Embedding AI in the training itself: from security operations analysis to forensics
About $1.73 million to Arizona State University, describing instructional material that puts AI inside threat detection, incident investigation, digital forensics and security operations.
Grant overview (primary data)
- Award amount$1,728,720
- RecipientArizona State University (Arizona)
- ProgramCyberAICorps SFS
- Period2026-08-01 〜 2029-07-31
- FunderU.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) / NSF
Key points
- About $1,729,000 to Arizona State University, the smallest of the five from this call.
- AI is embedded across the cybersecurity training pipeline rather than added as a separate subject.
- Threat detection, incident investigation, digital forensics, security operations and threat intelligence are named.
- New AI-integrated instructional modules are to be developed and piloted.
1Not adding AI but mixing it in
The previous article set out the support placed around a student. This one describes the content of the training itself, stating that AI is embedded across the whole cybersecurity training pipeline.
2Where AI is embedded
- 1Threat detectionAI at the stage of spotting anomalies and signs of attack
- 2Incident investigationAI at the stage of establishing what happened
- 3Digital forensicsAI at the stage of preserving and analysing evidence
- 4Security operationsAI in the daily running of a security operations centre
- 5Threat intelligenceAI at the stage of building a picture of threats from data
Every one of these is an existing part of practice. The design does not invent new work; it teaches how AI is used inside the work people already do.
3Building the material, then testing it
The description sets out a framework combining advanced coursework, mentored research, experiential learning and professional preparation, and states that new AI-integrated instructional modules will be developed and piloted, giving AI-enabled security operations centre analysis as an example.
Nobody is trained where no material exists. A policy of embedding AI across training carries with it the concrete work of writing that material.
The next article takes up an award where the audience shifts from students to adult learners.
Why it matters
Training that embeds AI in existing practice reaches the workplace faster than creating new roles. Whether material is actually written and piloted is what separates a policy from an implementation.
FAQ
What is digital forensics?
What are security operations?
Does being the smallest award matter?
Sources (primary)
Source: NSF Award Search (U.S. National Science Foundation, public domain). Amounts are the obligated amount. For privacy, we do not handle principal investigator names.
- NSF Award (original, official)
- NSF Award ID: 2623317