Curriculum & Workforce Development in Cyber-Security

Hal ZenisekBlackhawk Technical CollegeJanesville, Wisconsin USA

“If it works, try not to be surprised.”

by Ron Fischer, WCTC

Introduction – The Power of 2 Three purposes of this session

Share lessons learned developing a 2-year degree for information security

Share ideas for workforce development Learn from others attending this session

Introductions Hal Zenisek

DeanBusiness & Information TechnologyBlackhawk Technical CollegeJanesville, Wisconsin USAhzenisek@blackhawk.edu

Our Agenda What I plan to talk about!

Our Thesis – Information is the asset Industry-driven program design Share resources & skill standards Course & Curriculum development Faculty development Delivery methodologies & ideas for

workforce development Sharing ideas & questions

www.blackhawk.edu

Blackhawk Technical College – www.blackhawk.edu

Mission - Career & Technical Education including workforce & economic development

Business & Information Technology 2-year programs, diplomas, & certificates

Accounting, Marketing, Management Office Careers IT Cluster

Networking Specialist Micro Programmer Specialist Help Desk Assistant Information Systems Security Specialist

The WTCS Associate in Applied Science Degree

Applied Associate degree programs as defined by Wisconsin Statute are two-year, post-high school programs in an area designated and approved by the State Board for which the course requirements are established by the State Board. Applied associate degree programs adhere to the following principles: provide the education and training in occupational areas required by

the state's economy; shall prepare students to be productive employees and to succeed in

occupations requiring advanced education and training; specific degree requirements shall have a demonstrated relevance to

the needs of employers and students as employees; all courses shall be of the highest quality as demonstrated by national

and regional accreditation and perceptions of graduates and employers;

shall be designed to impart identified competencies and program graduates shall achieve those competencies.

ADDIE

The ADDIE Instructional Design Model

Analysis --> Design --> Development --> Implementation --> Evaluation

Analysis & needs identification

It’s about Information Security…

Our thesis – it’s all about Information Security!Information Security!

Computers (& even networks) can be replaced, information is the asset which has value & therefore the critical resource.

Information security includes assurance, confidentiality, availability, integrity, threats & vulnerabilities.

What KSA’s go with protecting/security information & information systems?

Which competencies fit within our mission & purpose as a 2-year technical college?

Which are the highest priority? Prepare for future “program outcomes” and documenting the need.

KSA – technical skills beyond networking, and include security management, policy development, ethical behavior, and more. Breadth of field versus depth of field. Issues inside the firewall as well as outside of it.

More on Information Security Information needs to be available and Information needs to be private. Information needs to be trusted. Information systems need to be reliable. Networks make information available. Secure networks help insure privacy &

protection. However, we felt there is more.

Types of information systems

Accounting information systems Financial systems (banking & others) Business systems (e-Commerce) Health information systems (medical) Community information systems

(Emergency Response) Governmental, education,

telecommunications & others

Blackhawk Technical College’s Multi-Disciplinary Approach Network Security (4 courses) Programming & e-Commerce for

information systems security (3 courses) Security Management (5)

Business Continuity Planning Cyber Law & Ethics

Security Measures/Countermeasures (intrusion detection & defending an internetworked system against attacks) would be our capstone lab experience.

AAS limited to 68 credits- 12 core courses. Advanced technical certificates=36 credits. Target trained incumbent IT professionals

and technical staff. Elective courses for IT students in other

majors such as networking & programming. Big picture approach & cross section of the

continuum of information systems. From operating systems, buffer overruns,

policies & procedures, to intrusion detection & appropriate countermeasures.

Program Design – A Multi-Disciplinary Approach

Blackhawk Technical College found: One Wisconsin employer (without a

significant Web presence) shared their recent experience with a spam firewall. Based on 900 users Over 5000 e-mail per hour 2974 were spam (60%) 33 had viruses

SOP for their IT personnel & business was transacted without incident with a firewall & spam filter (plus trained personnel).

Recent Job Advertisement– Madison, Wisconsin

Enterprise Security Specialist Set overall security strategy, conducts

security technology research, consults on best practices, and coordinates in-house security operations.

Bachelors degree, Computer Science 5 years recent experience – networks Cisco experience CSSIP and/or Cisco certification.

Blackhawk Technical College’s Needs Assessment Process

Institutional Advancement survey 51% response rate from 74 employers 53% have problems finding qualified

cyber security workers 56% indicated the demand would

increase over the next four years 16 new full-time and 7 new part-time

openings over next 4 yrs. projected

Blackhawk Technical College’s Needs Assessment Data

82% would encourage current employees to participate in an educational program

89% would hire a graduate for a cyber security program

average hourly wage = $20.20 ($42,000) sent to the WTCS office & approved as a

new & emerging occupation approval to proceed with program

development

Program & Curriculum Design

Program Design Course & curriculum development

Industry-Driven Design

NSA Information Assurance Directorate & Skill Standard (www.nsa.gov)

Relevant industry-based competencies such as the Systems Security Certified Practitioner (www.isaca.org)

Global Information Assurance Certification (www.giac.org)

Local Chapter of the ISSA (Information Systems Security Association - see www.issa.org).

