Cybersecurity Risk Management from edX

Cybersecurity risk management guides a growing number of IT decisions. Cybersecurity risks continue to have critical impacts on overall IT risk modeling, assessment and mitigation.

In this course, you will learn about the general information security risk management framework and its practices and how to identify and model information security risks and apply both qualitative and quantitative risk assessment methods. Understanding this framework will enable you to articulate the business consequences of identified information security risks. These skills are essential for any successful information security professional.

The goal of this course is to teach students the risk management framework with both qualitative and quantitative assessment methods that concentrate on the information security (IS) aspect of IT risks. The relationship between the IT risk and business value will be discussed through several industry case studies.

First, you will learn about the principles of risk management and its three key elements: risk analysis, risk assessment and risk mitigation. You will learn to identify information security related threats, vulnerability, determine the risk level, define controls and safeguards, and conduct cost-benefit analysis or business impact analysis.

Second, we will introduce the qualitative and quantitative frameworks and discuss the differences between these two frameworks. You will learn the details of how to apply these frameworks in assessing information security risk.

Third, we will extend the quantitative framework with data mining and machine learning approaches that are applicable for data-driven risk analytics. You will explore the intersection of information security, big data and artificial intelligence.

Finally, you will analyze a series of extended case studies, which will help you to comprehend and generalize the principles, frameworks and analytical methods in actual examples.

This offering is part of the RITx Cybersecurity MicroMasters Program that prepares students to enter and advance in the field of computing security.

What you'll learn

Information security risk management framework and methodologies
Identifying and modeling information security risks
Qualitative and quantitative risk assessment methods
Articulating information security risks as business consequences

What's inside

Learning objectives

Information security risk management framework and methodologies
Identifying and modeling information security risks

Qualitative and quantitative risk assessment methods
Articulating information security risks as business consequences

Information security risk management framework and methodologies
Identifying and modeling information security risks
Qualitative and quantitative risk assessment methods
Articulating information security risks as business consequences

Syllabus

Week 1: Evolution of Information Security Week 2: Risk Management Process, Framework and Life Cycle Week 3: Quantitative versus Qualitative Risk Assessment Week 4: Defining Information Security Metrics Week 5: Analysis Techniques Week 6: Automating Metrics Calculations and Tools Weeks 7 & 8: Industry case studies

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Teaches risk management principles, framework, and lifecycle, which are standard in the cybersecurity industry

Provides qualitative and quantitative risk assessment methods, which are highly relevant to information security professionals

Develops skills in identifying and modeling information security risks, which are core for risk management

Taught by Tong Sun, who is recognized for their work in information security risk management

Examines risk management from a business perspective, which is highly relevant to IT risk

Requires extensive background knowledge in information security, which may be a barrier for some learners

Reviews summary

Well-received cybersecurity risk management course

Students find this cybersecurity risk management course to be comprehensive and full of helpful information. Learners in particular praise the engaging assignments that help them apply concepts learned in the lectures and readings.

The course is free for those in need.

"I'm so grateful that this course is free for needy students."

The instructor is knowledgeable and supportive.

"The instructor was very knowledgeable and helpful."

"The instructor was very supportive and responsive."

The assignments are engaging and help apply concepts.

"The assignments were very helpful in applying the concepts I learned."

"I found the assignments to be very engaging."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Cybersecurity Risk Management with these activities:

Review basic probability and statistics

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Review these essential mathematical concepts to strengthen your understanding of risk quantification and modeling.

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Review probability distributions, central limit theorem, and hypothesis testing
Practice solving problems involving probability and statistics
Use online resources or textbooks to refresh your knowledge

Review a book on information security

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Getting familiar with a book on information security will help set up a theoretical and practical base for learning the concepts of the course

View Principles of Information Security (MindTap... on Amazon

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Browse the book and skim through the chapters
Read the first few chapters of the book
Highlight the key points and definitions
Summarize what you have read

Review statistics

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Refresh your understanding of statistics to strengthen your foundation for this course.

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Review notes and textbooks from previous statistics courses.
Complete practice problems to test your understanding.
Consider taking an online refresher course or watching video tutorials.

16 other activities

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Participate in risk analysis discussions

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Engage with peers to exchange perspectives and deepen your understanding of risk analysis techniques.

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Join online forums or discussion groups.
Participate in discussions on case studies or real-world scenarios.
Share your own insights and learn from others' experiences.

Discuss the course concepts and share experiences

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Peer discussions help reinforce concepts through discussion, and gain different perspectives

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Find a group of interested students
Set up a regular meeting time
Discuss the assigned topic
Share and discuss each person's unique experiences

Explore the NIST Cybersecurity Framework

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Gain a deeper understanding of the NIST Cybersecurity Framework and its role in risk management.

