Annual Report 24-25

Student Impact

The Center emphasizes hands-on cybersecurity education that connects classroom learning with real-world practice and industry readiness.

• The Orange County Cyber Innovation Clinic (OCCIC) provides interdisciplinary training in cybersecurity, business, and regulatory domains while enabling students to assist small businesses and nonprofits that cannot afford adequate cybersecurity support.
• Through OCCIC and related training, students pursue and attain industry-recognized certifications, including CompTIA Security+ and CySA+, which are widely used in entry-level cybersecurity roles.
• The Student Fellows program develops student leaders who manage industry projects, support OCCIC operations, organize public cybersecurity events, and lead the Center's offensive and defensive competitive security teams including the Women in Cybersecurity (WiCyS) initiative.
• The Center offered free Microsoft Azure certification workshops (AZ-900, SC-900, AI-900). More than 150 students registered for the workshops; 15 students passed exams for all thre certifications, with a total of 96 certifications achieved. 

 

Community Impact

The Center extends cybersecurity education and support beyond campus through community-based training and outreach.

• OCCIC partnered with the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) to deliver cybersecurity awareness workshops for older adults, focusing on cyber threats, scam prevention, and practical steps to improve personal device security.
• Workshops included hands-on assistance where participants received one-on-one support from students to secure their devices
• In partnership with F&M, OCCIC delivered cybersecurity trainings to 11 Orange County nonprofit organizations, covering cyber threats targeting nonprofits, compliance and risk management, cyber insurance, cloud security, and identity management. 
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Recognition and Academic Excellence

The Center achieved national recognition for the quality and rigor of its academic programs.

• CSUF earned designation as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense (NCAE-CD) Program of Study validation for the B.S. in Computer Science Cybersecurity Concentration, awarded by the National Security Agency (NSA).
• This designation recognizes that the program's cybersecurity curriculum meets rigorous national standards for academic quality and workforce alignment. 
• The recognition strengthens the visibility of CSUF’s cybersecurity program and supports ongoing efforts toward broader institutional designation in cybersecurity education. 

Programs & Innovation

The Center continues to expand applied learning opportunities through new programs, certifications, and industry partnerships.

• The Cybersecurity Minor was established to expand access to cybersecurity education across disciplines, reinforcing cybersecurity awareness across professional fields.
• The Center integrated Security+ certification training into the CPSC 456 (Network Security Fundamentals) course, including support for exam preparation and funding for certification vouchers.
• The Cisco Networking Academy at CSUF provides students with hands-on training in Cisco network technologies using industry-standard tools and curriculum, and is taught by official Cisco-certified instructors. 

Partnerships & Infrastructure

Strategic partnerships enhance hands-on training opportunities and strengthen the Center’s applied learning model.

• Campus IT provides OCCIC students with hands-on data center operations training, including work with common data center hardware, campus network wiring concepts, and racking servers in the data server. 
• The Center collaborates with industry and community partners to support applied cybersecurity education and workforce development. 
• The Center is engaged in planning for the ECS Innovation Hub, which will include a cyber range and student-run data center to support immersive cybersecurity training experiences.