Introducing a Cybersecurity Mindset into Software Engineering Undergraduate Courses

Cybersecurity is a growing problem globally. Software helps to drive and optimize businesses in every aspect of modern life. Software systems have been under continued attacks by malicious entities, and in some cases, the consequences have been catastrophic. In order to tackle this pervasive problem, emphasis has been placed on educating software developers on how to develop secure systems. The majority of attacks on software systems have been largely due to negligence, lack of education, or incorrect application of cybersecurity defenses. As a result, there is a movement to increase cybersecurity education at all levels: novice, intermediate and expert. At the college level, students can be exposed to cybersecurity skills and principles that will better equip them as they transition into the workforce. A case study is presented which assesses the cybersecurity knowledge of juniors and seniors in a software engineering degree program taught over a one-semester period.

@article{Buckley2018,
  title     = {Introducing a Cybersecurity Mindset into Software Engineering Undergraduate Courses},
  journal   = {International Journal of Advanced Computer Science and Applications},
  volume    = {9},
  number    = {6},
  year      = {2018},
  publisher = {The Science and Information Organization},
  author    = {Ingrid A. Buckley and Janusz Zalewski and Peter J. Clarke},
  doi       = {10.14569/IJACSA.2018.090661},
  url       = {https://doi.org/10.14569/IJACSA.2018.090661}
}