CYBERSPACE: THE NEW BATTLEGROUND
Growing out of asymmetric warfare—thanks to advances in technologies—is the cyber battlefield in which sensitive infrastructures are compromised or destroyed by belligerents. Pick up any newspaper or reputable internet news site, and one will read about a blatant cyberattack on a financial institution, a governmental agency, or even the Pentagon.
Currently, the U.S. Army Cyber Command’s Cyber force has been growing exponentially for two years. The Army’s Cyber Chief, Lt. Gen. Edward C. Cardon noted: “Cyberspace continues to grow more complex, with sophisticated threats that are capable of exploiting known and unknown vulnerabilities, threatening both national security and America’s economic interests.” The threat is real; the threat is growing.
The Department of Homeland Security Secretary seeks to form a new subcommittee on cybersecurity practices.
The subcommittee will address the following:
- Identifying the readiness of the Department’s lifeline sectors to meet the emerging cyber threat and provide recommendations for building cross-sector capabilities to rapidly restore critical functions and services following a significant cyber event.
- How the Department can provide a more unified approach to support state, local, tribal, and territorial cybersecurity.
Trident University International is responding to these increasing threats by developing a Cybersecurity concentration in both the Bachelor’s and Master’s of Science Program in Homeland Security.
This new concentration will explore the areas of cyberterrorism, cyberwarfare, cyber threat intelligence, and security. No textbooks will be required because information in this area is constantly changing. Instead, readings will be from current government, military, and other professional sources to offer the student a “heads up” approach. Students will be encouraged to delve into current information in answering questions and critically thinking about case scenarios. Realistic scenarios will challenge students’ minds to come up with possible workable solutions to problems.
Stay tuned. More information is coming regarding this concentration!
Dr. Rudolph Bustos is the Faculty Lead for the MS in Emergency and Disaster Management, MS in Homeland Security, and BS in Homeland Security Programs in the College of Health Sciences. He has 46 years cross-field experience including: (a) psychological, (b) educational, (c) social work, and (d) emergency and disaster management.
