UW-Oshkosh is pleased to welcome you to the Cybersecurity and Digital Risk Management Certificate Course. For years, Cybersecurity was a buzzword that some viewed exclusively as a responsibility for the Information Systems department or those who possessed specific Cybersecurity positions within the organization. However, as Cyber attacks and threats continued to evolve, organizations soon realized that effective Cybersecurity strategies involve a more practical and holistic approach in defending the digital domain. Today, most critical business functions within an organization maintain some level of dependency on technology and individuals interact with internal colleagues, external customers, and third-party stakeholders via technology every day. 

This holistic approach to Cybersecurity will revolve around an organization's Cybersecurity Program. If your organization does not have a Cybersecurity Program, this course will provide you with the tools, considerations, and best practices for developing a basic program. If your organization already has a Cybersecurity Program, the course will help you with assessing the effectiveness of your program, identifying blind spots, measuring the areas of risk in your program, and potential strategies for cultivating a more resilient Cybersecurity environment. The course is also designed to examine some of the emerging Cyber risks in a quickly shifting technology landscape and potential threats that exist beyond the organization's digital boundaries. 

In developing an effective Cybersecurity Program, the course will be approaching the material from a managerial and executive perspective and less from an engineering angle. While a general understanding of technology is recommended, the coursework is designed to be approachable for all levels of learners who want to gain a better understanding of the Cybersecurity landscape and risk management strategies. The course is also designed to be applicable for multiple industries and professions including financial, manufacturing, healthcare, education, and security. 

Why should organizations take a holistic approach to Cyber Security?

1 - Regardless of our role in an organization, we all touch a piece of technology or have the potential to expose information on a daily basis. HR handles employee payroll information, Sales tracks customer data, and customer care may process payments. We all have a responsibility to develop habits that protect the assets and information that exist within our digital domain.

2 - Cybersecurity threats no longer limit their targets to the IT services, applications, and network infrastructure. Instead, threats target multiple elements of an organization including their employees, devices, and methods of communication.

3 - Just like physical security, all members of an organization should have a level of awareness on how to identify safety concerns as well as procedures for handling certain emergency situations. We plan fire drills, learn how to recognize unsafe work conditions, follow standards and policies for colleague safety, and prepare for a wide range of contingencies...Cybersecurity should not be treated any differently.

4 - An effective Cybersecurity Program combines the appropriate protective technologies, processes/procedures, and a security mindset within the people of the organization.

5 - Cybersecurity and risk management is essential to all organizations, regardless of size, industry, or  

Course Objectives

What you will learn:

Objective 1 - Understand the core principles and components of an effective Cybersecurity Program for the development, assessment, and implementation within an organization

Objective 2 - Recognize the various Cyber risks, threats, and vulnerabilities to the organization's digital domain

Objective 3 - Develop and implement effective Cybersecurity policies and procedures that address internal and external threats to the digital domain

Objective 4 - Understand the concepts of risk identification, risk assessment, and risk mitigation for application of effective digital risk management strategies

Objective 5 - Understand fundamental Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity concepts for the development of solutions to maintain continuity of critical business functions and services in the event of a disruption