CareerTech: Securing Cyber Futures

From mouse-read fingerprints and iris-identification software to securing personal information fed into email, cyber-security is a worldwide hot topic. In America – and Oklahoma – Homeland Security is even hotter.

Oklahoma’s CareerTech system, a partner in the Oklahoma Center for Information Assurance and Forensics Education (OCIAFE) Consortium, will be key to cyber security across the state – especially in rural communities – according to Gov. Brad Henry.

The security of cyberspace depends on all owners of the nation’s cyber infrastructure – from the home user to the Federal government. The OCIAFE plays an important role in empowering Oklahomans to secure their portions of cyberspace through training and education.

The consortium includes Central Technology Center-Drumright; Moore Norman Technology Center; Francis Tuttle Technology Center, Oklahoma City; Oklahoma City Community College; OSU-Okmulgee; Rose State College, Tulsa Community College and the University of Tulsa which is a national leader in cyber security education and research. The University of Tulsa serves as the principal training entity and a mentor to the two-year institutions.

The OCIAFE, recently designated as Oklahoma’s first Advanced Technology Education (ATE) Regional Center, was awarded a $3 million grant from the National Science Foundation. During the next four years, the grant money will help establish cyber security education and workforce development programs at two-year institutions in Oklahoma and neighboring states.

As an ATE Center, OCIAFE will establish similar programs at six additional technology centers and 14 additional community colleges during the next four years.

“We worked to ensure that all Oklahomans would have the opportunity to participate in this high tech growth area,” Gov. Henry said. “The ATE Center of Excellence institutions will be vital to keeping and creating jobs in our state. The focus on security and forensics education is critical in a post-9/11 America.”

This is the second center for cyber security in the country and the nation’s first in the area of digital forensics, making Oklahoma a national model for cyber security and forensics education.

With that distinction comes the added benefit of new jobs and enhanced cyber security for Oklahoma businesses, government and law enforcement agencies.

The OCIAFE schools currently serve nearly 60 percent of Oklahoma’s population and more than 70 percent of the states’ information technology workforce. Cooperative agreements established between institutions will provide students seamless education pathways from CareerTech centers and community colleges to four-year colleges and universities.

“Since 90 percent of the individuals trained are expected to come from the workforce or enter the workforce upon completion of their studies, the ATE Center will significantly impact workforce development and training in Oklahoma and neighboring states,” according to Dr. Sheryl Hale, state coordinator of Adult and Career Development for the CareerTech system

Francis Tuttle, Oklahoma City and Central Tech, Drumright, are entering the second year as cyber security education institutions. The primary focus at those tech centers has been on training high school and adult students for occupations to fill positions in the growing cyber security field.

Last year Francis Tuttle launched its Enterprise Communications program where instructor Joe Elkins taught adult students the basics about digital forensics and cyber security issues.

“Students check computer server ‘firewalls’ and learn about the use of hardware such as a biometric mouse that reads fingerprints and software specializing in iris identification,” Elkins said.

This year Moore Norman Technology Center was added to the consortium and will focus on re-skilling current information technology specialists and workers, according to Hale.

With assistance from the University of Tulsa, OCIAFE’s two-year institutions have instituted degree and certificate programs in cyber security, which are mapped to various certifications such as Cisco, Microsoft, CompTIA and Security Certified Professional.

The OCIAFE programs not only cover the technical, operational and managerial dimensions, but the legal and ethical issues.

“Our economy and national security are dependent upon information technology and its infrastructure,” Hale said. “These workers will play a critical role in implementing the national strategy to secure cyberspace as part of Oklahoman’s homeland defense strategy.”

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	Francis Tuttle Technology Center (FTC) instructor Joe Elkins demonstrates for a student the proper way to place a hard drive into a container in order for it to be duplicated for forensic examination. Elkins teaches the Enterprise Communications class where students learn about cyber forensics as well as cyber security issues. Download High Resolution image for print. 1.6 mb
	A student in the FTC Enterprise Communications class checks the computer servers "firewall," which is part of the cyber security aspects of the class. Download High Resolution image for print. 1.9 mb
	Students in the FTC Communications class are learning about cyber security issues including the use of hardware such as a mouse that reads fingerprints and software specializing in iris identification. Download High Resolution image for print. 1.4 mb

-released Oct 5, 2004