CYSE 426

Cyber War

Course Description

This course will explore the national security dimension of cybersecurity and examine cyber war in international relations. Our focus will start with looking at cybersecurity as a component of national security and investigate the topics of operational considerations in cybersecurity, planning in cyber war, different national approaches to cyber war. The topics of cyber deterrence, cyber as a military domain, effects of international institutions in cyber war will be discussed and the students will be given the opportunity to analyze cybersecurity matters related to national security affairs. The international security perspective of the course will help the students view cybersecurity as a component of state power and make inferences about its utilization in international relations. Throughout the semester, as the debate over cybersecurity evolves, current discussions on the international dimension of cybersecurity will also be discussed within the course.

After completing an entrepreneurship, a student/entrepreneur will be able to:

  • State and relate the basic terminology and concepts in cybersecurity.
  • Describe the goal and structure of a national security strategy and compare it to cybersecurity strategy.
  • Define and evaluate a contingency plan related information security management.
  • Compare and evaluate the differing approaches of main state level actors in cybersecurity.
  • Describe and discuss the functions and relevance of international institutions in cybersecurity.
  • Assess and interpret the applicability of basic military concepts like “deterrence” and “operational domain” in cybersecurity, defend own position in these topics.

Course Material

Project Paper

The Future of the Internet was the title of this assignment. We were assigned this project early in the semester and were tasked with picking a topic that was of interest to us and create a paper accordingly. I chose the topic; “Who matters more to the Internet’s future, states or individuals?” I found this topic interesting because WE are the future of the internet. We are the ones who have been born into the digital age and use most of its resources to our advantage. This paper explores the ideas of both instances with who will have control over the internet and what would happen in each instance.

The_Future_of_the_Internet