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Follow online tutorials or webinars on the NIST Cybersecurity Framework
Review case studies and examples of its implementation
Apply the framework to a real-world scenario

Practice SQL Queries

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Improve your understanding of SQL syntax and strengthen your ability to write efficient queries, which is essential for working with databases in cybersecurity risk management.

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Set up a database and practice creating tables, inserting data, and querying data using SQL commands.
Solve coding challenges or practice problems related to SQL queries to test your skills.

Explore risk assessment frameworks

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Enhance your understanding of risk assessment frameworks by following guided tutorials.

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Identify relevant risk assessment frameworks for cybersecurity.
Find online tutorials or courses that provide step-by-step guidance.
Complete the tutorials and apply the frameworks to sample scenarios.

Follow online tutorials on cybersecurity risk management

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Working with tutorials will reinforce the concepts covered in class, and give a practical understanding

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Make a list of suggested tutorials
Go through these tutorials one by one
Use notes from the tutorials to create a document to refer back to

Conduct risk assessments using qualitative methods

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Develop hands-on experience in using qualitative risk assessment techniques to identify and prioritize risks.

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Identify assets, threats, and vulnerabilities
Estimate the likelihood and impact of risks
Prioritize risks based on their severity
Document and communicate risk assessment findings

Conduct vulnerability assessments

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Sharpen your technical skills by conducting vulnerability assessments in a simulated environment.

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Use online tools or software for vulnerability scanning.
Identify vulnerabilities and prioritize them based on risk.
Recommend remediation measures to mitigate risks.

Design a Security Risk Assessment Plan

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Develop a comprehensive plan that outlines the steps and processes for conducting a security risk assessment, providing you with a structured approach to identifying and mitigating risks.

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Identify the scope and objectives of the security risk assessment.
Gather and analyze data on security threats, vulnerabilities, and potential impacts.
Develop a risk assessment methodology and criteria for evaluating risks.
Document the assessment plan, including the methodology, scope, and procedures.

Create a 'Best Practices in Cybersecurity Risk Management' collection

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Putting together a collection of best practices will help you see the expected standards in the industry

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Research and identify best practices
Collect and curate relevant resources
Organize and present the collection in a well-structured format
Share the collection with other students or professionals

Develop a risk mitigation plan

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Apply your knowledge to create a comprehensive plan for mitigating identified risks and improving the overall security posture.

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Identify suitable risk mitigation strategies
Develop a detailed implementation plan
Estimate the costs and benefits of each strategy
Obtain stakeholder buy-in and support
Monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of the plan

Develop a risk assessment plan

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Demonstrate your understanding by creating a comprehensive risk assessment plan for a realistic scenario.

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Select an organization or system to assess.
Identify potential threats and vulnerabilities.
Analyze the risks and determine their likelihood and impact.
Develop mitigation strategies and controls.
Document the plan and present it to stakeholders.

Create a risk assessment plan for a given scenario

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Going through the process of creating a risk assessment plan in a given scenario will help develop a practical understanding

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Choose a given scenario
Identify the risks involved
Identify the stakeholders
Analyze the risks
Create a risk assessment plan

Work on a cybersecurity risk management project

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Working on a project will test and develop your skills, and give you hands-on experience

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Identify a cybersecurity risk management project
Define the project goals and objectives
Develop a project plan
Implement the project plan
Evaluate and present the project

Develop a cybersecurity risk management solution

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Apply your knowledge to a practical project by developing a cybersecurity risk management solution for a real-world problem.

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Define the scope and objectives of the project.
Conduct a risk assessment and identify potential threats and vulnerabilities.
Design and implement a risk management plan.
Evaluate the effectiveness of the solution and make necessary adjustments.
Present your findings and recommendations to stakeholders.

Participate in cybersecurity risk management competitions

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Taking part in competitions helps develop the ability to apply theory and develop solutions under pressure

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Research and identify cybersecurity risk management competitions
Form a team or participate individually
Prepare for the competition by studying and practicing
Participate in the competition
Evaluate your performance and learn from the experience

Career center

Learners who complete Cybersecurity Risk Management will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Chief Information Security Officer (CISO)

A Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) is responsible for the overall security of an organization's information systems. As a CISO, you would be responsible for developing and implementing security policies, procedures, and technologies to protect the organization's data and systems from unauthorized access, use, disclosure, disruption, modification, or destruction. This course would be helpful in providing you with the knowledge and skills needed to effectively manage cybersecurity risks and ensure the security of an organization's information systems.

See salaries and explore the career path for Chief Information Security Officer (CISO)

Security Analyst

Security analysts are responsible for monitoring and analyzing security events, identifying and mitigating security threats, and developing and implementing security solutions. As a security analyst, you would use your knowledge of cybersecurity risks and assessment methods to protect an organization's information systems from unauthorized access, use, disclosure, disruption, modification, or destruction. This course would be helpful in providing you with the skills needed to effectively identify, assess, and mitigate cybersecurity risks.

