Cybersecurity Center

Cybersecurity Center

The CSM's Cybersecurity Center is a repository of essential resources for everyone interested in the Academic Cybersecurity activities at the college:

  • Current students will find information of events/contacts/clubs and other useful resources for their education and beyond  
  • Prospective students can look up the degree and certificate details  
  • Industry partners should start here for a glimpse on the quality and substance of our program and our graduates 
  • Academic colleagues and partners will find quick references to CSM's faculty and roles in the organization  

The CSM's Cybersecurity Center hosts both virtual resources: Netlabs, a repository of tools and training material for our cybersecurity students as well as physical cybersecurity minded labs and equipment in multiple campus locations. Our labs designed to host cybersecurity classes, cyber training events and bootcamps, student clubs, research experiments, and industry and partner led workshops.  

Our college Cybersecurity Program is a designated Center of Academic Excellence (CAE-C) by The National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity, participating in multiple grant programs that offer multiple avenues of aid to improve the academic success of students. 

Events

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Cybersecurity Faculty

  • Lakisha Ferebee – Assistant Professor, Technology Department, Sec+, CCAI
    ldferebee@csmd.edu

  • Eugen Leontie - Assistant Professor, AWS, Program Coordinator Computer Science and Software Development
    elontie@csmd.edu

Scholarships

  • This scholarship is funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) Scholarships in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (S-STEM) program.
  • The NSF S-STEM Scholarship is designed to support full-time students majoring in any of the following content areas: Bioinformatics, Biotechnology, CyberSecurity, Computer Science, Cloud Information Technology, Software Developer, Information Systems, Life Sciences, Engineering, Environmental Science, Physical Sciences, and Mathematics.
  • It aims to provide scholarship support for academically-talented, financially-needy science, technology, engineering and math students, and train these students to become effective scientific and technological contributors when entering the STEM workforce.
  • Scholarships will be awarded for up to two years. New and current students are eligible to apply. Scholarships vary in amount up to $6,000 per year and can be used for tuition, fees, books, supplies, equipment, and other needs. Scholarship recipients will be part of a learning community and will be assigned a faculty mentor with the opportunity to actively participate in faculty-mentored undergraduate research.
  • Eligibility Criteria:To qualify, students must:
    • Be a United States citizen, permanent resident, or an eligible non-citizen
    • Have financial need (as defined for undergraduate students by the U.S. Department of Education criteria for Federal Financial Aid)
    • Maintain full-time enrollment (minimum of 12 credits per semester)
    • Have at least a 3.0 GPA
    • Agree to participate in a one credit seminar, which would include an undergraduate research component, and participate in scholarship program activities
  • Application Process:
    • Complete and submit all of the following documents directly to College of Southern Maryland:Dr. Melanie Osterhouse atmdosterhouse@csmd.edu.
  • A completed scholarship application formhttps://www.csmd.edu/_pdfs/costs-aid/2022nsf-stemapp_csm.docx

  • NICE Committee Now Accepting Student Sponsorship Applications
    • Student Submission Deadline: February 5, 2023
    • We are happy to announce that the NICE Committee will be providing sponsorships to a select few higher education students that will cover their registration cost, travel, hotel accommodation and some meals. This opportunity will provide students with the ability to attend the conference with the goal of gaining new knowledge, sharing their work, and engaging with cybersecurity practitioners from academia, government, and industry.
    • The selection is competitive and only a small number of students will be accepted. Students must be prepared to submit their basic personal information, an application essay, resume, and a letter of recommendation. Students will then be selected by our 2023 NICE Conference Washington State Academic Consortium Committee based on the criteria that was requested.
    • Learn more about the application process and how to apply:https://niceconference.org/registration-landing/

