Cyber Education: Why it's important to You

Hello again everyone.  For those of you who have not read my previous blogs (located here and here), I’m Shaun Cavanaugh and I work for the USEUCOM J69-P, International Cyber Engagement Branch.  Today I’ll be writing about my thoughts on formal cyber education and workforce development (I promise, it’s more interesting than it sounds!).

Cyber as a Military Domain (an “Educational Domain” as Well?)

Recently, the Department of Defense declared Cyber a military domain alongside air, sea, land, and space.   As we move forward in a world which is more and more tightly integrated into the cyber domain, I hope that one day soon I’ll see a similar headline that states Cyber education is going to be tightly integrated into the K-12 curriculum. That cyber will be as well known as any math or science program.  That cyber will be common knowledge among citizens who go through the education system.

Why is Cyber Education Important to you?

Whether you believe it or not, cyber is a part of your life.  It may be something simple such as your laptop, mobile device, or television.  It may be your job.  It may also be somewhere that you least suspect it, such as an implantable medical device or your local power or water plant.  In any event, it is very likely that you have been directly or indirectly affected by one of many cyber attacks in the past decade.  Do you know how to protect yourself online?

It is often said that users are the weakest link.  While true, I believe that with more education, users could become our strongest asset in the cyber domain.

What Needs to Happen - Importance of Early and Continuing Cyber Education

The Internet is getting younger every year.  With this in mind, it’s important to remember that we have a great opportunity (responsibility) to capture people’s attention early on while they are in the classroom.

I’m not the only one thinking this way.  Much wiser people have been preaching this for quite some time!  One such person is Richard Marshall, Director for Global Cyber Security with the National Cyber Security Division of the Department of Homeland Security.  I found the following quote on workforce education particularly thought provoking:

“I'm suggesting that an educated workforce is just as important as professional baseball players, basketball players, football players, and soccer players and cheerleaders. We need to spend more time, and resources, and ingenuity, in educating our workforce, and educating our futureforce, because if we don't take care of the present, it's going to be a complete waste. We've got to have an educated workforce.”

Continuous Cyber education must be built into the K-12 curriculum if our country expects to be the leader in cyberspace.  It is very important to integrate Cyber into the education process along with reading, math, and other subjects that are taught at a young age.

Military issues aside, Cyber is part of our lives and if we want to enjoy and have fun on the Internet and not be victims of criminals, education is how you get there.

Cyber Education is Already Occurring

If you’re interested in college-level cyber education, a great place to start is reading up on the DoD’s Information Assurance Scholarship Program.  This program is run in conjunction with the National Security Agency and Department of Homeland Security National Centers of Academic Excellence (CAE) in Cyber Education and Research.

I had the honor of attending a CAE (University of Detroit Mercy) for my undergraduate degree, and also I am currently attending another CAE (National Defense University) for my graduate degree.

Additionally, I’ve also had the honor of being a part of Exercise Cyber Endeavor 2011, which provided Cyber collaboration and familiarization to 33 nations (76 personnel) utilizing 19 facilitators and spanning 2 weeks.  Cyber Endeavor is the USEUCOM’s paramount cyber security collaboration, familiarization and engagement program designed to strengthen partner nation cyber defense capacities through seminars, events and exercises.

What else can you Do?

If you want more education for you, your children, friends, family, or coworkers, there are many resources out on the Internet that can provide you with very easy to understand training.  One of the better sites is at StaySafeOnline, where you can find easy to read and understand tip sheets, resources documents, and links to other educational material.

Until Next Time

Thank you very much for reading and I look forward to any comments or questions that you may have.

Best,
Shaun Cavanaugh
USEUCOM, J69-P
International Cyber Engagement Officer