Alignment with 10 domains of the CISSP or not? Blackhawk Technical College IT Employer Advisory

Committee (Rock & Green County Wisconsin) – “everyone is impacted by this.”

www.aacc.nche.edu

Blackhawk Technical CollegeProgram Design Process

Articulate our thesis & correlate it to an identified need. It’s about Information Security!

Draft exit skills statements & design program outcomes from those. Align & refine as we go.

Select tentative courses as building blocks to program outcomes.

Aligned with industry skill standards. Prioritize program & course outcomes. Prepare for course level curriculum development. Focused on the learner?

Proposed Exit Skills

From the learners point of view From an employers point of view These will evolve into future program

outcomes

Proposed Exit Skills1. A very good understanding of what information security is, as

currently defined by both industry and government.2. A detailed understanding of the man-made and natural threats

to information systems, and how to effectively deal with them.

3. An extensive knowledge of the information assets that need protection.

4. A detailed knowledge of the various methods for countering/preventing internal and external threats.

5. A detailed knowledge of how to deal with threats.6. An understanding that InfoSec is not a single thing, nor

is it an absolute science or a purely technical subject.

Proposed Exit Skills7. A detailed methodology for creating and maintaining a

consistently proven means for countering threats in an organizational InfoSec Program.

8. An understanding that a successful approach to security planning, policies, and procedures are as much about business process improvement as it is about technology.

9. An understanding of the need to maintain the interoperability of the organizational InfoSec Program with external systems.

10. What makes Information Assurance (IA) different than InfoSec and the need for IA across the enterprise.

11. The knowledge base necessary to obtain common InfoSec/IA industry certifications.

Kay Fratianne, Blackhawk Technical College

What are Program Outcomes in Career & Technical Education?

Occupational specific knowledge, skills and attitudes that learners demonstrate upon completion.

Pertain to the holistic ‘program’ and go beyond courses.

Derived from overall tasks performed on the job or in life roles.

Are not program evaluation; the learner is the focus not the program.

Program Outcomes Purpose

Provides the reader with an overview of what the learner will be able to do as a result of the learning process.

Highest level of achievement that is part of the learning process.

Are supported by student outcomes assessment plans.

Program Outcomes Guidelines Use lead-in phrase – upon completion of the

Infosec program, the learner will be able to do.

Use only one action verb per outcome and preferably the application level or above.

Consider the nature of the skills and the environment in which the learner will perform on the job.

Write concise & clear phrases. Limit of 8 to 10 outcomes validated by

advisory committee members – both for content and for understanding.

BTC Infosec Program Outcomes

Identify resources, assess threats, analyze losses, and understand vulnerabilities of information systems.

Establish safeguards for automated information systems.

Install, configure, and use specialized security software, hardware, and firmware components.

Troubleshoot potential IT security issues. Implement preventative measures. Respond to threats from viruses, worms,

and other unauthorized access.

Program Design Model Adds Flexibility No specific hardware or software specifics

through the use of more generic titles (Operating Systems Security).

A variety of hardware, firmware, and software vendors are covered in courses and found in the lab.

Statewide model for other WTCS colleges. Current Issues & Trends seminar changes

based on employer input, technology, and trends.

Program Outcomes – Resources

DACUM facilitated process Advisory Committee Job Postings Employee Input Industry standards Graduate follow-up studies Internships Other colleges

Program Design Resources

NSA www.nsa.gov Centers for Academic Excellence Skill Standards such as 4011, 12, etc.

Protecting Information: The Role of Community Colleges in Cybersecurity Education www.aacc.nche.edu.

Program Design Resources Cybersecurity Education in

Community Colleges.pdf

4011.pdf

www.nsa.gov/ia/index.cfm

CISSP –www.isc2.org

“Infosec” Core Courses – Blackhawk Technical College I’Net/WWW+ Information Security

Principles Network Security Internetwork

Security I Internetwork

Security II Designing Secure

Websites

Operating Systems Security Security Policies &

Procedures Information Security

Documentation Client/Server Systems

Security Security Meaures &

Countermesaures Business Continuity Planning

Curriculum Development

Our plan for getting students to those exit skills and program outcomes.

www.samsa.com

Curriculum Development “It’s About Information Security” Course-level outcomes (blueprint)

Competencies Major skills, attitude, or ability needed to

perform a task effectively Learning Objectives Performance Standards Learning Plans with learning activities

Performance Assessment Plans Student Outcomes Assessment Plans

Curriculum Development Competency-based software - WIDS Each course has several competencies that

support program outcomes. Each competency has learning objectives,

performance standards, learning plans, and assessment.