See salaries and explore the career path for Security Analyst

Cybersecurity Consultant

Cybersecurity consultants help organizations to identify and mitigate cybersecurity risks. As a cybersecurity consultant, you would work with clients to develop and implement security strategies and solutions. This course would be helpful in providing you with the knowledge and skills needed to effectively consult with clients on cybersecurity risks and help them to improve their security posture.

See salaries and explore the career path for Cybersecurity Consultant

Data Scientist

Data scientists use data to solve business problems. As a data scientist, you would use your knowledge of cybersecurity risks and data analysis techniques to help organizations to identify and mitigate cybersecurity risks. This course would be helpful in providing you with the knowledge and skills needed to effectively use data to identify and mitigate cybersecurity risks.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data Scientist

Security Engineer

Security engineers design, implement, and maintain security systems. As a security engineer, you would use your knowledge of cybersecurity risks and assessment methods to design and implement security systems that protect an organization's information systems from unauthorized access, use, disclosure, disruption, modification, or destruction. This course would be helpful in providing you with the knowledge and skills needed to effectively design and implement security systems.

See salaries and explore the career path for Security Engineer

IT Systems Administrator

IT systems administrators are responsible for the day-to-day operation and maintenance of an organization's IT systems. As an IT systems administrator, you would use your knowledge of cybersecurity risks and assessment methods to ensure that an organization's IT systems are secure from unauthorized access, use, disclosure, disruption, modification, or destruction. This course would be helpful in providing you with the knowledge and skills needed to effectively secure an organization's IT systems.

See salaries and explore the career path for IT Systems Administrator

Risk Manager

Risk managers are responsible for identifying, assessing, and mitigating risks. As a risk manager, you would use your knowledge of cybersecurity risks and assessment methods to help organizations to identify and mitigate cybersecurity risks. This course would be helpful in providing you with the knowledge and skills needed to effectively identify, assess, and mitigate cybersecurity risks.

See salaries and explore the career path for Risk Manager

Information Security Analyst

Information security analysts are responsible for the security of an organization's information systems. As an information security analyst, you would use your knowledge of cybersecurity risks and assessment methods to protect an organization's information systems from unauthorized access, use, disclosure, disruption, modification, or destruction. This course would be helpful in providing you with the knowledge and skills needed to effectively protect an organization's information systems.

See salaries and explore the career path for Information Security Analyst

Penetration Tester

Penetration testers are responsible for testing the security of an organization's information systems. As a penetration tester, you would use your knowledge of cybersecurity risks and assessment methods to identify vulnerabilities in an organization's information systems and develop strategies to mitigate those vulnerabilities. This course would be helpful in providing you with the knowledge and skills needed to effectively test the security of an organization's information systems.

See salaries and explore the career path for Penetration Tester

Security Auditor

Security auditors are responsible for auditing an organization's security systems and practices. As a security auditor, you would use your knowledge of cybersecurity risks and assessment methods to assess the effectiveness of an organization's security systems and practices and make recommendations for improvement. This course would be helpful in providing you with the knowledge and skills needed to effectively audit an organization's security systems and practices.

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Compliance Manager

Compliance managers are responsible for ensuring that an organization complies with all applicable laws and regulations. As a compliance manager, you would use your knowledge of cybersecurity risks and assessment methods to ensure that an organization complies with all applicable cybersecurity laws and regulations. This course would be helpful in providing you with the knowledge and skills needed to effectively ensure that an organization complies with all applicable cybersecurity laws and regulations.

See salaries and explore the career path for Compliance Manager

Privacy Officer

Privacy officers are responsible for protecting the privacy of an organization's data. As a privacy officer, you would use your knowledge of cybersecurity risks and assessment methods to protect the privacy of an organization's data from unauthorized access, use, disclosure, disruption, modification, or destruction. This course would be helpful in providing you with the knowledge and skills needed to effectively protect an organization's privacy.

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Incident Responder

Incident responders are responsible for responding to security incidents. As an incident responder, you would use your knowledge of cybersecurity risks and assessment methods to respond to security incidents and mitigate their impact. This course would be helpful in providing you with the knowledge and skills needed to effectively respond to security incidents and mitigate their impact.

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Chief Privacy Officer (CPO)

A Chief Privacy Officer (CPO) is responsible for overseeing an organization's privacy program. As a CPO, you would be responsible for developing and implementing policies and procedures to protect the privacy of an organization's data. This course may be helpful in providing you with the knowledge and skills needed to effectively oversee an organization's privacy program and protect the privacy of an organization's data.

See salaries and explore the career path for Chief Privacy Officer (CPO)

Forensic Analyst

Forensic analysts are responsible for investigating security incidents and collecting evidence. As a forensic analyst, you would use your knowledge of cybersecurity risks and assessment methods to investigate security incidents and collect evidence to support legal proceedings. This course may be helpful in providing you with the knowledge and skills needed to effectively investigate security incidents and collect evidence.

See salaries and explore the career path for Forensic Analyst