Online Security Management: Understanding Cyber Extremism and Hacktivism

Online warfare and cyber extremism are the next big security threat to global political and economic stability. The ability to understand and react to events online in a timely and appropriate manner is key to the UK’s future security, particularly in a context of increasing dependency on I.T systems.

Protecting key information & assets is of critical importance not only for government and the public sector, but for the sustainability and competitiveness of any business.

This course will help your organisation to take steps to ensure the security of your company.

While the internet has positively revolutionized the way we live and work, fuelling economic growth, enabling networking, and powering innovation across borders, it has also opened up new vulnerabilities. In October last year, Defence Secretary Leon Panetta warned that the United States faced the possibility of a “cyber-Pearl Harbor” and was becoming increasingly vulnerable to foreign computer hackers. Online, he explained, hackers could affect the nation’s power grid, transportation system, financial networks and government. The reality of the threat has been further confirmed by recent reports that 250,000 Twitter accounts had been compromised, fueling fears of identity theft.

Considering our growing dependency on digital platforms, protecting information & assets is of paramount importance for public & private organisations.

Objectives

Those who attend this two-day course will learn how to defend their assets from online threats by:

• Understanding the benefits of digital risk management for key personnel and using high level questions to help determine critical information assets, support strategic level risk discussions and help ensure that organisations have the right safeguards and cultures in place
• Gaining a general grasp of evolving global security landscape and impact of regional conflicts (i.e. cyber warfare targeting or emerging from Iran) on cyber security of British and international businesses and governments (i.e. foreign business espionage)
• Benefiting from a multi-disciplinary introduction to cyber threats posed by non-state actors (online terrorism, hactivism) and state actors (online espionage, Stuxnet and other viruses as a form of asymmetric warfare)
• Gaining an understanding of the role of state and private intelligence in addressing online threats 

By attending this course, participants will develop the ability to effectively deal with and protect themselves from online threats.

Our CPD offering combines into one package the unique cluster of expertise offered by our University (cyber security, terrorism, intelligence, role of media in conflict and extremism), which is unrivalled in the Northwest.