Cybersecurity, Technology, and Society

Students in IT/CYSE 200T will explore how technology is related to cybersecurity from an interdisciplinary orientation.  Attention is given to the way that technologically-driven cybersecurity issues are connected to cultural, political, legal, ethical, and business domains. The learning outcomes for this course are as follows:

1. Describe how cyber technology creates opportunities for criminal behavior,
2. Identify how cultural beliefs interact with technology to impact cybersecurity strategies,
3. Understand and describe how the components, mechanisms, and functions of cyber systems produce security concerns,
4. Discuss the impact that cyber technology has on individuals’ experiences with crime and victimization,
5. Understand and describe ethical dilemmas, both intended and unintended, that cybersecurity efforts, produce for individuals, nations, societies, and the environment,
6. Describe the costs and benefits of producing secure cyber technologies,
7. Understand and describe the global nature of cybersecurity and the way that cybersecurity efforts have produced and inhibited global changes,
8. Describe the role of cybersecurity in defining definitions of appropriate an inappropriate behavior,
9. Describe how cybersecurity produces ideas of progress and modernism.

Course Material

Throughout this course, I completed several assignments and I wanted to include some of my academic work. The work included in this eportfolio represents my effort, growth, and knowledge I gained during this semester.

The necessity of IT discussion post

1. The document demonstrates how using AI and its tools will now be a necessity for businesses. While artificial intelligence becomes increasingly significant, it seems as though that being proficient in AI is rather vital for work rather than optional. In the similar way of how the internet became an essential element to transform many work environments, as AI will be anticipated to be the new standard of many future careers. At the moment, as many companies will adopt AI tools into their workplace, the more employees that can manage and are more familiar with artificial intelligence will be at a significant advantage.
2. In regard to the data management text, it highlights the obligations of data governance and compliance. While data governance implements rules and regulations to ensure that the data is reliable, secure, and applied efficiently. Compliance focuses on guaranteeing the organization follows proper data procedures and guidelines. The responsibility is gradually becoming essential to AI systems as they depend on a vast amount of data to function, if handled improperly the data will be inaccurate and produce unreliable results, thus creating ethical and legal concerns. This is the reason why companies should cautiously manage their data to ensure they are efficient and liable.
3. In my perspective, AI in this point of time is changing the role of IT in many businesses. Previously, many IT departments were primarily in charge of the framework of technology but now with the rise of AI it rather seems that more departments throughout the company will now have to work together just to implement AI.

Hacking Humans write up-

The current discussion going around the digitization of DNA through business to
consumer testing, which is considerably complex, especially with considering the personal and
medical benefits compared to lifelong security risk. Even with the possible advantages, such as
the discovery of genetic susceptibility, diseases, or tailored medicine. As these are quite
significant, they rather as pose concern more than the benefit itself. Unlike most common
indicators such as Social Security numbers that can be changed, but if your DNA is
compromised it will continue to be a long-term vulnerability. This instability could cause
individuals to encounter many lifelong repercussions, including genetic discrimination in various
aspects of one’s life.
The possible genetic discrimination tends to occur in the workplace as many individuals
tend to face unfair treatment, as its alarming if employer gain their DNA data of their employees.
In the possibility that genetic information was being misused, it would likely be for evaluating
the suitability for a job by identifying any health risk, this could establish biases against a
specific genetic background. This raises the ethical question about the authenticity of such
practices, while highlighting the essential need for reliable legal protection surrounding genetic
data.
In addition, the approach of “Hacking Humans” highlights the human aspect tend to still
remains the weakest point in cybersecurity. Whereas traditional digitalized passwords that can be
altered when compromised, the irreversible nature of biological data can require a reassessment
of security protocols. As organizations are required to account for such disparities by applying an
extensive security measure that would not just protect against digital breaches but also will
provide a security measure for any misuse on personal data. This is vital to emphasize with the
privacy and autonomy of individuals when encouraging accountability in scientific inquiry. In
the end, the many risk that are associated with the digitization of DNA should be carefully
considered, as trying to balance curiosity and technological advancement to security concern an
ethical responsibility

SCADA Systems write up-

The critical infrastructure systems are incredibly essential to the services and their faculty
that support their daily life and national security. Such systems can include power grids, water
treatment, or transportation networks, as these systems are increasingly integrated with digital
networks, which have been targeted and currently attackers have gained attraction to them. A
critical infrastructure could face a successful attack and cause a disruption in essential services,
finical losses, and endanger the public.
The primary vulnerability facing critical infrastructure is the dependency on computer
networks and the industrial control systems. Many organizations still continue to operate on
outdated equipment, as they were previously deigned before cybersecurity was the major
concern. This resulted in systems containing a security gap, weaken authentication controls, and
outdated software’s. In addition, internal attacks, human errors, and ransomware attacks can pose
as a serious threat and compromise all system operations. As SCADA systems face many
incomparable security challenges because they must balance operational reliability with
cybersecurity requirements. The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA, 2025)
has noted that “many organizations unknowingly leave common vulnerabilities and weaknesses’
exposed to the internet.” This exposure can lead attackers to many opportunities to go and gain
unauthorized access to critical systems and district all operations.
The Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition or SCADA systems play a crucial part to
help mitigate any types of cybersecurity risk by observing systems into operational
environments. As more modern SCADA platforms tend to often incorporate security features
such like alarm systems, access controls, and network monitoring tools. These key features can
help with detecting any type of unauthorized access and suspicious behavior in addition SCADA
systems automate responses for certain events, thus reducing its response times and improving
the system resilience. Which continuously overseeing any monitoring operations or alerting
personal for any potential threats can strengthen the systems security and reliability for critical
infrastructure environments.
In conclusion, the critical infrastructure systems face from various cybersecurity threats
are due to the interdependence of connected technology and outdates control networks. As
vulnerabilities with such outdated system, malware, internal threats, and unauthorized access can
cause significant consequences. While, SCADA systems can help address such risk by providing
centralized monitoring, operational control, and improved security features. In the end,
cybersecurity threats continue to evolve, as organizations must continue to enhance both of their
SCADA systems and their overall cybersecurity practices to protect essential operations and
maintain the public’s safety