Welcome to the Cybersecurity Center

The Cybersecurity Center is the hub for cybersecurity education, training and community engagement at De Anza College.

De Anza and the Foothill–De Anza Community College District are committed to preparing diverse learners for careers that protect critical information systems and strengthen the nation’s cyber defense.

Programs of Study

De Anza College offers programs aligned with the National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense (CAE-CD) requirements:

Our curriculum maps directly to the CAE Knowledge Units and the NICE Cybersecurity Workforce Framework, ensuring students graduate with industry-relevant skills.

Information Security & Awareness

De Anza College is committed to maintaining a strong cybersecurity posture to protect institutional data, systems, and users. The following resources outline campus security policies, awareness programs, and reporting mechanisms.

Campus Information Security

  • IT Security Office
  • IT Security Contact 
    • Jerrick Woo, Associate Vice Chancellor of Information Systems & Operations
    • Kevin Metcalf, Associate Vice Chancellor of Networks & Client Services
    • Jory Hadsell, Vice Chancellor of Technology & Innovation, Chief Technology Officer

Security Policies

Security Awareness and Training

  • KnowBe4 Training (Ongoing)
    • The District provides mandatory annual information security training for employees, including phishing awareness and cybersecurity best practices. Ongoing training programs are administered through Educational Technology Services (ETS) to ensure compliance with regulatory and security requirements.

Report a Security Incident

If you suspect a phishing attempt, data breach, malware infection, or unauthorized access to district systems, report it immediately.

• Contact the IT Help Desk using Online Request System or 408-864-8324
• Forward suspicious emails to using Online Request System or 408-864-8324
• For urgent security concerns, contact District IT Security using Online Request System or 408-864-8324 or Campus Police at 408.924.8000

Prompt reporting helps protect district systems and personal information

Faculty Members

Our instructors have academic expertise and real-world experience in cybersecurity, computer science and information technology.

Faculty mentors support students through coursework, competitions and professional development opportunities.

Student Activities and Opportunities

De Anza students can engage in a wide range of hands-on and extracurricular activities to enrich their learning and help them prepare for cybersecurity careers. Opportunities include:

  • Cybersecurity Labs and Virtual Environments: Students work with industry-aligned tools and platforms such as Wireshark, Kali Linux, FTK Imager,and cloud-based virtual labs to simulate network attacks, digital forensics and secure system administration.
  • Cyber Camps and Workshops: De Anza hosts regional and in-house cybersecurity bootcamps, including summer CyberCamps funded by the National Science Foundation and the Bay Area Community College Consortium. These camps offer training in cryptography, network forensics, ethical hacking and policy.
  • Guest Speakers and Industry Panels: The college hosts talks by security professionals from companies such as IBM, Lyft and Google, as well as law enforcement and government agencies. These sessions expose students to career paths, incident response case studies and current trends in cyber operations.
  • Student-Led Research and Discovery Projects: Students participate in cross-disciplinary projects that integrate cybersecurity into healthcare, business and criminal justice topics — investigating real-world problems through a cyber lens.
  • Cybersecurity Club and Peer Learning: Through the Cybersecurity Club, students engage in peer-led tutorials, ethical hacking demonstrations and collaborative labs. The club fosters a sense of community and encourages students to lead their own learning experiences.
  • Internships and Work-Based Learning: In partnership with local industry and regional employers, students participate in paid internships and earn credit for structured, work-based learning that's aligned with their cybersecurity coursework.

These activities reinforce the program’s commitment to experiential learning, industry connection and student engagement — essential pillars of the CAE-CD mission.

Cybersecurity Resources for Students

Here's a partial list of trusted resources to help students build cybersecurity skills, prepare for industry certifications and get involved in the cyber community.

Hands-On Cybersecurity Labs and Platforms

  • TryHackMe – guided virtual labs on penetration testing, networking, and red teaming
  • Hack The Box (HTB) – realistic hacking challenges and career path labs
  • Cyber Range by IBM SkillsBuild – free virtual labs and cyber games
  • OverTheWire Wargames – introductory Linux and CTF-style games

Competitions and Challenges

Certifications and Exam Prep

Free Courses and Learning Platforms

Cybersecurity News and Career Development

Government and Framework Resources

Primary Point of Contact: Sukhjit (Bob) Singh

Administrator: Manisha Karia, Ph.D.

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