Clubs

  • Who are We 
    • The CyberHawks can teach you skills to help protect data at home and work. We work as a team to learn cybersecurity because teamwork is an essential part of cybersecurity. No experience is needed to get on this team. Some of the activities we participate in capture the flag (CTF) competitions, field trips (virtual and physical), and participate in virtual escape. Also, training for certifications in the IT field.
  • How to Join
    • Who can join? Everyone. If you are in the community or on campus you are welcome to join. Send an email to cyberhawksclub@csmd.edu with your name and student ID. If you do not have a student ID it is okay, tells us your name, email address, and county. Let us know if you have any questions. Additionally, you can reach out to us on the CSM Mobile app. 
  • Club Activities 
    • National Cyber League
    • NCL Field trips (virtual and physical) 
    • Virtual escape rooms 
    • MAGIC’s Capture the Flag 

  • Who are We?
    • The Tech Hawks Club holds virtual meetings, that will bring in guest speakers and general discussions about success in various areas of IT, cybersecurity, programming, networking, cloud, data science, and computing. You will get to participate in hands-on lessons that promote technology and security awareness. 
  • tech-hawks-spring-2023.png
  • Who can join? Everyone. If you are in the community or on campus you are welcome to join. Attend the zoom meeting and provide your name and student ID. If you do not have a student ID it is okay, you will just need to provide your name, email address, and county. If the zoom link does not work please contact dpowell@csmd.edu 

Cybersecurity Resources

  • For more information, see Transfer Agreements.

    • Bowie State University
    • Capitol Technology University
    • Excelsior College
    • Morgan State University
    • Norte Dame of Maryland University
    • Old Dominion University
    • Potomac State College of West Virginia University 
    • Southern New Hampshire University
    • St. Mary's College of Maryland
    • Stevenson University
    • University of Maryland, Global Campus

The Technology Department provides a limited number of free vouchers to students who pass the courses below with an A or B. Student selection will be done each semester (Fall, Spring, Summer). If you have successful completed a course that qualifies for a free voucher, please use the link below to complete the form for selection or scan the QR code.

Requirements: Must have an A or B in appropriate course and respective semester. If selected, you must claim your voucher within 48 hours. If not claimed by then it will be given to the next student on the selected list. For more information contact Ronda Jacobs rljacobs@csmd.edu.

https://forms.office.com/r/VqZFDZRve0

The following courses help students to prepare for the following certifications:

CSC-1110 

  • PCEP (Certified Entry-Level Python Programmer)
  • PCAP (Certified Associate in Python Programming)

ITS-1050 Computing Essentials 

  • Testout PC Pro
  • CompTIA A+ 

ITS-1960 Introduction to Linux

  • Testout Linux Pro
  • CompTIA Linux 

ITS-2090 Computer Security

  • Testout Security Pro
  • CompTIA Security+

ITS-2185 Installing and Configuring Microsoft Client

  • Testout Client Pro

ITS-2190 Microsoft Window Server Administration 

  • Testout Server Pro
  • CompTIA Server+

ITS-2400 Introduction to Cloud Computing

  • AWS Cloud Practitioner Certification

ITS-2410 Cloud Infrastructure and Services

  • AWS Solutions Architect Certification

ITS-2500 Ethical Hacking & Penetration Testing

  • Testout Ethical Hacking Pro
  • CompTIA Ethical Hacking Certification

ITS-2527 Enterprise Networking 

  • CompTIA Network +
  • CCNA

  • National Cyber League (NCL)
    • The National Cyber League (NCL) is the most inclusive, performance-based, learning-centered collegiate cybersecurity competition today!
    • The NCL, powered by Cyber Skyline, enables students to prepare and test themselves against practical cybersecurity challenges that they will likely face in the workforce, such as identifying hackers from forensic data, pen testing and auditing vulnerable websites, recovering from ransomware attacks, and much more!
    • Open to U.S. high school and college students, the NCL is a community and virtual training ground that allow students to develop and demonstrate their technical cybersecurity skills, helping students bridge the gap from curriculum to career!
  • MAGIC
    • This a beginner level competition open to students grades 8 -12 and college undergraduates looking to get an introduction to the world of cybersecurity.
      Using our online CTF platform, students from all over will compete for top prize. So, get your team together and get ready to rumble!

