New classroom-based cyber-security courses aimed at assisting communities

COLLEGE STATION – The Texas Engineering Extension Service (TEEX) has added three face-to-face cyber-security courses to complement its suite of no-cost online courses geared toward assisting the state, local, tribal, public and private sectors to detect, prevent, respond and recover from cyber attacks and incidents. TEEX acquired the courses from the University of Texas at San Antonio’s (UTSA) Center for Infrastructure Assurance and Security (CIAS), where the courses were originally developed.

Earlier this year, TEEX and UTSA jointly offered the courses to jurisdictions nationwide to help them prepare for the DHS-FEMA National Level Exercise 2012, which will involve a cyber-security attack, said Natalie Granado, Cyber Security Training Coordinator in TEEX’s Knowledge Engineering Division. “The congressionally mandated preparedness exercises are designed to educate and prepare participants for potential catastrophic events and to examine national response plans and procedures,” added Granado, who has more than 10 years of experience in community cyber security exercises and training and came to TEEX from UTSA.

The three courses are designed for non-technical audiences throughout local jurisdictions and communities, including personnel involved with critical infrastructure, emergency operations and incident response. Sessions explore cyber threats and vulnerabilities and how cyber attacks can impact business operations and delay or prevent emergency responses. Communities learn to improve their cyber security posture to better prepare for cyber events.

• Essentials of Community Cyber Security
  (AWR-136 – 4 hours) This discussion-based course builds basic terminology, identifies fundamental cyber threats, vulnerabilities and countermeasures that can impact an individual, organization and community.

• The EOC’s Role in Community Cyber Security
  (MGT-384 — 12 hours) This is a 2-day non-technical course designed to provide an awareness of how cyber events can impact a community, an Emergency Operations Center and our daily lives. In this course, participants will discover the roles and responsibilities needed to detect, prevent and respond to a cyber security incident. Using past cyber events, participants will explore how the EOC and community would plan for and manage information and resources needed for a cyber event and understand how cyber can be used to affect, disrupt, and/or complicate emergency responses.

• Community Cyber Security for Exercise Planners (MGT-385 — 12 hours) Participants will be introduced to cyber topics and how cyber can impact the business operations of an organization and community. Lecture and activities will explore objectives, players, cyber injects and challenges to incorporating cyber into exercises. Participants will recognize how cyber can be incorporated into exercises in a meaningful way.

All of the courses are certified by the Department of Homeland Security/FEMA and are offered at no charge to eligible states and territories under the Homeland Security National Training Program Cooperative Agreement through TEEX’s National Emergency Response and Rescue Training Center (NERRTC).