New NYIT Cybersecurity Research Facility To Be Established

The Nassau County Industrial Development Agency (IDA) has authorized NYIT to open an Information Assurance/Cyber Defense Research Facility to serve the nation’s need for cybersecurity.

NYIT is a Certified Information Assurance Courseware Institution recognized by the National Security Agency (NSA) and the Central Security Service for their shared goal to create new technologies to help secure critical national information and data pools.

“Cybersecurity is a national concern and this research facility will allow NYIT students and faculty to work on government-sanctioned projects in a secure facility," said Nassau County Executive Edward P. Mangano. "Nassau’s workforce has the skilled defense industry talent and high-tech skills to support the cybersecurity industry and develop tomorrow’s cybersecurity technology today."

NYIT has a long track record of fostering technological innovation and promoting partnerships among industry leaders, academia, and government. The university, and in particular its School of Engineering and Computing Sciences led by Dean Nada Marie Anid, Ph.D., is equipped to provide services needed in the areas of information assurance and cyber defense through its academic programs, sponsored faculty research projects, cybersecurity conferences, and related events. NYIT also recently launched an Entrepreneurship and Technology Innovation Center, which offers robust infrastructure for incubating research and collaborations in key areas such as cybersecurity.

“This research facility will support efforts to help the federal government battle disruptive cyber threats," said IDA Executive Director Joseph Kearney.

The IDA selected NYIT to operate the research facility following a 2014 Request for Qualifications. NYIT's final designation as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance/Cyber Defense by NSA is pending. The new facility will be housed in 10,000 square feet of rent-free space on Seaview Boulevard in Port Washington, N.Y.   

“We look forward to partnering with the Nassau IDA on advancing Nassau County’s information assurance capacity by bringing together academia, government, and industry, and putting Long Island at the forefront of cybersecurity innovation,” said Peter C. Kinney III, NYIT chief of staff.