Overview

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Safeguard your personal and professional digital footprint. This course equips you with essential cybersecurity strategies to protect information and minimize digital risk. As more data is stored and shared online, digital safety and security have become crucial professional competencies. Led by Dr. Nicholas Proferes of ASU’s School of Social and Behavioral Sciences, this course covers foundational digital security principles, practical tools to protect sensitive information, and proactive strategies to detect, prevent, and respond to cyber threats. Through interactive exercises and real-world scenarios, you’ll build confidence in managing digital risks and protecting your data across personal and workplace environments.

Syllabus

Securing your digital environment

This module introduces you to the fundamental concepts of securing your digital environment. You will explore common causes of digital vulnerabilities and discover resources available to enhance your security posture. Learn how to set up a secure workspace, practice implementing security solutions, and reflect on effective strategies to protect your digital assets. This module emphasizes proactive planning to prevent future security issues.

Addressing your digital weak points

In this module, you will learn to identify and address potential weak points in your digital presence. We will delve into the causes of digital vulnerabilities and provide resources to help you strengthen your defenses. You will gain skills in spotting potential digital risks, practicing solutions to mitigate these risks, and understanding how to avoid common threats like phishing attacks. The module concludes with strategies for staying vigilant and managing permissions effectively.

Backing up your data

This module focuses on the critical practice of data backup. You will learn why data backup is essential, explore various resources, and develop a comprehensive data backup strategy. The module provides practical exercises to manage your data backup, offers a job aid for effective backup procedures, and encourages reflection on your backup solutions. By the end, you will understand the importance of initiating and automating backups to protect your valuable information.

Using tools to prevent cyberattacks

Discover how to leverage various tools to prevent cyberattacks in this module. You will learn about the causes of cyberattacks and the resources available to combat them. The module guides you through the process of selecting appropriate cyber safety tools, provides opportunities to practice using these tools, and offers a job aid for preparing for worst-case scenarios. You will also reflect on solutions and learn to design resilient systems to protect against future threats.

Keeping up with your systems

This module emphasizes the importance of ongoing system maintenance for digital safety. You will learn about the causes of system vulnerabilities and discover resources for effective upkeep. The module provides guidance on maintaining and updating your setup, offers practical exercises for system management, and includes a job aid for caring for your devices. You will reflect on solutions and understand how to budget time for upkeep to prevent issues from escalating.

Planning to increase cyber safety

In this module, you will develop a strategic approach to increasing cyber safety. You will learn about the causes and resources related to cyber safety planning, with a specific focus on using the NIST framework for digital security. The module includes practical exercises for planning, a job aid detailing the basics of the NIST framework, and opportunities to reflect on your solutions. By the end, you will be able to communicate and collaborate on cyber safety initiatives and apply the NIST framework effectively.

Course conclusion

This module marks the conclusion of the course, providing an opportunity to reflect on your learning journey and offer valuable feedback. You will find resources for completing an end-of-course survey, which is crucial for improving future learning experiences.