CO SCI: Computer Network Security Management

Program Overview

With viruses, worms, and computer attacks being launched daily, network security will be among the fastest growing industries in the world. As a part of homeland security, computer and information security has become an important topic in higher education.

WLAC’s network security curriculum combines the existing MCSE, CCNA and Information System Security training to help students develop skills to design, administer and manage the heterogeneous corporate network with security emphasis.

Network administrators and computer systems administrators design, install, and support an organization’s local-area network (LAN), wide-area network (WAN), network segment, Internet, or intranet system. They provide day-to-day onsite administrative support for software users in a variety of work environments, including professional offices, small businesses, government, and large corporations. They maintain network hardware and software, analyze problems, and monitor the network to ensure its availability to system users. Network Administrators troubleshoot problems reported by users and by automated network monitoring systems and make recommendations for enhancements in the implementation of future servers and networks. Network administrators also may plan, coordinate, and implement network security measures.

In some organizations, computer security specialists may plan, coordinate, and implement the organization’s information security. These workers may be called upon to educate users about computer security, install security software, monitor the network for security breaches, respond to cyber attacks, and, in some cases, gather data and evidence to be used in prosecuting cyber crime. The responsibilities of computer security specialists has increased in recent years as there has been a large increase in the number of cyber attacks on data and networks. This and other growing specialty occupations reflect an increasing emphasis on client-server applications, the expansion of Internet and intranet applications, and the demand for more end-user support.