About Our Cybersecurity Programs
Nevada's cybersecurity landscape faces two significant challenges: a shortage of skilled professionals and a high incidence of cybercrime. Currently, Nevada fills only 68% of available cybersecurity positions, significantly lagging behind the national average of 83%. This shortage leaves the state vulnerable to cyberattacks, which have been on the rise nationwide.
UNLV’s cybersecurity programs are designed to address this deficit by uniting interdisciplinary expertise and creating pathways to train, certify, and deploy cybersecurity professionals across the state.
UNLV Facilities and Resources
UNLV has multiple computer labs including a Computer Security Lab equipped with workstations loaded with cyberattack and defense tools. This lab offers an environment for students to learn and practice the necessary skills for cybersecurity in an isolated setting as well as provides hands-on experience in performing and detecting cyberattacks. Students learn the vulnerabilities of operating systems and applications, common attack methods through demonstrations and lab projects, and how to protect their computer systems.
In addition, students can practice mastering the core concepts of information security in the university’s immersive cyber range. This controlled environment mimics real-world IT infrastructures, complete with networks, systems, applications, and even simulated user activity. Students get experience detecting, preventing, and responding to cyber threats without impacting live production systems.