Introduction to Cybersecurity

Class Summary

A study of cybersecurity is a study in a new language and, for many, a new way of thinking about the environment both online and in the physical world.  This course is intended to introduce students to much of this language and the thought processes beneficial to pursuing a professional career.  This course is a survey of many disciplines including Data/Network/Cloud/Application security, Identity & Access Management, GRC (Governance, risk, compliance), Risk management, and others.

Hands-on activities and experiments are introduced to demonstrate concepts and pique curiosity.  Using a ‘study group’ approach, the students heavily influence what topics are discussed and how deep we dive into each.  Students are encouraged to develop critical thinking skills and challenge each other to better understand the “why” behind every concept, not simply accept textbook explanations.


Learning Objectives:

By the end of this class, students should be able to:

  • Define common cybersecurity terminology such as CIA, AAA, Risk Management…

  • Identify threats and vulnerabilities commonly encountered in daily life

  • Evaluate options and implement mitigation strategies for common risks

  • Deploy a lab utilizing virtualization technologies

  • Install and configure common operating systems in a more secure manner

  • Describe the OSI and TCP/IP network architecture

  • Recognize common networking protocols

  • Be able to view and understand a packet capture in Wireshark.

  • Describe how information is represented/stored in binary.

  • Understand file headers/metadata and how this can be used

  • Explain the purpose and role of firewalls, anti-malware, and other common tools

  • Define cryptography, cryptology, and cryptanalysis

  • Demonstrate classic ciphers

  • Understand symmetric and asymmetric cryptography and describe proper application of each

  • Understand hashing and how it fits into secure systems.

  • Write basic python programs for fun or fortune

  • Describe different cyber and technology careers and what skills they require

  • Recognize how math, science, and creativity connect to technology careers

Attributes of Students Enrolling in This Class:

Students enrolling in this course should:

  • Be curious about how technology works

  • Embrace failure and frustration as a necessary part of learning

  • Enjoy hands-on learning and experimenting

  • Be willing to ask questions and try new ideas

  • Be able to take notes and effectively use them

  • Be able to perform individual research to solve problems

  • Have patience when troubleshooting problems

  • Be comfortable working independently and in teams

  • Show responsibility when using electronic equipment

This class is designed for intermediate learners


Basic Knowledge & Skills Recommended

Math & Logical Thinking

  • Basic arithmetic (addition, subtraction, multiplication, division)

  • Introductory algebra concepts (variables, simple formulas, patterns)

  • Understanding of cause-and-effect relationships

  • Basic understanding of boolean logical operators (AND, OR)

  • Know and recognize Decimal, Binary, and Hexadecimal numbering systems

Science & Electronics 

  • Basic understanding of electricity (on/off, power, energy)

  • Familiarity with simple scientific concepts like voltage and current (helpful, not required)

Computer & Technology Skills

  • Ability to touch type at an effective rate

  • Understanding of computer component and purpose (CPU/RAM/Storage)

  • Familiarity with common devices (computers, tablets, phones)

Coding & Computational Thinking

  • Ability to follow step-by-step instructions

  • Ability to extrapolate a solution from an analogous example / apply patterns to new applications

  • Understanding of basic programming concepts (variables, if/then/else, loops)

*Please see the Course Schedule page for locations, dates, and times*

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