WIDS generated reports include syllabi, Course Outcome Summary, and addresses…

Worldwide Instructional Design System (WIDS)

www.wids.org

4011 Alignment

ISSC4011Matrix.xls

Alignment efforts

ISSCPCrsAreas 2005.xls

Alignment Efforts & Curriculum

ISSCPWIDS.xls

WIDS Course Examples

Information Security Principles ITSEC-114.doc

Network Security ITSEC-124.doc

Perimeter Security ITSEC-145.doc

Implementation (Delivery)

Instructional delivery vision

Face-to-face traditional learning On-line (distance learning) On-site employee development Technical assistance Seminars, awareness workshops &

lifelong learning for IT and non-IT employees

Real Life – Student 1 Age, 40+ & Female Main Frame Programmer & Web Site

Administrator for a number of years Laid off & job hunting; ready to leave IT for

a more viable occupation Last time in ‘school’ was mid 1980’s “I love this program and am so glad you

talked me into it. It’s the first time I’ve ever taken time to look at the big picture. I can’t wait to get a job in this field.”

Real Life – Student 2 Age, 30+, Male & learned everything he knows

about IT ‘on-the-job.’ Local ISP Administrator for a number of years. Last time in school was high school & didn’t like it

that much. Strong technical skills – “a quick study” but often

sees the answer as adding more technology. Doesn’t see the need for policies and procedures. A classic practitioner in approach to problem

solving.

Serving distance education learners with limited resources

Blackboard? WebCT? Others? IT infrastructure support? College firewalls & security?

www.etechcollege.com

Distance Learning via the Web

Powered by BlackBoard, Inc. Hosted by Milwaukee Area Technical

College. www.matc.edu

Information Security Principles 154-151

Disaster Recovery Planning 154-155

Workforce Development Short-course seminars (modules from

credit courses) Week-long “boot camps” Awareness seminars for all employees

– password protocols, basics on viruses, ethics, inside the firewall…

New hire training for your IT staff? – Specific Courses? 12-course, 36-credit certificate? 2-year AAS degree?

Evaluation

Program evaluation – 3 years Crucial Conversations Lessons Learned The Reflective Practitioner

Next Steps?

Plan Do Check Act

Crucial BTC Conversations Is the time right for expanding IT

educational programs? So tell me again why do you want to

bring viruses on the College’s computers?

Aren’t you teaching hackers to be better hackers?

Will there be jobs at the end? It’s a great idea for the 4-year college

Key Points & the Power of 2 We are one dean and one faculty member

at a small school in central Wisconsin – do not underestimate the power of 2.

It is more than simply computer security. It’s more than network security. It’s all about information security.

Technical competencies and security management oriented competencies are both part of our approach. Both in the computer lab make for terrific conversations! Integrating this is powerful.

Future Vision & The Power of 2 AAS degree approved for next fall. 2+2 partnerships for Baccalaureate degrees

will better serve students & the workforce. Distance learning courses support an employed

IT workforce. Supporting the college’s IT infrastructure with

advising and technical assistance. Our campus is more secure!

Better aligning our occupational outcomes with related certification programs & getting students into testing such as the CISSP.

“Center for Information Assurance?”

Transitioning to an AAS

21 credits of General Education 6 credits of Elective courses 42 credits of Program Requirements

18 credits – support 34 credits of core

Work-based learning component 68 total credits

Academic Partnerships Milwaukee Area Technical College’s AAS degree

(www.matc.edu) University of Illinois, Center for Academic Excellence,

Champaign National Colloquium for Information Systems Security

Education or CISSE (http://www.ncisse.org).  Wisconsin Technical College System office, Madison,

Wisconsin (www.wtcsystem.org). Worldwide Instructional Design Software

(www.wids.org). Franklin University (www.franklin.edu) pending a 2+2

agreement for an online Bachelors degree.

Faculty Development

CISSE, June 2005 in Atlanta GA NSA Centers of Academic Excellence NSA Skill Standards 4011 – 4014 etc. CISSP’s 10 domains & certification Designing & delivering distance

learning WIDS Curriculum Development

software training

The Other Half of the Power of 2

Douglas A. TabbuttIT InstructorCenter for Information

Assurance EducationBlackhawk Technical

College6004 Prairie RoadJanesville, WI USA 53547dtabbutt@blackhawk.edu

Wrap-up & Next StepsExpanding The Power of 2

Summarize any actions from the audience as a result of this presentation?

Summarize any follow up action items required from Blackhawk Technical College?

See me during the conference if you want to talk further.

At Blackhawk Technical College, Janesville Wisconsin

It’s about ?

Questions and Discussion

?? ?? ????

????