CIOC at ETSU

Department of Computing

Cybersecurity Innovation & Outreach Center

Community-Engaged Cybersecurity Education & Research

The Cybersecurity Innovation & Outreach Center (CIOC) at East Tennessee State University serves as the region's premier destination for cybersecurity education, research, and community engagement. Supporting our NSA Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense (CAE-CD) designation, CIOC unites students, faculty, and industry partners to advance education, applied learning, and community impact.

Our Mission

To create the region's hub for cybersecurity excellence

Through innovative degree programs, nationally recognized student competitions, hands-on laboratory experiences, applied research initiatives, and comprehensive community outreach, CIOC prepares tomorrow's digital defenders with the skills, experience, and confidence needed to thrive in the rapidly evolving cybersecurity landscape.

Core Values

Excellence: Delivering world-class cybersecurity education aligned with NSA CAE-CD standards and industry best practices.
Innovation: Advancing cutting-edge research and emerging technologies to stay ahead of evolving cyber threats.
Community: Building strong partnerships across academia, industry, and government to strengthen regional cybersecurity capabilities.
Hands-on Learning: Providing practical, experiential learning opportunities through labs, competitions, and real-world projects.

Academic Excellence

ETSU's cybersecurity programs are carefully designed to meet industry demands and align with national standards. Our ABET-accredited curriculum prepares students for immediate workforce entry with both theoretical knowledge and practical skills.

Hands-on Laboratory Learning

State-of-the-art cybersecurity labs provide hands-on experience in secure networks, risk management, system defense, and incident response, ensuring students graduate with applied expertise.
Inudstry Certifications

Industry-recognized certifications including CompTIA Security+, CEH (Certified Ethical Hacker), and CND (Certified Network Defender) are integrated directly into coursework.
Career Readiness

Graduates enter the workforce with both academic credentials and professional certifications, aligning with CAE-CD's mission of producing workforce-ready cybersecurity professionals.
ABET-Accredited Program

Our Cybersecurity & Modern Networks concentration is ABET-accredited and mapped to CAE-CD Knowledge Units and the NICE Cybersecurity Workforce Framework, ensuring graduates meet industry standards.

Student Engagement - Cyberbucs

The CyberBucs student organization fosters applied learning through participation in prestigious national cybersecurity competitions that mirror real-world challenges and industry practices. These opportunities allow students to strengthen technical expertise, teamwork, and leadership skills while representing ETSU nationally.

National Competition Participation

📛MITRE eCTF - Embedded Security Challenges	🏆 SECCDC - Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition
⚡ DoE CyberForce - National Energy Sector Defense	🔍 CPTC - Collegiate Penetration Testing Competition

Join Cyberbucs

These experiential activities reinforce CAE-CD's emphasis on real-world application and workforce readiness, providing students with practical experience in cybersecurity operations and incident response.

Industry Partnerships

CIOC maintains strategic partnerships with leading cybersecurity organizations to ensure our curriculum remains current and our students have access to the latest tools and certifications.

CompTIA Academic Partner

CompTIA icon

Access to industry-recognized certification pathways including A+, Network+, and Security+ integrated directly into coursework, providing students with credentials employers demand.

EC-Council Academic Partner

EC Council icon

Official partnership providing access to world-class cybersecurity curriculum and training for certifications including CEH, CND, and CHFI.

National Cybersecurity Student Association

National Cybersecurity Student Assoc icon

ETSU chapter provides students access to networking, professional development, and career opportunities within a nationwide cybersecurity community.

Community Outreach & Impact

Educational Programs

🎓 Summer Cybersecurity & STEM Camps (K-12)

🔧 Teacher Professional Development Workshops

🔰Community Cybersecurity Awareness Programs

Regional Networks

Monthly meetup bringing together cybersecurity professionals, students, and enthusiasts in the Tri-Cities area.

When: Every 3rd Wednesday
Where: Spark Plaza, Johnson City, TN

Join Trisec

Cybersecurity Faculty

Contact CIOC

Ready to join the region's premier cybersecurity program? Contact us to learn more about our academic programs, research opportunities, and community initiatives.

bajracharya@etsu.edu

lehrfeld@etsu.edu