Cyber Defense Certifcate

The Cyber Defense certificate provides concepts and hands-on skills to identify Cybersecurity threats and implement procedures to protect Cyber assets. It will also enhance students’ chances to pursue a professional career in Cybersecurity by giving them various options to prepare for industry-recognized certificates such as Security+, CEH, CCNA, MCSE, ISM and CCNA Security. To earn a certificate, complete the required courses as listed with a minimum grade of “C”. At least 50% of all course work must be completed at Cypress College.

It is expected that 20 students will be completing this program on an annual basis

Program Goals

1. Provide students with the academic preparation needed to pursue a career in the field of Cyber Defense.
2. Provide those individuals currently working in the Cybersecurity or related field with the opportunity to further their understanding, knowledge and skills according to the latest advances in the field of Cyber Defense.
3. Provide students hands-on training by experts using industry-standard equipment and 24/7 availability of laboratory resources through remote connectivity
4. Increase employment opportunities of students by preparing them for industry-recognized certificates such as IT Fundamentals, Network+, Security+, CCENT, CCNA, CCNA Security, CEH, ISM and MCSE.
5. Develop, implement and update a curriculum that fosters problem-solving skills and provides specific training to better achieve the business goals of employers.

Program Objectives

1. Define and describe network design elements and components
2. Configure various network devices and troubleshoot connectivity
3. Define and describe common threats, attacks and vulnerabilities
4. Define and describe various technologies and tools utilized in securing networks
5. Secure Linux and Windows Operating systems
6. Configure and troubleshoot Microsoft Active Directory
7. Given various scenarios, install, configure and implement identity and access services.
8. Explain the importance of policies, plans and procedures related to organizational security
9. Compare and contrast basic concepts of cryptography
10. Given a scenario, analyze the results of a network reconnaissance
11. Given a network-based threat, implement or recommend the appropriate response and countermeasure.
12. Given a scenario, implement an information security vulnerability management process.
13. Given a scenario, analyze common symptoms to select the best course of action to support incident response.
14. Given a scenario, review security architecture and make recommendations to implement compensating controls.
15. Compare and contrast the general purpose and reasons for using various cybersecurity tools and technologies
16. Collect and analyze digital evidence and recover partially destroyed information.
17. Implement Virtual Private Networks, firewall technologies and intrusion prevention
18. Configure and troubleshoot Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA)
19. Explain the purpose of virtualization and network storage technologies
20. Describe all technologies that are used for storing, managing and protecting digital information in classic, virtualized, and cloud environments

Take the required core (12 units) and complete required courses for one of the 6 areas of emphasis

Requirements	Course	Title	Units	Year/ Sem
Required Core (12 Units) Take any four courses	CIS 190 CIS 195 CIS 196 CIS 230 CIS 245 OR CIS 247	Cybersecurity Competition Fundamentals Network Security Ethical Hacking Cisco Networking 1 Perl Programming OR Python Programming	3 3 3 3 3 3	Y1, F Y1, F Y1, S Y1, F Y1, S Y1, S
Computer Forensics Emphasis (18 Units)	CIS 276 CIS 277 CIS 278 CIS 279 CIS 280 CIS 281	Computer Forensics I Computer Forensics II Cyber Crime Computer Forensics Legal Aspects Analysis of Digital Media Computer Forensics Capstone	3 3 3 3 3 3	Y2, F Y2, S Y2, F Y2, S Y3, F Y3, F
Cisco Networking Emphasis (12 Units)	CIS 231 CIS 232 CIS 233 CIS 258	Cisco Networking 2 Cisco Networking 3 Cisco Networking 4 CCNA Security	3 3 3 3	Y2, F Y2, S Y2, S Y2, F
Homeland Transportation Security Emphasis (18 Units)	AJ 110 OR AJ 120 ATC 102 ATC 112 ATC 116 OR ATC 256 ATC 118 ATC 274	Introduction to Criminal Justice OR Concepts of Criminal Law Career Communication/Portfolio Homeland Security Aviation/Transportation Security OR Crew Resource Management Disaster Preparedness and Response Passenger Services and Safety	3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3	Y2, F Y2, F Y2, F Y2, S Y2, S Y2, S Y3, F Y3, F
Microsoft Networking Emphasis (12 Units)	CIS 185 CIS 189 CIS 191 CIS 182 OR CIS 187	Microsoft Client/Server Administration MS Windows Active Directory Network Infrastructure Administration Data Communications Management OR MS Windows Exchange Server	3 3 3 3 3	Y2, F Y2, S Y2, F Y2, S Y2, S
Network Virtualization Emphasis (12 Units)	CIS 185 CIS 189 CIS 201 CIS 202	Microsoft Client/Server Administration MS Windows Active Directory MS Virtualization Network VMware Virtualization Network	3 3 3 3	Yr2, F Yr2, S Yr2, F Yr2, S
Advanced Networking Emphasis (12 Units) Take any four courses	CIS 202 CIS 239 CIS 240 CIS 248 CIS 257 CIS 258	VMware Virtualization Network CCNA Bootcamp Wireless Networking Technology Voice over IP Storage Management and Cloud Computing CCNA Security	3 3 3 3 3 3	Yr2, S Yr2, S Yr2, F Yr2, S Yr2, F Yr2, F

