High Assurance and Secure Systems Center

About HASSC:

The High Assurance and Secure Systems Center (HASSC) provides a University-wide focal point for those involved in cybersecurity research, development, and education. HASSC researchers cover a wide spectrum of security and privacy research, including system security, network security, data/information security, hardware security, and privacy. Expertise includes theoretical modeling, synthesis and verification, threat modeling and analysis, applied cryptography and blockchain, and secure system design. Expanding leading-edge cybersecurity and defense mechanisms earned KU federal National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education (CAE-CD) and Research (ACE-R) dual designations.

HASSC participates in the Federal CyberCorps Scholarship for Service (SFS) program, which is designed to increase and strengthen the cadre of federal information assurance professionals that protect the government’s critical information infrastructure. As of the start of 2025, 36 students have been awarded SFS scholarships. Of those, 19 students have been placed in government cybersecurity positions while 16 are still in school and one has a tentative offer. HASSC faculty and scholarship students represent KU at the annual SFS Job Fair in Washington, D.C.