Department of Mathematical and Computer Sciences

Leading the Nation in Information Security

Since 1996, TU’s Institute for Information Security (iSec) faculty and staff have produced some of the country’s leading professionals in information security, digital forensics, Internet security, and telecommunications security.

The University of Tulsa’s leadership in information security education and research is well established and unique in its breadth and depth. Since 1996, TU’s Institute for Information Security (iSec) faculty and staff have produced some of the country’s leading professionals in information security, digital forensics, Internet security, and telecommunications security.

Defending America’s Cyberspace

iSec is a lead institution in the Cyber Corps program, a federal initiative that trains elite squadrons of computer security experts -- America's "Cyber Corps" -- to form the country's first line of defense against global cyber threats.

Since 2000, TU’s Center for Information Security, now known as the Institute for information Security or iSec, has received more than $25 million in federal funding for its program, which has fueled advanced research in areas including telecommunications security, cryptographic protocol, network attack visualization, digital forensics, and critical infrastructure protection.

In 2001, the National Science Foundation named The University of Tulsa one of six charter institutions in the Federal Cyber Service Initiative (Cyber Corps). Since then, TU has placed more than 165 Cyber Corps graduates into high-level information security positions with federal agencies including the National Security Agency (NSA) and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).

In addition, the NSA designated TU as one of two national centers for the development of cyber security faculty. TU also was the first university to certify graduates to all five federal information security standards at the highest levels.

Fulfilling a Need in the Private Sector

With businesses increasingly concerned about keeping their electronic data private and secure, TU launched the Institute for Information Security (iSec) in 2007 as a broader organization to better serve both the private and public sectors.

iSec draws on experts from throughout the University, including computer science, electrical engineering, and mechanical engineering. The institute works in partnership with industry and government agencies to solve real-world problems. iSec researchers pursue innovative solutions to a wide array of unique problems, such as reconstructing traffic accidents through automobile computers and redacting digital information from electronic devices.

TU’s information security programs continue to grow. With $2.5 million in new federal funding pledged in October 2008, a growing research and development agenda, and a healthy supply of highly talented students from across the nation, TU will continue to serve as a premier training ground for the nation’s cybersecurity experts.