JMU & NCI Prepare Regional Teachers in Cybersecurity

“This camp provided the basics of cyber defense including everything from how to prepare, protect, detect, and respond to cyber threats,” said Brett Tjaden, professor of computer science at JMU. “We encouraged participating educators to generate interest in cyber security careers among their students through clubs, competitions, and exposure to the field.”

“I’m a lifelong learner, and I want to stay current in the ever-changing field of cybersecurity so that I can keep my students better informed on trends. With approximately 30,000 cybersecurity jobs open in the Commonwealth of Virginia, this career field represents a great opportunity for students in our area,” said Sandy Phillips, professor at Patrick Henry Community College.

Shannon Dudley Asbaugh, ITRT with Danville Public Schools, shared, “I have been thinking about going back to school myself for a degree in information technology. This week’s boot camp has certainly piqued my interest and made me want to learn more. Plus, it was a great opportunity to earn recertification points.”

During the boot camp, teachers learned about:
• The basics of setting up and administering both Windows and Linux operating systems
• Hardening techniques for both Windows and Linux hosts
• What tools attackers commonly use to perform reconnaissance and gather useful information in preparation for an attack
• How and why attackers perform password cracking, network sniffing, and other attacks
• How defenders utilize intrusion detection systems, integrity checkers, network monitors, and standard utilities on both Windows and Linux systems that aid in incident response

New College Institute works with Virginia universities and colleges to develop and bring high-quality programs to Southern Virginia that further develop our current and future workforce by providing accessible and affordable options.