Take the required core (12 units) and complete required courses for one of the 6 areas of emphasis according to the table shown above

No active inventory records need to be made inactive or changed as a result of approval of the Cyber Defense Certificate. This certificate does not replace any existing program.

A survey of colleges in our service area resulted in two related certificate programs. Cerritos College is currently offering a 31 units Cybersecurity certification program consisting of 8 required courses and one elective course. Four of the courses are related to networking fundamentals and Operating Systems. The remaining courses are related to the Cybersecurity Fundamentals, Ethical Hacking, Computer programming and Digital Forensics. The Cypress College certificate has a different emphasis – a requirement to complete our Cybersecurity certificate (12 core units) as part of the certificate and preparing students for industry-recognized certificates such as Network+, Security+, CCENT and CEH. In addition, it gives students 6 different options to further focus on specific technology such as Computer Forensics, Cisco and Virtualization. Coastline community college offers a 13.5 units certificate in Network Security with 6 required units (Introduction to Security and Ethical Hacking) and 7.5 units from a list of 12 courses. These courses are mostly very specialized and include Cisco, Linux and Networking courses. Even though the certificate is ideal in terms of offering students numerous options, it might not be practical, as offering all courses on a frequent basis is challenging. Our strategy is fundamentally different, to take students through a core of 4 courses which includes bootcamp sessions preparing students for industry-recognized certification exams (CompTIA and Cisco) to increase their employment/advancement opportunities. In addition, it gives the opportunity to students to become further specialized in a specific technology such as Computer Forensics, Cisco and Virtualization. This certificate is designed in response to the shortage of Cyber Defense professionals. As a result, we don’t anticipate that approval of this certificate will negatively impact any other program or college within the geographical area of Cypress College; instead it merely formalizes a new certificate and will contribute to the existing degree and certificate program opportunities offered at Cypress College.

The enrollment for the required core courses are as follows: 1. CIS 190; Cybersecurity Competition Fundamentals; Year1; 0 sections; 0 total enrollment CIS 190; Cybersecurity Competition Fundamentals; Year2; 7 sections; 148 total enrollment 2. CIS 195; Network Security; Year1; 5 sections; 100 total enrollment CIS 195; Network Security; Year2; 2 sections; 50 total enrollment 3. CIS 196; Ethical Hacking; Year1; 1 section; 24 total enrollment CIS 196; Ethical Hacking; Year2; 2 sections; 34 total enrollment 4. CIS 230; Cisco Networking 1; Year1; 5 sections, 133 total enrollment CIS 230; Cisco Networking 1; Year2; 5 sections, 122 total enrollment 5. CIS 245; Perl Programming; Year1; 1 section, 18 total enrollment CIS 245; Perl Programming; Year2; 0 sections, 0 total enrollment 6. CIS 247; Python Programming; Year1; 1 section, 26 total enrollment 7. CIS 247; Python Programming; Year2; 4 sections, 120 total enrollment