Information Technology: Information Technology Security Specialist Concentration
School of Business & Computer Technologies
Breuder Advanced Technology & Health Sciences Center, Rm. E257 · (570) 327-4517
Penn College’s Information Technology Security Specialist (BSS) major prepares students to enter the field of Information Assurance and Security (IAS). This field focuses on the protection of an organization’s information assets both from hostile and accidental activities. Graduates of the major will be prepared to protect our information assets through science, technology and research.
Student Opportunities
- Practice techniques of ethical hacking and penetration testing
- Practice techniques of defending against hackers
- Create and implement comprehensive security plans for an organization
- Evaluate and test security measures installed on systems
- Investigate computer incidents using current forensic techniques
- Develop the administrative skills required to manage, audit and maintain secure computing systems
- Protect systems and networks
- Develop effective security policies
- Install intrusion detection systems
- Create honey-pots and honey-nets
- Conduct IAS awareness trainings
- Locate and evaluate IAS alerts
- Conduct information security risk assessment
- Develop risk management plans
- And more …
Courses Validated by the Committee on National Security Systems (CNSS) and the National Security Agency (NSA)
The Information Assurance Courseware Evaluation (IACE) Program has evaluated this degree and has validated that Pennsylvania College of Technology courseware meets all of the elements of the Committee on National Security Systems (CNSS) National Training Standard for Information Systems Security (INFOSEC) Professionals, NSTISSI No. 4011. As this program progresses, faculty intend to apply to have the major evaluated under the standard for Risk Analysts, CNSSI-4016.
Several organizations in and peripheral to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) have collaborated to set standards for securing computing systems used by the government and its contractors. These standards include a set of curriculum standards currently disseminated by the National Security Agency (NSA) and developed by the Committee on National Security Systems (CNSS). The BSS major currently implements two of the six standards – namely 4011 (Information Systems Security Professionals) and 4016 (Risk Analysts). The curriculum requires students to master a conceptual body of knowledge as well as a practical skill set for applying that knowledge. The curriculum is structured as collections of courses that map to the various NSA standards. Each collection is a mixture of theoretical knowledge and practical application.
Information Technology
Computer Science Faculty Member Earns Doctorate From Penn State
June 2008
Nicholas A. Vonada
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Thomas P. Garrett Named 'Student of the Month'
April 2008
Thomas P. Garrett
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Professor Presents Paper on Human-Machine Interaction
April 2008
Asesh K. Das
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Penn College Professor Presents Paper at International Conference
November 2007
Asesh K. Das
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Cyber Security Awareness Event Focuses on Fight Against e-Crime
October 2007
"Hiding in Plain Sight," part of Penn College's observance of National Cyber Security Awareness Month, was held Tuesday afternoon in the PDC's Mountain Laurel Room. The rapid evolution of malicious software – whether used for concealing data, destroying data, unauthorized access or identity theft – is affecting business operations around the globe. In addition, the growth of digital steganography (a technique for hiding digital content inside seemingly innocuous computer files) has introduced a significant hurdle for defense, intelligence and law-enforcement investigations into cyber crime, cyber terrorism and espionage. Chet Hosmer, senior vice president of WetStone Technologies Inc., showed attendees how organized criminals are breaking through and how individuals can strengthen their computer defenses to keep them out.