University Southern California University Southern California

A Comprehensive Approach to Improving Computer Security

USC's Center for Computer Systems Security (CCSS) conducts research and provides education in the crucial disciplines of computer, network and application security.

The CCSS works to:

  • encourage development, adoption, evaluation, and integration of security technologies with applications and core network and operating system services.
  • promote understanding and integration of security policy management and enforcement technologies for distributed systems.
  • deliver education at USC in theory and technology for computer security.
  • conduct research in technologies supporting confidentiality, integrity, resiliency, privacy, intrusion detection and response, and survivability of critical infrastructure.

Courses are offered at both undergraduate and graduate levels, and are taught through the USC Viterbi School of Engineering Computer Science and USC Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical Engineering and the Information Technology Program. Faculty include distinguished academicians, USC Information Sciences Institute research faculty, and professional cyber-security experts.

The CCSS also works closely with DETER, a general-purpose, experimental testbed that supports research and development of next-generation cyber security technologies. DETER enables users to conduct repeatable, medium-scale Internet emulation experiments in malicious code and a wide range of other network security issues. Also located at the Information Sciences Institute, DETER is accessible to CCSS researchers, students and the computer security community.

News

DETERlab testbed DHS to Underwrite 5-Year, $16 Million Advance of ISI's Cyber Security TestbedThe US Department of Homeland Security has signed a 5-year, $16-million contract with USC to expand and improve ISI's DETERlab testbed, already one of the nation's leading cyber-security testbeds. Read More »

Back to School Means Back to ISI for Computer Security Students All Over the NationTeaching students to defend computer systems against the Internet's worst actors. Read More »

IEEE Computer Security Group Honors ISI Cyberdefense ExpertUSC ISI's Terry Benzel, who leads the DETER cyber-defense testbed, is honored for ongoing service. Read More »

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