Home » Cumberlands competes in NSA Codebreaker Challenge

Cumberlands competes in NSA Codebreaker Challenge

WILLIAMSBURG, Ky. — The University of the Cumberlands School of Computer and Information Sciences fielded its inaugural student-faculty team to take on the National Security Agency’s (NSA) Codebreaker Challenge 2021. Since 2018, the NSA Codebreaker Challenge has provided students with a hands-on opportunity to develop their reverse-engineering/low-level code analysis skills while working on a realistic problem set centered around the NSA’s mission.Under the leadership of Dr. Machica McClain and Dr. Ulrich Vouama, 13 Cumberlands participants teamed up between August and December, solving complex cybersecurity challenges created by the NSA. Giving next year’s students greater aims to reach, Cumberlands’ team ranked in the top 30th percentile among the 613 institutions collaborating toward national information security and privacy goals.

Dr. Ulrich Vouama, an assistant professor of cybersecurity at Cumberlands, said, “I strongly encourage our CIS students to put their cybersecurity skills to test. The challenge is tough and provides the opportunity to sharpen their reverse-engineering skills.”

According to Seth Gilliam, the Cyber Club team lead, “The Challenge left me wanting to learn more, helped put things into perspective, and showed us how useful Linux can be.” As lead, Seth helped students and faculty with the various different tasks.

University of the Cumberlands offers a bachelor’s degree program in information technology sciences both in-seat and online as well as an online associate degree program in information technology sciences. Several master’s programs in the computer science field are offered as well, entirely online. To learn more, visit www.ucumberlands.edu/academics

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