About CIPhER
The Center for Information Protection, Education, and Research (CIPhER) provides the opportunity for faculty and students from NSU and institutions throughout South Florida, as well as industry and government partners, to develop innovative solutions to solve critical information security problems and educate those who will serve as the next generation of researchers, academics, and industry/government leaders. On August 19, 2021, the National Security Agency (NSA) and its affiliated federal agencies redesignated NSU for the fourth time as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity (NCAE-C) - Cyber Defense (CD) through the academic year 2028. Additionally, on November 1, 2023, NSU was also designated as NCAE-C - Cyber Research (R) through the academic year 2028, among the few institutions around the nation to obtain both CAE-CD and CAE-R designation. NSU first received the CAE-CD designation in March 2005 among the first in the State of Florida, and was re-designated in 2009, again in 2014, and most recently on August 19, 2021. For nearly two decades, NSU has been serving as a national leader in cybersecurity education and has assisted the NSA and its affiliated federal agencies in establishing national standards for the NCAE-CD program criteria that are serving the nation well in contributing to the protection of the National Information Infrastructure. NSU was among the few invited institutions nationwide who participated in NSA's CAE-CD Pilot Program between 2019 and 2021, and the CAE-R Pilot Program between 2022-2023.
And a proud member of the:
Vision Statement
CIPhER is recognized nationally as a leader in cybersecurity education as well as an innovation center in the research and development of solutions to real-world cybersecurity problems.
Mission Statement
The mission of CIPhER is to provide educational programs to develop the cybersecurity leaders, innovators, and researchers of tomorrow while creating novel solutions for difficult cybersecurity challenges today. The center also provides resources and facilities that enable faculty, students, and industry/federal partners to test and evaluate cybersecurity solutions and conduct leading-edge research, education, and community outreach in a range of cybersecurity areas.
Updated May 21, 2024
NSU Overview
Beginning in 1975 with the creation of a graduate computer science program, Nova Southeastern University (NSU) has been a pioneer in computing research and education. With its first general purpose computer, a VAX 11/780, the school began offering online programs in 1983 and created the first electronic classroom in 1985. The school continues today to have distinguished faculty and alumni who have made substantial contributions to research and industry.
Today, NSU is a not-for-profit, independent university that is classified as a research university with “high research activity” by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, and is one of only 37 universities nationwide to also be awarded Carnegie’s Community Engagement Classification.We have approximately 24,000 students, 172,000 alumni, a sprawling, 314-acre Fort Lauderdale-Davie campus and a presence throughout Florida, the U.S. and nine countries around the world. Through five decades of explosive growth, our reputation for academic excellence and innovation continues to flourish.