MEETING THE NATION S INFORMATION SECURITY CHALLENGES

Transcription

1 MEETING THE NATION S INFORMATION SECURITY CHALLENGES TO ADDRESS SKILLS AND WORKFORCE SHORTAGES IN THE INFORMATION SECURITY INDUSTRY, THE NATIONAL SECURITY AGENCY AND THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY HAVE DEFINED STRICT CRITERIA TO DESIGNATE UNIVERSITIES THAT MEET THE HIGHEST STANDARDS IN CYBERSECURITY EDUCATION.

2 SUMMARY THE INCREASING PREVALENCE AND COMPLEXITY OF CYBER ATTACKS HAVE PROMPTED MASSIVE GROWTH IN THE INFORMATION SECURITY JOB MARKET AND EXPOSED SIGNIFICANT SKILLS AND WORKFORCE SHORTAGES. To address these issues, the National Security Agency and the Department of Homeland Security have co-sponsored the National Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance and Cyber Defense designation program. Capella University has been designated by the National Security Agency and the Department of Homeland Security as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance/ Cyber Defense for academic years Capella s degree programs in this field include a Master of Science in Information Assurance and Security with specializations in Digital Forensics and Network Defense. 2 MEETING THE NATION S INFORMATION SECURITY CHALLENGES CAPELLA UNIVERSITY

3 CHALLENGE Information security threats are on the rise. Individuals, organizations, and government agencies are facing significant and costly threats from increasingly sophisticated cybercriminals. According to a survey of ISACA members, information security issues remain a top priority, with 83 percent of respondents ranking cyberattacks as one of the top three threats facing organizations today. Even more troubling, fewer than half of those organizations feel prepared for such an attack. 1 SOLUTION To ensure that universities are meeting the demand for highly skilled information security professionals, the National Security Agency and the Department of Homeland Security have co-sponsored the National Center of Academic Excellence. The agency is tasked with designating educational institutions that meet current standards for cybersecurity. RESULTS Capella is one of only 50 educational institutions in the country designated as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance and Cyber Defense Education. Capella s degree programs in this field include a Master of Science in Information Assurance and Security with specializations in Digital Forensics and Network Defense. 1. SOURCE: ISACA 2015 Global Cybersecurity Status Report Cybersecurity-Global-Status-Report.aspx 3 MEETING THE NATION S INFORMATION SECURITY CHALLENGES CAPELLA UNIVERSITY

4 CHALLENGE According to the department of homeland security, as information technology becomes increasingly integrated with physical infrastructure operations, there is increased risk for wide scale or high-consequence events that could cause harm or disrupt services upon which our economy and the daily lives of millions of americans depend. 2 These growing concerns are a direct response to an increase in the severity, frequency, and cost of cybercrime incidents. The Global State of Information Security Survey 2015 shows a reported 8 percent increase in detected security threats in 2014 and a 24 percent growth in the financial losses associated with those incidents. 3 For example, the gross costs of the 2013 Target data breach have been stated at $252 million 4 and Forbes estimates a 2014 hack of Home Depot will cost $560 million. 5 24% GROWTH IN THE FINANCIAL LOSSES CAUSED BY DETECTED SECURITY THREATS IN 2014 Due to the ever-increasing risks and costs of cyberattacks, strengthening data security has become an important homeland security mission. In his 2015 State of the Union Address, President Obama called for immediate action to meet these evolving threats. 2. SOURCE: DHS Cybersecurity Overview 3. SOURCE: Global State of Information Security Survey: Financial services. en/consulting-services/information-security-survey/industry/financial-services.jhtml 4. SOURCE: Target Agrees to $19 million data breach settlement with MasterCard Circa News, April 16, 2015; 5. SOURCE: Home Depot: Will The Impact Of The Data Breach Be Significant? Forbes, March 30, 2015; 4 MEETING THE NATION S INFORMATION SECURITY CHALLENGES CAPELLA UNIVERSITY

