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Cybersecurity and the Internet of Things

Michael Whitman, Ph.D., CISM, CISSP, Herbert J. Mattord, Ph.D., CISM, CISSP, CDP, Dr. Humayun Zafar, CEH, CISM, CRISC, PCIP, and Andy Green, Ph.D.

Welcome! You may have heard about the Internet of Things (IoT). But you may also have wondered about what it is. Or for that matter, what does it mean to you or an organization. This course is for you if you are curious about the most recent trends and activities in the internet capabilities and concerns about programmed devices. There are complexities and areas of necessary awareness when the industrial sector becomes connected to your home. Security policies and practices have not yet caught up to the internet capabilities of some of our most common products. The “connected home”, “consumer wearables”, or even an employee’s HVAC system may cause an unanticipated threat to your business environment.

You will explore current security and privacy related concerns in each of these areas. Every module will include readings, videos, case studies, and a quiz to help make sure you understand the material and concepts we talk about. This course offers a place to learn, reflect, and plan for a smart community approach to IoT. Portions of this course may seem extremely technical in nature. That is because the “things” in IoT represents engineering. Try to grasp the concept in that case.

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What's inside

Syllabus

Welcome to Cybersecurity and the Internet of Things!

Welcome to “Cybersecurity and the Internet of Things”! Your team for this course are experts in the field of cybersecurity and the Internet of Things. Through their research and experience, the team has collaborated to create a course that encompasses the most relevant aspects of cybersecurity and its impact on the Internet of Things. The team consists of Dr. Humayun Zafar, Dr. Traci Carte, Mr. Andy Green, and Dr. Herbert Mattord. All team members are faculty at Kennesaw State University which is one of the largest universities in the state of Georgia. In this course, we will talk about the so-called “Internet of Things” and what it means in the industrial sector, the “connected home”, and “consumer wearables” arenas. Good luck, and we look forward to seeing you successfully complete this course! Mr. Green is active on Twitter, follow him at @secprofgreen. He will be tweeting about IoT topics, using the #iotsecmooc tag. Join him there to engage in conversation!

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Read about what's good

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Taught by instructors who are recognized in the cybersecurity and Internet of Things field

Explores current security and privacy concerns in IoT implementation

Suitable for beginners seeking an introduction to IoT security

Covers basic concepts and applications of IoT in industrial, consumer, and home settings

Includes readings, videos, case studies, and quizzes for engagement and reinforcement

Emphasizes the need for security policies and practices to keep up with IoT advancements

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Reviews summary

Iot cybersecurity: concepts and concerns

According to learners, this course provides a solid foundation and a comprehensive overview of cybersecurity risks and challenges within the Internet of Things landscape, covering industrial, connected home, and wearable sectors. Students find the content relevant and current, particularly praising the up-to-date information on emerging threats. The bite-sized modules are seen as positive, making the material digestible. However, some learners felt the course could benefit from more technical depth and hands-on examples, and there were occasional remarks about the quiz difficulty not fully aligning with the material. Overall, it is considered a valuable introduction for those new to the field or looking to understand the broader implications.

Content is well-structured into modules.

"The modules are well-structured and easy to follow."

"I liked that the content was broken down into bite-sized modules."

"Each module was focused and manageable, which helped with comprehension."

"The way the course is structured in modules makes it easy to grasp the concepts."

Topics and information are up-to-date.

"The information was very recent and helpful in understanding the rapidly changing landscape of IoT security."

"Really relevant and current information was provided."

"The material felt very up-to-date with current events and trends in cybersecurity and IoT."

"I appreciate how current the topics covered in the course are."

Good overview for newcomers to IoT security.

"This course gave me a very good basic understanding of the IoT and security issues related to it."

"Excellent course for a general understanding of IoT, it's components, and it's security issues."

"I gained a solid foundation in understanding cybersecurity concerns across different IoT areas."

"A valuable introduction to the world of Cybersecurity related to the IoT."

Quiz difficulty inconsistent with material.

"Some quiz questions seemed unrelated or tested minor details not emphasized."

"The quizzes didn't always seem to reflect the main points of the videos or readings."

"I found some quizzes surprisingly difficult compared to the straightforward module content."

"Alignment between quiz content and module lessons could be improved."

Theory-heavy, minimal practical labs/demos.

"More hands-on labs or demonstrations would have been beneficial."

"The course was very theoretical; practical examples or labs were missing."

"I would have liked to see some practical demos of attacks or defenses."

"Lacking hands-on opportunities to apply the concepts learned."

Could use more advanced technical detail.

"Could use more in-depth technical discussion on securing specific IoT protocols."

"I felt it was a bit too high-level; I was hoping for more technical details."

"The course provides a good overview but lacks the technical depth needed for practitioners."

"While great for concepts, it didn't delve deep into the technical implementation of security."

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 and the Internet of Things with these activities:

Revisit Basic Networking Concepts

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Review fundamental networking concepts to strengthen your comprehension of IoT device communication.

Browse courses on Networking Basics

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Review materials on network protocols, topologies, and security.
Practice configuring basic network settings.