  • Microsoft Azure:
    • Students taking ITS credit courses within the Business, Technology, and Public Service Division are entitled to receive certain Microsoft software free of charge. This does not include Microsoft Office which is included in your Office 365 account with the college. Go to https://azureforeducation.microsoft.com/devtools to find out the details of this program. Please carefully follow the instructions on that page for registering. If you have followed the instructions and still have difficulty, then contact your instructor.
  • Virtual Box (https://www.virtualbox.org/wiki/Downloads)
    • VirtualBox is a virtualization product for enterprise as well as home use. It is a feature rich, high-performance product for enterprise customers, and the only professional solution that is freely available as Open Source Software under the terms of the GNU General Public License (GPL) version 2.
    • Presently, VirtualBox runs on Windows, Linux, Macintosh, and Solaris hosts and supports a large number of guest operating systems including but not limited to Windows (NT 4.0, 2000, XP, Server 2003, Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 10), DOS/Windows 3.x, Linux (2.4, 2.6, 3.x and 4.x), Solaris and OpenSolaris, OS/2, and OpenBSD.
    • VirtualBox is being actively developed with frequent releases. VirtualBox is a community effort backed by a dedicated company: everyone is encouraged to contribute while Oracle ensures the product always meets professional quality criteria.
  • VMware
    • VMware is free for Technology Department students. You must contact your professor to receive an educational code good for one year.
  • Amazon Skills Center in Arlington, VA.

  • Work-Based Learning (Current Students)

    • CSM's Work Based Learning is our one stop for employers to connect current students.

    • Work-Based Learning (WBL) is an educational strategy that provides students with real-life work experiences where they can apply academic and technical skills and develop their employability.

    • CSM is committed to expanding education and employment opportunities for students because we know that connecting students to early work experiences can have a positive impact on students’ interest in continuing their education, employment, and future earning potential.

    • Through collaboration and the implementation of WBL, employers can help shape their future workforce by employing today’s students. Work-Based Learning helps students develop the skills they need to enter and succeed in today’s fast-paced world.

    • Benefits for Employers

      • Able to provide work for 15+ hours a week

      • Grow your own talent with a quick and reliable source of skilled labor

      • Evaluate potential employees in work settings prior to hiring

      • Diversify the workforce and reduce recruiting costs

      • Ensure seasoned experts pass on knowledge

      • Influence curriculum development to meet industry requirements

    • To apply for a work-based learning opportunity, please complete the employer pre-assessment found here: Work Based Learning Info for Employers

  • College Central Network (Current, Graduating, Alumni Students)

    • CSM's College Central Network is our one-stop for employers and current, graduating, and alumni students to connect.

    • First step: Complete the Employer Registration form with CSM's Career Center. https://www.collegecentral.com/SE/EmpRegForm.cfm?UnivCode=SML

    • How It Works...

      • Employers can post job opportunities FREE of charge on College Central Network® and reach skilled, registered job seekers who are enrolled at or have graduated from the Network's institutions.

      • Job postings are instantly integrated into each institution's exclusively powered career office management platform and are immediately available to job seekers.

      • Each job seeker receives a personalized daily Job Alert consisting of all jobs that match their individual career path.

      • Job seekers view and apply to opportunities using their mobile devices, laptops, or computers.

    • Who Is Eligible?

      • Any employer can register for FREE.

      • Employers must meet the institution's requirements in order to be approved.

      • Approved employers are notified by email and can immediately begin to post unlimited jobs to the institution 24/7/365.

    • How do I post a job after My Registration is Approved?

      • Once approved, an email will be sent with a link to Activate your account.

      • Sign in using the "Sign In" button.

      • Under the Job Board section, click Post, Edit, Repost or Expire Job Postings.

      • Click the Post a New Job button.

      • Complete the Job Posting Form (be sure to complete all required fields, select majors and job targets, and provide a complete job description).

