Faculty Development Academy:

Merging Information Technology and Operational Technology Security Practices

Virtual | March 11-14, 2024
8AM - 4PM Pacific / 9AM - 5PM Mountain / 10AM - 6PM Central / 11AM - 7PM Eastern

REGISTER

Who Should Attend: 

This workshop is funded and tailored specifically for community and technical college faculty members wishing to expand their knowledge, earn an industry certification, and strengthen their ability to incorporate new cybersecurity content in their community college curriculum. This workshop is not intended for students or other non-faculty participants.

About the Workshop: 

This workshop is designed for community college faculty wanting to integrate operational technologies (OT) into their existing network security and information technology programs. The workshop will delve into the increasingly intertwined worlds of IT and OT, emphasizing the unique cybersecurity challenges posed by the digitization of the factory floor.

The workshop will begin with an exploration of the fundamental principles of operational technologies such as Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI), and virtualization. Participants will engage in hands-on exercises using virtualization and simulation tools to understand how these technologies are transforming traditional manufacturing systems and industrial equipment. The first two days will be dedicated to building a solid theoretical foundation, followed by practical sessions on creating virtual models of industrial processes.

As the workshop progresses, the focus will shift to the cybersecurity risks associated with the digitization of operational technologies. Faculty will participate in eight hands-on exercises designed to simulate real-world scenarios where IT and OT converge. These exercises will cover critical topics such as process compliance, operations management, and the vulnerabilities introduced by integrating IoT and AI into traditional industrial systems. Participants will learn about the latest threats, attack vectors, and defense mechanisms specific to OT environments. Special attention will be paid to the complexities of ensuring secure data communication between IT and OT systems and the implications of non-compliance with industry standards and regulations.

The culmination of the workshop will be the development of a comprehensive case study. This case study will require participants to apply their newly acquired knowledge to design a secure, integrated IT-OT environment. The case study will encompass various operational technologies including IoT, AI, virtualization, process management, compliance, and operations. Participants will analyze and mitigate the cybersecurity risks associated with each technology, creating a blueprint for securely merging IT and OT systems. This exercise will not only consolidate learning but also equip faculty with practical, applicable knowledge to enhance their teaching curriculum in network security and information technology.

Stipend: 

Eligible community college faculty will receive up to a $1,000 stipend upon successfully completing the academy.

To be eligible for the stipends, you must:

• Currently teach college credit courses (full-time or adjunct) at a regionally accredited U.S. community or technical college
• Attend all sessions and complete the required assignments/projects
• Provide a current W9 tax form to the NCyTE Center
• Participation stipends will be prioritized to individuals that have not received NCyTE support in the past year

Dr. John Sands, Co-PI of NCyTE and Director of the Center for Systems Security and Information Assurance (CSSIA) and professor at Moraine Valley Community College in Chicago will lead the workshop.

This event is funded by the Microsoft Accelerating Community College Cybersecurity Excellence (ACCCE) grant awarded to Whatcom Community College (Grant No. 2021080009)