, web]

Validated Program of Study

• PhD in Computer Science

Affiliated Departments and Groups:

• Department of Computer Science
• Secure Computing Institute
• Wolfpack Security and Privacy Research (WSPR) Laboratory