Network Infrastructure Data Science
The Network Infrastructure Data Science (NIDS) project provides cyberinfrastructure-ready, data-driven cybersecurity training resources using real-world datasets, enabling educators to run hands-on network security courses.
Overview: What NIDS is and how modules are delivered
Cybersecurity education lacks hands-on training with real-world network datasets, leaving students without practical skills to analyze and respond to modern threats. NIDS addresses this gap by providing a centralized hub of cyberinfrastructure-ready, data-driven training resources built on real-world datasets.
Each NIDS educational module pairs a curated network dataset with exercises, analysis notebooks, and instructor guides, giving students direct experience with the kind of data they will encounter in practice. Modules are hosted on GitHub and designed to run on the National Research Platform (NRP), so no local setup is required.
GitHub Modules
Public student-facing module repositories are managed by the CAIDA team on GitHub:
How-To Guides
- How to Create a Module — contributor guide for building a new NIDS module
- How to Run a Course — guide for facilities setting up and running a NIDS course
- How to Access NRP — guide for students and facilities getting access to the National Research Platform
Funding
Support for the Network Infrastructure Data Science project is provided by the National Science Foundation (NSF) grant OAC-2519416 Engaging Scholars in Cybersecurity Analysis: A Laboratory for Teaching and Education. The views and conclusions contained herein are those of the authors and should not be interpreted as necessarily representing the official policies or endorsements, either expressed or implied, of NSF.
Additional Content
NIDS How-To Guides
Step-by-step guides for NIDS contributors, facilities, and students.