The University of Texas at San Antonio's
UT San Antonio has been designated by the National Security Agency as a Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance Education.
The Leader in Advancement of State and Community Cybersecurity
Since its establishment in 2001, the CIAS has been on the leading edge of designing, developing, and delivering high-quality, high-impact cybersecurity programs. The CIAS currently provides cybersecurity programs focused on training, workforce development, K-12 education, information sharing, competitions and simulations, exercises, and research.
25+ Years at UT San Antonio
Ponemon Institute study 2014
Universities.com ranking 2016
National Security Agency
Center for Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Research Cyber Operations
K-12 Education
Gaming
Committed to creating a culture of cybersecurity nationwide, the CIAS focuses on K-12 education that introduces students to cybersecurity principles through educational gaming and storytelling. Our goals are to create good cyber hygiene and awareness of cyber careers.
Played In
high-quality, high-impact
Cybersecurity Training
Courses
Seminars
Workshops
Our training efforts focus on improving overall cybersecurity awareness, technical capabilities, professional development and continuity plans. We’ve been helping professionals, organizations and communities prevent, detect, respond to and recover from cyber incidents for more than 20 years.
Reached
high-quality, high-impact
Competitions
For more than 20 years, the CIAS has hosted competitions such as the National Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition, Panoply and HiveStorm, and (co-founded) CyberPatriot. The CIAS has been developing and conducting competition programs to educate, train and prepare individuals for the cybersecurity workforce since 2005.
2024
World Leader
Leading the ISAO Standards Organization since 2015 and helping SLTTs establish comprehensive cybersecurity programs, the CIAS actively engages the information sharing community to promote secure, rapid and widespread information sharing that helps detect and block cyber-attacks.
Information Sharing
CIAS-ISAO
National Cybersecurity
Preparedness Consortium
Filling the cybersecurity gap since 2004
A Collaboration of Five Universities
Testimonials
This Is What They Say
Press Coverage
We're in the News
SingularityHub.com: Undeclared Wars in Cyberspace are Becoming More Aggressive and Automated
(August 1, 2019) — The definition of what constitutes a cyber attack is a broad one, according to Greg White, executive director of the Center for Infrastructure Assurance and Security (CIAS) at The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA).
At the level of nation-state attacks, cyberwarfare could involve “attacking systems during peacetime—such as our power grid or election systems.”
UTSA awarded $500K grant from Google to expand CIAS cybersecurity clinic
The UTSA Center for Infrastructure Assurance and Security (CIAS) received a $500,000 grant from Google’s Cybersecurity Clinics Fund to grow the UTSA/CIAS Cyber Clinic. The clinic is a long-term initiative focused on strengthening cybersecurity knowledge among UTSA students and the community at large by hosting on-campus classes and workshops at the offices of local organizations.
University of Central Florida wins 2021 National Collegiate Cyber Defense Championship
SAN ANTONIO, Texas (March 9, 2021) — University of Central Florida prevailed over nine other schools to win the 2021 National Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition and the coveted Alamo Cup. The national championship, sponsored by Raytheon Technologies Corporation, was held in an entirely virtual setting.
CIAS K-12 Cybersecurity Program awarded grant to expand cybersecurity awareness nationwide
MAY 20, 2021 — The Gula Tech Foundation has awarded UTSA’s Center for Infrastructure Assurance and Security (CIAS) a $250,000 grant to raise public awareness about cybersecurity. The foundation distributed $1 million in grants across seven winners, with the CIAS being recognized as its first-place recipient.
ExpressNews.com: Leaders tout San Antonio’s defenses against cyber attacks
(August 21, 2019) — After hackers last week hijacked the data of 22 Texas towns, tech experts in San Antonio this week said the city isn’t impervious to such attacks — but it has one of the strongest cyber defenses of any U.S. community. “We still have a lot to do,” said Greg White, a leading regional cybersecurity expert and director of the CIAS at UTSA. “But we’re on the right path.”
School district pays hefty ransom to resolve cyberattack
(August 4, 2021) — Judson Independent School District paid a more than $500,000 ransom to hackers who threatened to publish “sensitive, identifiable information” on the dark web and crippled the district’s information technology systems for a month, the district announced Wednesday. . . . Ransomware attacks are “one of, if not the most common, attacks impacting organizations” today, said Greg White, UTSA computer science professor and CIAS director.
Avoiding credit card fraud during the pandemic
(July 28, 2020) — Social distancing means more time at home and often more online shopping. Protect yourself from credit card fraud while you protect your health from the coronavirus.
Six (Easy) Cyber Security Tips for Travelers
BLOG – Before your family begins to plan out your travel games and scenic views in favor of their favorite electronic pastime, make sure you, your friends and family are prepped and ready to travel. And no, this doesn’t simply mean making sure the car’s oil has been changed or everyone’s passports are current.
Take a few minutes to read our top six cyber security tips for travelers. It’s easier than you think to be a cyber secure traveler today.
Hackers can Hijack Your Home with these 10 Smart Devices
BLOG — The Internet is full of stories of cybercriminals invading a home by hijacking its smart devices. You’re probably familiar with some of these devices, such as smart thermostats, smart speakers and Web cams. But have you thought about that fancy new refrigerator you just purchased, or your light bulbs? To help you navigate some common – and often forgotten – smart devices in your home, we’ve compiled 10 Internet of Things (IoT) devices that hackers can hijack.
