PCA 594 - Introduction to Information Security

3.75 Continuing Education Units (CEU). This course is not for Credit(s).

This course is designed to enable the student, who works in the IT field, to learn a general introduction to the Information Security field and explore how it relates to other areas of Information Technology (IT). This class provides the broad-based knowledge and skills necessary to prepare the student for further study in specialized security fields and helps prepare the student to pass the Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA) Security+ certification. Topics to be covered include an introduction to Information Security, system threats, risks, and protecting systems; network vulnerabilities, attacks, and defenses; wireless network security, access control fundamentals, authentication, performing vulnerability assessments and audits, basic cryptography, cryptographic protocols, Public Key Infrastructure (PKI), business continuity planning and procedures, and policies and legislation.

Course Objectives:

1. describe why information security is essential in today’s IT environment;

2. identify the goals of information security;

3. describe common security threats and their ramifications;

4. determine the factors involved in developing a secure information security strategy;

5. identify common attacks and describe how to safeguard against them;

6. describe the basics of cryptography;

7. differentiate between physical security, disaster recovery, and business continuity;

8. describe computer forensics and its role in information security; and

9. demonstrate ethical behavior appropriate to security-related technologies.