National CyberWatch Center

NCC Collaborations Benefit Students

NCC cultivates collaboration by coordinating broad national networks that involve students, schools, alumni, industry, and government partners.

Thousands of students and hundreds of faculty participate in the annual National Cyber League (NCL). This event provides an ongoing virtual training ground for collegiate students and faculty to develop, practice, and validate cybersecurity knowledge and skills. These high-fidelity simulation environments contain content aligned with industry certifications.

The National Cybersecurity Student Association advances students’ educational and professional development with activities, networking, and collaboration. Model transfer pathways include lateral and reverse transfers, as well as transitions between two-year and four-year institutions.

NCC Increases Quantity & Quality of Community College
Information Security Programs

By fostering a culture of collaboration and innovation amongst industry, government, and academia, NCC’s leadership has increased the quantity and quality of community college information security programs nationwide.

This large network has more than 200 partners from higher education institutions, public and private schools, businesses, and government agencies. It focuses on a coordinated approach for advancing cybersecurity education and strengthening the national cybersecurity workforce.

For example, NCC-led initiatives

• facilitated new and updated information security degree and certificate programs. Thanks to the national effort, programs are mapped to federal work roles and industry-recognized professional certifications;
• helped set public and private-sector information security standards related to job roles and a common lexicon; and
• developed a comprehensive support and technical assistance system for institutions that need to re-designate, as well as those that are new to the National Security Agency/Department of Homeland Security National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense program.