Recall Your Cybersecurity Fundamentals

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Refresh your understanding of cybersecurity principles to enhance your ability to identify and mitigate IoT security threats.

Browse courses on Cybersecurity Fundamentals

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Review notes or textbooks on cybersecurity concepts and best practices.
Complete practice questions or quizzes to assess your knowledge retention.

Test Your Understanding of Industrial IoT Devices

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Complete these practice drills to assess your comprehension of the different industrial IoT devices discussed in the course.

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Attempt practice questions on various industrial IoT device types.
Review the answers and explanations to strengthen your knowledge.

One other activity

Expand to see all activities and additional details

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Develop a Cybersecurity Policy for Your Smart Home

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Create a comprehensive cybersecurity policy for your smart home to safeguard your connected devices and personal data.

Browse courses on Cybersecurity Policy

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Identify potential security risks associated with your smart home devices.
Research best practices for IoT cybersecurity.
Draft a cybersecurity policy outlining security measures, protocols, and incident response.

Career center

Learners who complete Cybersecurity and the Internet of Things will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

IoT Solutions Architect

IoT Solutions Architects are responsible for designing and implementing IoT solutions for organizations. This course may be useful for you because it will help you understand the security risks associated with IoT devices and how to mitigate them.

See salaries and explore the career path for IoT Solutions Architect

IoT Security Engineer

IoT Security Engineers are responsible for securing IoT devices and networks. This course may be useful for you because it will help you understand the security risks associated with IoT devices and how to mitigate them.

See salaries and explore the career path for IoT Security Engineer

IoT Consultant

IoT Consultants provide advice and guidance to organizations on how to use IoT devices to improve their business outcomes. This course may be useful for you because it will help you understand the security risks associated with IoT devices and how to mitigate them.

See salaries and explore the career path for IoT Consultant

IoT Developer

IoT Developers are responsible for designing, developing, and maintaining IoT devices. This course may be useful for you because it will help you understand the security risks associated with IoT devices and how to mitigate them.

See salaries and explore the career path for IoT Developer

Information Security Manager

As an Information Security Manager, you would be responsible for planning, implementing, and maintaining an organization's information security program. This course may be useful for you because it will help you understand the security risks associated with IoT devices and how to mitigate them.

See salaries and explore the career path for Information Security Manager

Penetration Tester

Penetration Testers are responsible for testing the security of an organization's information systems by attempting to hack into them. This course may be useful for you because it will help you understand the security risks associated with IoT devices and how to mitigate them.

See salaries and explore the career path for Penetration Tester

Information Security Analyst

Information Security Analysts are responsible for identifying, assessing, and mitigating security risks to an organization's information systems. This course may be useful for you because it will help you understand the security risks associated with IoT devices and how to mitigate them.

See salaries and explore the career path for Information Security Analyst

Security Architect

Security Architects are responsible for designing and implementing security solutions for an organization's information systems. This course may be useful for you because it will help you understand the security risks associated with IoT devices and how to mitigate them.

See salaries and explore the career path for Security Architect

Security Consultant

Security Consultants provide advice and guidance to organizations on how to improve their information security posture. This course may be useful for you because it will help you understand the security risks associated with IoT devices and how to mitigate them.

See salaries and explore the career path for Security Consultant

Cybersecurity Engineer

Cybersecurity Engineers are responsible for designing, implementing, and maintaining cybersecurity solutions for an organization. This course may be useful for you because it will help you understand the security risks associated with IoT devices and how to mitigate them.

See salaries and explore the career path for Cybersecurity Engineer

Engineering Manager

Engineering Managers are responsible for leading and managing engineering teams. This course may be useful for you because it will help you understand how IoT devices can be used to improve engineering outcomes.

See salaries and explore the career path for Engineering Manager

Data Scientist

Data Scientists use data to solve business problems. This course may be useful for you because it will help you understand how IoT devices can be used to collect data and how that data can be used to improve business outcomes.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data Scientist

Business Analyst

Business Analysts help organizations understand their business needs and develop solutions to meet those needs. This course may be useful for you because it will help you understand how IoT devices can be used to improve business outcomes.

See salaries and explore the career path for Business Analyst

Project Manager

Project Managers are responsible for planning, executing, and closing projects. This course may be useful for you because it will help you understand how IoT devices can be used to improve project outcomes.

See salaries and explore the career path for Project Manager

Industrial Engineer

Industrial Engineers are responsible for designing and improving industrial processes. This course may be useful for you because it will help you understand how IoT devices can be used to improve industrial processes.

See salaries and explore the career path for Industrial Engineer

Reading list

We've selected 12 books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Cybersecurity and the Internet of Things.

Designing Connected Products

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Provides a practical guide to designing connected products. It covers topics such as IoT user experience, design principles, and case studies. It valuable resource for practitioners who want to learn how to design and develop IoT products.

Cybersecurity and the Internet of Things

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What's inside

Syllabus

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Reviews summary

Iot cybersecurity: concepts and concerns

Activities

Career center

Reading list

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