5 THE TIGHTENING JOB MARKET The information security industry is struggling to keep up with these increasing demands. Burning Glass reports a 74 percent jump in cybersecurity job postings from 2007 to 2013, doubling the rate of all other information technology jobs. 6 The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that this trend will continue, projecting a 37 percent increase in security analyst jobs from 2012 to This equates to an estimated 27,400 new jobs and shows a growth rate that is significantly higher than the 11 percent average increase for all occupations. 7 THE GROWING SKILLS SHORTAGE In addition to a shortage of professionals needed to fill open information security jobs, there is also a lack of the skills needed to ensure our data security. In a survey by research firm Enterprise Strategy Group, information technology professionals were asked to identify skills shortages that they considered problematic for their organizations. For the fourth consecutive year, information security shortages topped the list, with over a quarter of respondents identifying it as a problem. 8 THE WORKFORCE NEEDS TO BE EDUCATED EFFECTIVELY, COMPREHENSIVELY, AND QUICKLY. 6. SOURCE: Burning Glass Report on Cybersecurity Jobs. Burning Glass Report on Cybersecurity Jobs.pdf 7. SOURCE: The Bureau of Labor Statistics SOURCE: New Research Data Indicates that Cybersecurity Skills Shortage To Be a Big Problem in MEETING THE NATION S INFORMATION SECURITY CHALLENGES CAPELLA UNIVERSITY

6 SOLUTION In an effort to address the critical shortage of information security professionals with the right skill sets, The National Security Agency (NSA) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) have jointly sponsored the National Centers of Academic Excellence (CAE). The goal of CAE is to reduce vulnerability in our national information infrastructure by promoting higher education and research, and producing a growing pipeline of professionals with information assurance expertise in various disciplines. 9 STRINGENT CRITERIA The CAE evaluates the Information Assurance and Cyber Defense programs of colleges and universities to determine if the college or university should be designated a National Center of Academic Excellence. Current criteria include: Program Requirements including program outreach and collaboration, a dynamic and current center for education, robust and current academic program, multidisciplinary efforts, practice of the principals of Information Assurance and Cyber Defense at the institution-level, student and faculty research efforts, and faculty and courseload standards. Courseware Requirements including a curriculum that is mapped to a core set of knowledge units as well as five focus areas, chosen by the institution. Regionally accredited four-year college or graduate-level universities that meet these requirements will be designated as a NSA/DHS National Center of Academic Excellence for Information Assurance/Cyber Defense Education. 9. SOURCE: National Centers of Academic Excellence (CAE) national-centers-academic-excellence-cae 6 MEETING THE NATION S INFORMATION SECURITY CHALLENGES CAPELLA UNIVERSITY

7 RESULTS Capella University has been designated by the National Security Agency and the Department of Homeland Security as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance and Cyber Defense for academic years Capella s degree programs in this field include a Master of Science in Information Assurance and Security with specializations in Digital Forensics and Network Defense. DIGITAL FORENSICS SPECIALIZATION Capella s Master s in Digital Forensics prepares information security professionals for performance-effective computer forensics and the legal challenges associated with conducting computer forensics investigations. Designed around industry standards, this master s program provides the foundational information that contributes to the knowledge required to sit for the Certified Cyber Forensics Professional (CCFP) and Certified Hacking Forensics Investigator (CHFI) exams. It also includes the domains of knowledge represented in several leading security certifications, including CISSP. NETWORK DEFENSE SPECIALIZATION Capella s Master s in Network Defense is designed around industry standards and prepares information security professionals to assess, develop, and implement solutions to safeguard information assets and enterprise IT infrastructures. The curriculum provides students with the foundational information that contributes to the knowledge required to sit for the Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) and Certified Network Defense Architect (CNDA) exams and includes the domains of knowledge represented in several leading security certifications, including CISSP. Capella is one of only 50 educational institutions to claim the National Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance and Cyber Defense designation. In addition, Capella was also recognized for the information security measures used to protect sensitive information and for the cybersecurity education required for all employees. 7 MEETING THE NATION S INFORMATION SECURITY CHALLENGES CAPELLA UNIVERSITY

8 ABOUT CAPELLA ABOUT CAPELLA Capella University ( is a regionally accredited online university that offers online degree programs designed to help working adults advance in their careers. Capella offers graduate and undergraduate specializations as well as certificate programs. NATIONAL SECURITY AGENCY DESIGNATION Capella University has been designated by the National Security Agency (NSA) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance/Cyber Defense (CAE IA/CD) for academic years The CAE IA/CD designation is based on updated academic criteria for Cybersecurity education and affords each CAE institution the opportunity to distinguish its strengths in specific IA/CD focus areas. HANDS-ON LEARNING Capella s secure virtual lab provides hands-on experience in state-of-theart technology including EnCase and NetWitness that simulates law enforcement and federal security investigations. EXCEPTIONAL FACULTY Most of Capella s faculty members in the school of Business & Technology have doctorates in addition to deep teaching experience and real-world expertise. Many hold current positions in small businesses, government, non-profit, consulting, and higher education. 8 MEETING THE NATION S INFORMATION SECURITY CHALLENGES CAPELLA UNIVERSITY