UTSA Center for Infrastructure Assurance and Security celebrates 15 years as a leader in cybersecurity

CIAS Associate Director Dwayne Williams, CIAS Director Greg White, United States Senator John Cornyn and UTSA President Ricardo Romo at a CIAS event.

(June 21, 2016) -- The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) Center for Infrastructure Assurance and Security (CIAS) celebrates its 15th anniversary this month. The Center opened in 2001 as UTSA’s first cybersecurity center. Over the past 15 years, the CIAS has established itself as a leader in cybersecurity competitions, top-tier research, security exercises, and state and local cybersecurity programs.

Last October, the CIAS was selected by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to lead the Information Sharing and Analysis Organizations Standards Organization (ISAO SO) tasked with developing cybersecurity information sharing standards. The formation of the ISAO SO was in response to Executive Order 13691 to create a more secure and resilient Nation that is connected, informed, and empowered.

“I am incredibly proud of the work that the CIAS has completed over the past 15 years,” said Greg White, UTSA professor of computer science and director of the CIAS. “None of this would be possible without the tremendous effort from our staff and unwavering support from UTSA. We are thrilled with the impact that the CIAS has made on the cybersecurity industry and the community at large. We look forward to continuing our work as one of the premier cybersecurity centers in the nation.”

Over the past 15 years, the CIAS has conducted exercises in partnership with the U.S. Secret Service Electronic Crimes Task Forces and the Information Sharing and the Analysis Centers (ISACs), the Department of Defense and Department of Homeland Security. These exercises were conducted throughout the nation to assist communities to establish viable and sustainable cybersecurity programs.

The CIAS has developed and delivered cybersecurity training for communities throughout the States and US Territories sponsored by FEMA and the Department of Homeland Security. The Center has a robust cybersecurity competition program which is both nationally and internationally recognized. The CIAS created and currently directs the National Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition and is a Founding Partner of the Cyber Patriot National High School Cyber Defense Competition.

Most recently, the CIAS launched the Cyber Threat Defender card game. This innovative game has been praised by teachers, students and media across the nation. Cyber Threat Defender teaches students the basics of cybersecurity and the importance of a well-rounded cybersecurity strategy. This game will be used in cybersecurity curricula in classrooms this fall. UTSA’s Cybersecurity Programs have consistently been recognized as top in the nation. UTSA was named the 2nd ranked Cybersecurity Graduate program in the nation by Universities.com in early June of this year.

-- Chase Hathaway
Senior Communications Coordinator, Center for Infrastructure Assurance and Security

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Events

Wednesday, February 8, 9:30 a.m.

STEM Career Expo

The UTSA University Career Center invites you to attend the STEM Career Expo from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Feburary 8. Meet, connect and recruit UTSA students and alumni.

H-E-B Student Union Ballroom, HSU 1.104-1.106

Wednesday, February 8, 3:00 p.m.

All Majors Career Expo

The UTSA University Career Center invites you to attend the All Majors Career Expo from 2 to 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Feburary 8. Meet, connect and recruit UTSA students.

H-E-B Student Union Ballroom, HSU 1.104-1.106

Wednesday, February 8, 5:30 p.m.

Kickoff: $100K Tech Venture Competition

This competition is for students who are working on a project and prototype and want to assess the market opportunity and commercial potential of their technology in a risk-free environment.

Science and Engineering Building, SEB 1.150G

Wednesday, February 8, 5:30 p.m.

Simplifying Citations With Zotero

Citation managers such as Zotero® can help you store and organize the citations you find during your research. Zotero can also generate bibliographies in various styles, insert in-text citations and allow you to share sources with collaborators.

Virtual event

Thursday, February 9, 6:00 p.m.

Black History Month Keynote: Chiquita A. Collins

Chiquita Collins, vice president for diversity, equity and inclusion and chief diversity officer at UT Health San Antonio, will virtually engage in conversation regarding the 2023 Black History Month theme, “Resistance. Persistence. Excellence.”

Virtual event

Friday, February 10, 8:30 a.m.

Second Annual Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Symposium

The Carlos Alvarez College of Business and the Alvarez Student Success Center will host their Second Annual Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Symposium. The theme for this year is inclusive leadership. The featured keynote speaker will be Melissa Majors, author of “The 7 Simple Habits of Inclusive Leaders.”

H-E-B Student Union Ballroom, HSU 1.106

Friday, February 10, 9:00 a.m.

Heart Health Walk

Join your fellow Roadrunners for the annual Heart Health Walk. If you can’t meet up on campus, get outside and walk for at least 10 minutes at 9 a.m. Walkers are encouraged to wear red and post their pictures to Instagram using the hashtag #28DaysOfHeartAtUTSA.

Rowdy Statue, Sombrilla Plaza

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Spotlight

UTSA’s Mission

The University of Texas at San Antonio is dedicated to the advancement of knowledge through research and discovery, teaching and learning, community engagement and public service. As an institution of access and excellence, UTSA embraces multicultural traditions and serves as a center for intellectual and creative resources as well as a catalyst for socioeconomic development and the commercialization of intellectual property - for Texas, the nation and the world.

UTSA’s Vision

To be a premier public research university, providing access to educational excellence and preparing citizen leaders for the global environment.

UTSA’s Core Values

We encourage an environment of dialogue and discovery, where integrity, excellence, inclusiveness, respect, collaboration and innovation are fostered.

UTSA’S Destinations

UTSA is a proud Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) as designated by the U.S. Department of Education.

Our Commitment to Inclusivity

The University of Texas at San Antonio, a Hispanic Serving Institution situated in a global city that has been a crossroads of peoples and cultures for centuries, values diversity and inclusion in all aspects of university life. As an institution expressly founded to advance the education of Mexican Americans and other underserved communities, our university is committed to ending generations of discrimination and inequity. UTSA, a premier public research university, fosters academic excellence through a community of dialogue, discovery and innovation that embraces the uniqueness of each voice.