Strayer University Student Team Wins NSA Codebreaker Challenge
Strayer University Student Team Wins NSA Codebreaker Challenge
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cybersecuritytechnical
Cybersecurity involves protecting computers, networks, and digital information from theft, damage, or unauthorized access. It is essential for safeguarding sensitive data and maintaining trust in digital systems, which matters to investors because strong cybersecurity reduces the risk of costly breaches and disruptions that can impact a company’s performance and reputation. Think of it as locking and safeguarding valuable information much like securing a safe to prevent theft.
reverse-engineeringtechnical
Reverse-engineering is the process of taking apart a product, process, or piece of software to understand how it works and recreate or improve it. For investors it matters because it can reveal hidden value or risks—like uncovering a competitor’s recipe or a shortcut around a patent—and can affect a company’s competitive edge, legal exposure, and future revenue, similar to reading the engine of a car to judge whether it will run well or break down.
vulnerability researchtechnical
Vulnerability research is the systematic search for weaknesses in software, hardware, networks or systems that could be exploited by hackers or cause failures, like inspecting a house for weak locks or loose windows. Investors care because discoveries can trigger costly fixes, downtime, regulatory scrutiny or reputational damage — all of which can affect a company’s costs, customer trust and ultimately its stock value.
cryptographytechnical
Cryptography is the set of techniques that use math-based codes to keep information private, verify identities, and ensure data cannot be altered—think of it as digital locks and sealed envelopes for information. It matters to investors because it underpins the security of online transactions, protects customer and company data, and affects the reliability and regulatory risk of digital services and assets; weak cryptography can undermine value and trust.
digital forensicstechnical
Digital forensics is the process of collecting, preserving and analyzing electronic evidence from computers, phones or networks to understand what happened during a breach, fraud or other cyber incident. Think of it as a detective examining a crime scene but for digital devices; it helps pinpoint the cause, scope and timeline of an event. Investors care because findings affect a company’s legal exposure, repair costs, regulatory penalties and public trust, all of which can change the value of an investment.
Students earn first place in Division II of national cybersecurity competition
WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
Strayer University, an institution of higher learning for working adults that offers flexible and affordable degree programs, today announced that its students earned first place in Division II of the 2025 National Security Agency’s (NSA) Codebreaker Challenge, an annual cybersecurity challenge that allows students from various US-based academic institutions to compete in unique mission-oriented scenarios.
The challenge provides students with a hands-on opportunity to develop their reverse-engineering and code analysis capabilities, skills that are in-demand by the NSA and many Fortune 500 employers.
"Earning first place among hundreds of institutions is an extraordinary achievement for our students," said Dr. Antoinette Farmer-Thompson, President of Strayer University. "This recognition reflects the strength of our cybersecurity program and the real-world preparation our students bring to the field. It also speaks to the dedication of our faculty and the culture of excellence they foster every day. I am incredibly proud of our students and the collaborative effort that made this accomplishment possible."
This year’s challenge placed students in a real world–inspired scenario supporting the U.S. Air Force Cyber Operations Squadron as they investigated unusual network activity and defended against sophisticated nation-state cyber threats, requiring advanced skills in reverse engineering, vulnerability research, cryptography and digital forensics.
“Our students have once again demonstrated the exceptional talent, determination and technical skills that define Strayer University’s academic community,” said Dr. Carlo Sapijaszko, Dean, Information Technology at Strayer University. “This achievement is a powerful testament not only to their excellence, but also to the unwavering support and mentorship provided by our faculty and academic leadership. I could not be more proud of what our students have accomplished.”
This year’s NSA Codebreaker Challenge ran from September 24, 2025, to January 14, 2026, and included thousands of participants across hundreds of institutions. Schools were ranked according to the total number of points accumulated by their students, with schools grouped into three divisions by the number of student participants.
Founded in 1892, Strayer University is an institution of higher learning for working adult students. It offers flexible and affordable undergraduate and graduate degree programs in business administration (including the Jack Welch Management Institute MBA), accounting, information technology, education, health services, public administration and criminal justice, as well as non-degree web and mobile application development courses through Hackbright Academy and Devmountain, and industry-aligned courses in 3D animation and VFX, gaming, and other visual arts through Media Design School at Strayer.
Strayer University is an accredited institution and a member of the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE), www.msche.org. Strayer University’s accreditation status is Accreditation Reaffirmed. MSCHE most recent action on the institution’s accreditation status on June 22, 2017 was to reaffirm accreditation. MSCHE is recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education to conduct accreditation and pre-accreditation (candidate status) activities for institutions of higher education including distance, correspondence education, and direct assessment programs offered at those institutions. The Commission’s geographic area of accrediting activities is throughout the United States. Media Design School at Strayer (“MDS”) is a registered and accredited Private Training Establishment (PTE) under the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA). Strayer is not a “University” for the purposes of the Education and Training Act 2020 (New Zealand) (“NZ Act”) or for New Zealand law purposes.
