Introduction to Cybersecurity

Catalog description

Introduction to Cybersecurity provides students with a practical foundation for understanding, assessing, and responding to cybersecurity challenges in modern organizations. The course introduces core cybersecurity concepts, common threats and vulnerabilities, basic security controls, risk management principles, and the role of cybersecurity in protecting organizational data, systems, and operations. Designed as a hands-on introductory course, students will engage with applied exercises that may include threat analysis, password and access management, phishing detection, network security basics, incident response scenarios, security awareness practices, and the use of common cybersecurity tools. No advanced technical background or in-depth coding experience is required. The course also helps students build familiarity with knowledge areas commonly covered in entry-level cybersecurity credential exams, such as CompTIA Security+, ISC2 Certified in Cybersecurity, and other foundational certifications. By the end of the course, students will be better prepared to understand cybersecurity risks, communicate with technical and managerial stakeholders, and apply cybersecurity thinking across business functions such as information systems, analytics, finance, accounting, operations, marketing, and management. Prerequisite MIS 311