I completed my writing intensive credit with the course, Cyber Strategy and Policy.

The course where you leave the server room and enter the boardroom is CYSE 425W: Cybersecurity Strategy and Policy. This course teaches you how to manage an entire organization, or even a country, to stop hacks from occurring in the first place, whereas other courses teach you how to stop a hack.

It explores the “big picture” of security and requires a lot of writing. We examine the intricate relationships between private enterprises, governmental organizations, and national security as we examine how risk management and policy-making actually take place. You’re learning more than just technical skills; you’re learning how to handle global cyber crises, discuss moral conundrums, and suggest policy options that strike a balance between security and social and political realities.

The connection between this and leaders
Because it emphasizes the advanced “Leadership” and “Research” required in the professional world, this course is a cornerstone of the Learning through Active Discovery, Engagement, Reflection, and Showcase (LeADERS) program.

Leadership and Strategic Thinking: This course’s central concept is “Strategy Development.” LeADERS places a strong emphasis on preparing students for leadership positions in the workplace. I am gaining the advanced decision-making abilities that characterize a leader in the cybersecurity industry by learning to characterize national security structures and contrast them with corporate cyber strategies.

Active Discovery through Policy Analysis: LeADERS pushes us to learn about the social effects of our field. We examine the social and political ramifications of security policies in CYSE 425W. Finding out how a single policy decision can impact public safety, international relations, and privacy is more than just academic.

Thoughts on Ethical Implications: Discussing ethical concerns in policy is one of the course’s goals. This is a perfect fit with LeADERS’ “Reflection” pillar because it forces me to consider the implications of my work and my ethical duties to stakeholders and the public.

Professional Showcase: The strategic evaluations and policy recommendations I produce in this course are excellent “Showcase” items for my ePortfolio. It demonstrates to recruiters that I understand the strategy, the law, and the professional standards (such as the NIST framework) necessary to safeguard an organization at the highest level.