The hands-on Cybersecurity (CS) course delivers information on identity theft, viruses, malware, and cyber intrusions relating to our critical infrastructures like the power grid, and financial systems. These incidents are increasingly common and can have devastating personal and national security consequences. The course addresses various threats to computer systems and networks, and explains their implications on both an individual and national level. It also covers the growing body of laws, regulations, directives, and guidelines that influence both our personal, organizational, and national response to this significant threat. Through lecture, classroom discussion, computer demonstrations and exercises, students see examples of how to deal with threats using the three types of countermeasures defined by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST): Management(what organizational steps can address this problem most effectively?), Operational (how can we respond to day-to-day computer incidents?) and Technical (how do we configure our computer and network systems for maximum resistance to these problems?). Each student is assigned a computer and applies newly learned skills via classroom exercises. Exercises include testing password strength, identifying network vulnerabilities, sniffing/eavesdropping to compromise information and recovering valuable information and evidence through digital forensics. Students return to their own work environment ready to implement their new knowledge.

The course includes tools used in class which the students take with them to enhance the cybersecurity posture of their own unique computer and network environment. An essential take-away resource list helps to expand knowledge, skills, and abilities in the important field of cybersecurity even after the course is finished.