Cybersecurity education ranging from grade schools to colleges and universities is evolving to meet the overwhelming demand for cybersecurity professionals and for the increasing necessity for acting safely in a modern digital world. However, this evolution, driven by a number of factors, produces a variety of educational paths all labeled with a variety of cyber buzzwords. In this podcast, Michael Weir, director of CSIAC, and James Rice, CSIAC analyst and MVCC cybersecurity faculty, discuss the origins of this educational evolution, the forces driving positive and negative progress, and offer advice on how the cybersecurity community could achieve effective educational paths at both a personal and professional level.
The CSIAC Podcast - The State of Cyber Security Education
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Presenters
James Rice
James Rice is a Cybersecurity Instructor at Mohawk Valley Community College (MVCC) and was the Lead Instructor for the GenCyber summer camps at MVCC for 2016 and 2017. He is also a cybersecurity analyst at Quanterion Solutions Incorporated.
Michael Weir
Michael Weir is currently working with Quanterion Solutions, Inc as a Senior Technical Advisor/Subject Matter Expert for the Cybersecurity and Information Systems Information Analysis Center (CSIAC), and with the Griffiss Institute as the developer/facilitator for the AFRL-sponsored Machine Learning Bootcamp, a multi-month immersion program for AFRL engineers.
Mr. Weir was previously the Director of the CSIAC, and before that the Chief of Communications and Information Systems at the Eastern Air Defense Sector (EADS), Rome, New York. EADS is one of two NORAD/NORTHCOM air defense sectors in the Continental United States. He was responsible for setting up and maintaining the Sector's cyber posture during and after 9/11 and evolving the data/communication/sensor integration through the following decade.
Mr. Weir has Bachelor's degrees in Music Performance and in Electrical and Computer Engineering, and a Master's Degree in Information Systems, along with certifications in the cybersecurity domain.
Sean Bird
Sean Bird is a Software Engineer with Quanterion Solutions Inc. in Utica, NY. His work includes system design, systems analysis, software development, and cloud security/infrastructure. He has earned his undergraduate degree in Cybersecurity from SUNY Polytechnic Institute (formerly SUNYIT) and is currently pursuing his graduate degree in Computer Engineering at Syracuse University.
In a cyber field soon to be dominated by AI machine learning analyzing metadatabases with intell competing against the same in adversaries and at nanosecond speeds…somebody needs to spell out why the rush everywhere for “people”? (I can see the programming part…I can see the analytical part looking at the whole process, but the ENGAGEMENT of the adversary?)
Hey, Shackleton! I see your point but it will always be easier to trick people. There are no patches for stupidity yet. According to IBM 60 percent of all successful cybersecurity incidents involve some kind human action. We need AI, ML and all the newest technology but we still need well prepared people by our side.