Start Date
1-5-2026 12:00 PM
End Date
1-5-2026 1:00 PM
Description
In response to increased cyberattacks against digital infrastructures, significant contributions have been made to the education of software-based cybersecurity principles through online resources, coursework, and other means. However, there is a lack of accessible platforms dedicated to the learning of hardware-based cybersecurity principles. Specifically, topics such as side-channel attacks or fault injection attacks can be challenging to study without expensive hardware resources. To address this need, we propose the Hardware Cluster for Key Security and Education Experiments (HaCKSEE) platform. HaCKSEE is an experiment-oriented platform designed to democratize hardware security education. The proposed platform allows students to conduct configurable hardware security experiments, either remotely through a centralized HaCKSEE cluster, or locally if the student possesses a HaCKSEE board. The HaCKSEE board incorporates two microcontrollers, an ADC, and an FPGA with supporting hardware. The board requires custom firmware development to enable realistic hardware interactions that build career-ready skills in the classroom. The University of South Florida, Texas Woman’s University, and University of Kansas plan to implement HaCKSEE into their Spring 2027 curriculum for a hands-on approach to hardware security education.
Hardware Cluster for Key Security and Education Experiments
In response to increased cyberattacks against digital infrastructures, significant contributions have been made to the education of software-based cybersecurity principles through online resources, coursework, and other means. However, there is a lack of accessible platforms dedicated to the learning of hardware-based cybersecurity principles. Specifically, topics such as side-channel attacks or fault injection attacks can be challenging to study without expensive hardware resources. To address this need, we propose the Hardware Cluster for Key Security and Education Experiments (HaCKSEE) platform. HaCKSEE is an experiment-oriented platform designed to democratize hardware security education. The proposed platform allows students to conduct configurable hardware security experiments, either remotely through a centralized HaCKSEE cluster, or locally if the student possesses a HaCKSEE board. The HaCKSEE board incorporates two microcontrollers, an ADC, and an FPGA with supporting hardware. The board requires custom firmware development to enable realistic hardware interactions that build career-ready skills in the classroom. The University of South Florida, Texas Woman’s University, and University of Kansas plan to implement HaCKSEE into their Spring 2027 curriculum for a hands-on approach to hardware security education.