The Center for Cyber Security Education & Research (CCSER)

The CCSER shall have as part of its mission the following GOALS:

• To reduce vulnerability in our national information infrastructure by promoting higher education and research in the areas of Cyber Security, Information Assurance and Cyber Defense.
• To produce a growing number of students and professionals with expertise in Cyber Security, Information Assurance and Cyber Defense that will contribute significantly to the advancement of state-of-the-art knowledge and practice in these respective areas.
• To provide collaboration and outreach opportunities among students, faculty, professionals and public and private institutions committed to excellence in the areas of Cyber Security, Information Assurance and Cyber Defense.
• To foster and continuously improve scholarship, professional development, education, research and outreach in the areas of Cyber Security, Information Assurance and Cyber Defense.
• To promote the awareness, understanding, integration and adoption of Cyber Security, Information Assurance and Cyber Defense education, research and related in all relevant departments, centers and organizations at Colorado State University-Pueblo.​​

The Activities by the CCSER shall include, but will not be limited to the following:

• Facilitating and offering coursework, seminars and educational studies in the areas of Cyber Security, Information Assurance and Cyber Defense to Colorado State University Pueblo students, Pueblo area students, and all military and military-related personnel to address the national demand for cyber security, information assurance, and cyber defense,
• Providing and facilitating the awarding of course and competency certificates on behalf of the U.S. National Security Agency (NSA), the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Committee for National Systems Security (CNSS) to students and individuals completing the requisite Knowledge Unit requirements for NSA-CNSS course certification,
• Seeking, encouraging and developing alliances with other Colorado State University Pueblo departments and centers, other educational institutions, and external corporate and industry organizations for the purpose of pursuing joint educational, research, and grant funding opportunities,
• Providing educational and outreach programs in the areas of cyber security, cyber defense education and information awareness to K-12 educational levels and to all interested parties, institutions and organizations in the general Pueblo and Colorado areas,
• Coordinating and collaborating with the Colorado State University-Pueblo Center for Homeland Security Studies (HSS) and all interested entities at Colorado State University Pueblo for potential educational, research, coursework, and outreach opportunities in the areas of Cyber Security, Information Assurance, Cyber Defense, and Homeland Security studies.

Cyber Security Emphasis Program Learning Outcomes (PLOs)

After successfully completing the curriculum, students will possess the following skills:

1. Demonstrate the ability to understand and recognize the nature and range of Cyber Threats, Exploits, Attacks
2. Demonstrate appropriate analysis and application of Cyber Defense (CD) tools and methodologies to address and defend organizations and Information Systems (I.S.) from cyber attacks
3. Understand the best application of Info Security Models, Cyber Sec Planning and Policies to analyze, integrate appropriate cyber security methodologies into viable solutions
4. As a team project member, the ability to develop and communicate Threat-Vulnerability-Asset (TVA) grids and IT solutions for cyber attack and vulnerability risk analysis
5. Demonstrate the ability to develop Disaster Recovery, Business Continuity and Risk Mitigation Strategies and solutions within financial, ethical and cyber Law boundaries

Specific Cyber Security Activities Available to Students

• CyberWolves Cyber Security Student Club meetings, training sessions, and volunteer/mentorship opportunities
• Capture-the-Flag (CTF) competitions such as the National Cyber League (NCL), Mountain West Cyber Challenge (MWCC), and more
• Threat Vulnerability Asset Analysis (TVAA) and Information Systems Security Analysis (ISSA) Cyber Security Defense Course Field Projects
• Cyber security work study/internship positions with our CSUP IT Department
• Cyber Security Speaker Series presentations
• Cyber security focused resume reviews through the CSUP Career Center
• IT Certification Reimbursement Program

Cyber Security and Block Chain Steering Committee Members

CIS Advisory Board Members

Cyber Security Speaker Series Overview

The Cyber Security Speaker Series offers insight on the role of cyber security in our technology infused lives from a variety of perspectives.

Past Cyber Security Presentations

• Foreign Drones: Fact vs. Fiction in the Cyber Tech War
• Securing the Future Power Grid
• Women in Cyber Security
• Cyber Security from the Viewpoint of a Ransomware Attack
• How Students Can Prepare to Obtain Cyber Security & IT Scholarships

CSU Pueblo Cyber Security and Block Chain Research Proposals

The CCSER strongly supports Cyber Security and Block Chain related research activities, presentations and seminars. The full-time faculty at Colorado State University-Pueblo (CSU-Pueblo) are encouraged to submit to the CCSER, their "Requests for Research Proposals" (RRPs) as they are announced throughout the academic year. RRPs will be evaluated by the CCSER Cyber Security Steering Committee for consideration and funding.