Purdue News

May 7, 1999 Computer center honored by National Security Agency WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- Purdue University's newest computer center has received an award from the National Security Agency. The Center for Education and Research in Information Assurance, under the direction of Eugene Spafford, professor of computer science, has earned one of the first designations as a Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance Education. The formal presentation will be made May 25 during the third annual conference of the National Colloquium for Information Systems Security Education in Palisades, N.Y. CERIAS (pronounced "serious") addresses issues related to information security from numerous perspectives, including economic and international espionage, sabotage, terrorism and vandalism. Founded in 1998, the Purdue center focuses on finding ways to protect valuable information in all its various forms as it flows through computers -- whether on network cable, disks, or phone lines. Before earning the center of excellence designation, the center's programs and objectives were evaluated based on compliance with federal system security standards and on instruction and research in information assurance. CONTACT: Andra Short, assistant director, CERIAS, (765) 494-7806; acs@cs.purdue.edu Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; e-mail, purduenews@purdue.edu To the Purdue News and Photos Page