Improving Cyber Defense Education through National Standard Alignment: Case Studies

There has been a fast-growing demand for cybersecurity professionals to defend cyber space and information systems. With more and more programs and course offerings in cybersecurity popping up in higher education, it is important to have a consistent and reliable quality standard to guide and evaluate the training and preparation of qualified cyber defense workforce. The national Centers of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education (CAE-CDE) designation program jointly sponsored by the US National Security Agency (NSA) and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is a rigorous national standard with specific criteria for maintaining the quality of cybersecurity education. This article explains the CAE-CDE program criteria and requirements and discusses the important role of the special designation in improving cyber defense education and workforce development. This article illustrates the educational value and quality impact of the CAE-CDE program with three case studies: (1) University of Missouri – St. Louis; (2) American Public University; and (3) Robert Morris University.