The mission of the Center for Information Protection Higher Education and Research (CIPHER) at the Graduate School of Computer and Information Sciences is to focus on research, graduate education and public outreach in the Information Assurance community.

In particular, the mission of CIPHER is to: Provide graduate education programs for information security professionals and others interested in improving the protection of information resources. Conduct basic and applied research that will enhance the security of information resources. Provide information and guidance to government, industry, non-profit organizations, and individuals who are attempting to solve information security problems.

In April 2004, the U.S. National Security Agency (NSA) certified NSU’s curriculum in information security for compliance with the requirements and standards of the Committee on National Security Systems (CNSS). Certifications included concentrations in information security in the M.S. in Computer Information Systems and the M.S. in Management Information Systems programs plus several Ph.D. courses in information security, a total of sixteen graduate information security courses in all. The certification awarded represents includes with the requirements of NSA national training standards NSTISSI No. 4011 (Information Systems Security Professionals) and CNSSI No. 4013 (System Administrators).

In March 2005, the U.S. National Security Agency (NSA) and the Department of HomelandSecurity designated Nova Southeastern University (NSU) a National Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance Education for the academic years 2005-2008. Official letters of notification from NSA were sent to NSU’s President Ray Ferrero, Florida’s Governor Jeb Bush, Florida Members of Congress, and appropriate Congressional Committees.

Securing cyberspace and information infrastructures is more important now than ever before. NSA’s goal in establishing centers of academic excellence is to reduce vulnerability in our national information infrastructure by promoting higher education in information assurance (IA) and producing more professionals with IA expertise in various disciplines. This designation applies to the entire university.