Cybersecurity Grants

In 2024, the Cybersecurity Education Program was awarded capacity building grant funding from the National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity (NCAE-C) to establish a cybersecurity lab. 

The lab will support projects in digital forensics, Internet of Things (IoT) security, and includes a cyber range to simulate real-world cyber threats and scenarios. Messiah University’s Cybersecurity Education Program was designated as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense (NCAE-CD) in December 2023.

In May 2024, two of our students were selected as scholarship recipients in the DoD Cyber Service Academy recruitment program. The new initiative in this grant aims to enhance our practical learning and research capabilities, thereby improving our ability to attract and prepare an increasing number of students for professional readiness.

The establishment of this advanced cybersecurity/IoT lab will:

• Enhance Learning: Provide students with hands-on experience using state-of-the-art cybersecurity tools and techniques.
• Increase Employability: Equip students with practical skills, increasing their competitiveness in the job market and supporting their placement in internships and careers in the public and private sectors.
• Support Research: Facilitate senior capstone research projects in cybersecurity, contributing to the development of new knowledge and solutions in the field.
• Strengthen Partnerships: Enable closer collaboration with DoD and state agencies, fostering a pipeline of skilled cybersecurity professionals to meet the growing demand in these sectors.
• Engage High School Students: Offer cyber camps and computer science competitions, building a strong foundation for future cybersecurity professionals.