CYSE 425W – Cyber Policy and Strategy focused on how policies shape the way organizations build, manage, and protect their systems. A major part of the class centered around HIPAA, so I spent a lot of time breaking down the rules, understanding requirements, and analyzing how these policies apply in real situations. Studying HIPAA clicked fast for me because it connects directly to the type of work I do at Preferred Direct. My job involves handling sensitive client data, so learning how compliance, risk, and security controls work in regulated industries helped me see the bigger picture behind our workflows. This course taught me that policy is not just paperwork. It sets the standards for how systems should function and what responsibilities fall on the people managing the data.

This course is important for my career because Preferred Direct works with healthcare clients, insurance companies, and other industries that rely on secure data handling. Understanding HIPAA from both the academic and workplace perspectives helped me make better decisions on the job. CYSE 425W trained me to look at security and compliance properly, not just as tasks, but as long term strategies that protect organizations and their customers. It also helped me spot gaps, understand why certain controls exist, and connect my daily responsibilities to real regulatory expectations. This connection between coursework and my job experience strengthened my confidence and set me up for more advanced cybersecurity roles in the future.

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