Introduction to Cybersecurity

Security is embedded in all we do online and is a critical job skill and career field. This foundations course explains security fundamentals including core principles, critical security controls, and cybersecurity best practices. Students will also evaluate specific security techniques used to administer a system that meets industry standards and core controls, assess high-level risks, vulnerabilities, and attack vectors of a sample system, and explain ways to establish and maintain the security of different types of computer systems.

In this course, students will be exposed to a diverse group of technologies that will provide or enhance the skills needed to enter the cybersecurity field. Students will apply best practices of Defense in Depth to secure computer systems, use outputs from security incidents to analyze and improve future network security, and search internal systems to determine network vulnerabilities. Students will also learn how to recommend mitigations to address common application vulnerabilities and ensure fundamental encryption techniques for securing data at rest and in transit.

Cybersecurity breaches happen when a threat is able to successfully exploit a vulnerability within a business. To avoid these attacks, security professionals must understand the threats the company is facing, including the various threat actors and their motivations. Security professionals must also be able to find vulnerabilities that can enable threats to attack through common practices such as vulnerability scanning and penetration testing. Finally, security professionals should be able to activate and follow incident response procedures to address cybersecurity incidents and breaches. Ultimately, during this course, students will learn how to identify security threats and gaps, fix issues, and respond to inevitable attacks.