The iSchool's Center for Information Assurance and Cybersecurity (CIAC) is featured in a recent article in The New New Internet, a newsblog that reports on cybersecurity policy and technology. Under the title, "Top 10 Universities Preparing Future Cyber Security Professionals," the article notes that the CIAC "helps to teach and develop some of the future leaders in cyber security" and maintains "partnerships with industry leaders like Boeing and Microsoft as well as the Armed Forces." Graduates, it says, can be found in the Department of Homeland Security and firms such as Booz Allen Hamilton, a major government contractor.

"It's gratifying that the University of Washington's Center has been recognized as a significant player in this emerging field," said CIAC Director Barbara Endicott-Popovsky in response to the recognition from The New New Internet. "We've gained recognition for a number of reasons: 1) our interdisciplinary research, under the umbrella of information science, integrates computer science, electrical engineering, law and mathematics; 2) our reaching across domains brings together practitioners from industry and government with academia; 3) our collaboration with major partners--Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Microsoft, Boeing and small entrepreneurial startups provides opportunities to explore solutions to real-world problems. Watching our graduates assume responsible roles in academia, government and industry is a huge source of satisfaction."

As home to the CIAC, the UW is one of three institutions on the West Coast that are distinguished as both a National Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance Education and a National Center of Academic Excellence in Research. These designations are made jointly by the National Security Agency (NSA) and the Department of Homeland Security if applicants meet stringent criteria that measure the depth and maturity of their programs. The goal of these programs, according to the NSA/Central Security Service, "is to reduce vulnerability in our national information infrastructure by promoting higher education and research in IA [information assurance] and producing a growing number of professionals with IA expertise in various disciplines."