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Learner Reviews & Feedback for Homeland Security & Cybersecurity Connection - It's Not About the Terrorists by University of Colorado System

4.7
stars
364 ratings

About the Course

Welcome to Course 1 in CS4950, Homeland Security and Cybersecruity. In this course we examine the origins of homeland security and its connection with cybersecurity. Homeland security is about safeguarding the United States from domestic catastrophic destruction. Catastrophic destruction comes in two forms: natural and man-made. For most of history the man-made variety came in the form of warfare and required the combined resources of a nation state. All that changed March 20th, 1995. On that date, members of a quasi-religious cult in Japan attacked the Tokyo subway system using Sarin gas. It was the first deployment of a weapon of mass destruction my a non-state actor. The power of destruction once reserved to nation states was now available to small groups, even individuals. The incident was a wake up call for governments around the world. Defense establishments designed to keep rogue states in check were practically useless against non-state actors. Overnight, the number of potential enemies multiplied a hundred, maybe even a thousand-fold. In response to the Tokyo Subway Attacks, the United States took measures to protect itself from WMD attack by non-state actors. Those measures were still being enacted when the nation was attacked on 9/11. On September 11, 2001, nineteen hijackers inflicted as much damage as the Imperial Japanese Navy on December 7, 1941. The investigating 9/11 Commission noted the attacks for their "surpassing disproportion". The hijackers had achieved WMD effects without using WMD. They did this by subverting the nation's transportation infrastructure, turning passenger jets into guided missiles. Again, the security implications were profound. Non-state actors seeking to inflict domestic catastrophic destruction did not need to import, fabricate, or acquire WMD as the nation was surrounded by the means of its own destruction in the form of critical infrastructure. The vulnerability of critical infrastructure had not gone unnoticed. Again, in response to the Tokyo Subway attacks, which themselves had been an attack on Japanese infrastructure, President Clinton in 1996 commissioned a panel to investigate the threat to United States' infrastructure. The panel replied in 1997 that there was no immediate threat to US infrastructure, but they were concerned with the growing risk of cyber attack. The same cyber physical systems that fueled the explosive growth of the Internet were being incorporated into Industrial Control Systems that underpinned much of the nation's critical infrastructure. The panel noted that the knowledge and skills necessary to mount a cyber attack on the nation's infrastructure was growing. As a result of this observation, President Clinton in 1998 ordered the protection of US critical infrastructure, especially from cyber attack. Following 9/11, critical infrastructure protection and cybersecurity were designated core missions in the 2002 Homeland Security Act establishing the new Department of Homeland Security. They remain core missions to this day, but many don't see the connection. The connection is this: cybersecurity is essential to critical infrastructure protection, which is essential to homeland security, which is about safeguarding the United States from domestic catastrophic destruction. I look forward to working with you in the coming lessons. Best wishes and good luck! Course 1: Homeland Security & Cybersecurity Connection Course 2: Cybersecurity Policy for Water and Electricity Infrastructures Course 3: Cybersecurity Policy for Aviation and Internet Infrastructures Course 4: Homeland Security & Cybersecurity Future...

Top reviews

MG

Feb 10, 2023

Very informative and challenging course. There are many quizez and discussions to help faciliate original thinking. For readings, I would recommend specifying which pages to read to avoid confusion.

AB

Oct 16, 2017

Thank You Mr. Richard White for making a hard course seems easy and enlighten us specially about the "it's all about the terrorist" notion people have when it comes to Homeland Security.

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76 - 98 of 98 Reviews for Homeland Security & Cybersecurity Connection - It's Not About the Terrorists

By sunil j

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Aug 10, 2019

Good

By Mr. S P

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Jun 2, 2020

Excellent course. It is designed in well manner which elaborates various concepts in very easy and understandable language. Fancy looking terms like Critical Infrastructure Protection, Cyber Security are elaborated very well. This course gives broad overview of concept of Homeland Security and DHS-its purpose, and duties.

By Михаил К

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Jan 30, 2019

The course is done professionally and the lecturer provides information - clearly and competently. But, not all knowledge is applied in nature and have professional value.For a general presentation - I advise the course!

By John C

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Apr 3, 2020

Great course look forward to learning more and building skills to support our nation's defense and growth from " come what may" to be a better nation in the future.

By Aaron F

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Mar 11, 2020

The instructor was very knowledgeable on the subject matter and the course was very informative. Just wish there were more questions in the course review.

By Carlos E M A

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Dec 4, 2017

Its a good introduction course in Homeland Security & Cybersecurity Connection - It's Not About the Terrorists

By GODFRED A

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Oct 29, 2020

Thanks for the course I have learned a lot from this course and understood certain historical aspect

By A A

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May 6, 2020

Although this course is hard enough but the materials provided by instructor was very effective.

By Anna J

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Mar 1, 2020

Some information was, for a non-US citizen, too much specific. Overall really nice course.

By Muhammad S Z

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Feb 1, 2019

Provides a good overview of Homeland Security and its connection with Cyber Security

By John W M I

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Oct 31, 2017

I only wish the course required mandatory discussions.

By Dallas L

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Sep 7, 2022

great introduction course looking foward to more

By Evans M

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Oct 30, 2020

Very brief and concise. Easy to understand

By Chenliang Y

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Oct 21, 2020

too academic, and only focus on America

By Eyal S

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Jan 13, 2018

Basic, need more interesting scenarios

By Daniel A D

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May 7, 2020

Interesting and relevant content

By Joy S

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Apr 3, 2018

pretty interesting

By Elda Z

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Mar 5, 2018

interesting!

By Bryan C

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Apr 6, 2018

Overall this is a good course and the instructor is easy to listen to and learn from. It is more about government processes and the history that spured government actions than a cybersecurity connection but interesting and well put together. If it had been titled "Homeland Security: Protecting our Infrastrcuture" or something similar it would have gotten 4 starts from me but it seems to be trying to cash in on the high level of cybersecurity interest in the industry.

By Andrew S

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Oct 21, 2019

Truly Basic Introduction. Videos could be updated and active professor or moderator participation would be an excellent addition. I still learned quite a bit with the readings that were available throughout the course and would consider taking another course with the professor.

By Eduardo P

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Aug 16, 2017

First question of the last project exam was pointless. It was more an opinion than a fact. It was difficult to get the last exam right because with just two questions you have to get it all right.

By Jan S

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Feb 16, 2018

Good introduction, to the specialization

By Deleted A

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Aug 19, 2020

Not what I was looking for . . .