      • Click the Save Job Posting button.

      • You will receive confirmation that your job posting has been saved. You will then be asked if you would like to post another job, return to the list of jobs that you posted, or return to your Account Page. College Central Network for Employers

  • CSM Courses (Current Students)

    • ITS-2900

      • Prerequisites/Corequisites: Completion of 45 credits toward an Information Systems, Cloud and Information Technology, or Software Development degree, in which 21 credits must be ITS or CSC courses.

      • This capstone course provides hands-on and problem-solving experience in many areas of information technology. Students consolidate knowledge and skills gained in coursework in this capstone experience. This course focuses on working with actual business problems as represented in a major case study. Students will be required to complete an individual project, system, program, or research paper which will enhance their skills and marketability. If you have a project, please contact rljacobs@csmd.edu

    • ITS-2910

      • Prerequisites/Corequisites: Completion of 45 credits toward an Information Systems, Cloud and Information Technology, or Software Development degree, in which 21 credits must be ITS or CSC courses.

      • Cooperative Education allows students to combine academic study with on-the-job experience by working on training assignments coordinated by departmental faculty. The major objective of Cooperative Education is the application of classroom theory in a work environment. This course is intended for students who are pursuing a degree in Information Technology. If you have a need for an internship, please contact rljacobs@csmd.edu 

  • Joe Burgin

  • Work-Based Learning (Current Students)
    • CSM's Work Based Learning is our one stop for current students to connect to employers.
    • Work-Based Learning (WBL) is an educational strategy that provides students with real-life work experiences where they can apply academic and technical skills and develop their employability.
    • CSM is committed to expanding education and employment opportunities for students because we know that connecting students to early work experiences can have a positive impact on students’ interest in continuing their education, employment, and future earning potential.
    • Through collaboration and the implementation of WBL, employers can help shape their future workforce by employing today’s students. Work-Based Learning helps students develop the skills they need to enter and succeed in today’s fast-paced world.
    • Benefits for Students
      • Able to work 15+ hours a week
      • Earn an income and gain work experience
      • Opportunity to practice skills in real-world scenarios
      • Work experience in specific occupations
      • Experience that reinforces academic instruction
      • Develop work skills to increase employability
      • Network with potential employers
    • To apply for a work-based learning opportunity, please complete the student pre-assessment found here: Work Based Learning Info for Current Students
  • College Central Network (Current, Graduating, Alumni Students)

    • CSM's College Central Network is our one-stop for current, graduating, and alumni students to connect to employers.

    • Whether you’re looking for a job on or off campus, or a paid internship, College Central Network is the primary job posting site for CSM alumni.

    • You may upload your current resume or use College Central Network's resume template to create a resume and begin the search for the job that’s right for you. College Central Network also includes a video and print library on topics related to getting and keeping the job, such as resumes, salary negotiations, and attending job and career fairs to name a few. College Central Network for Current, Graduating, Alumni Students

  • CSM Courses (Current Students)
    • ITS-2900
      • Prerequisites/Corequisites: Completion of 45 credits toward an Information Systems, Cloud and Information Technology, or Software Development degree, in which 21 credits must be ITS or CSC courses.
      • This capstone course provides hands-on and problem-solving experience in many areas of information technology. Students consolidate knowledge and skills gained in coursework in this capstone experience. This course focuses on working with actual business problems as represented in a major case study. Students will be required to complete an individual project, system, program, or research paper which will enhance their skills and marketability.
    • ITS-2910
      • Prerequisites/Corequisites: Completion of 45 credits toward an Information Systems, Cloud and Information Technology, or Software Development degree, in which 21 credits must be ITS or CSC courses.
      • Cooperative Education allows students to combine academic study with on-the-job experience by working on training assignments coordinated by departmental faculty. The major objective of Cooperative Education is the application of classroom theory in a work environment. This course is intended for students who are pursuing a degree in Information Technology.

  • NICE Committee Now Accepting Student Sponsorship Applications
    • Student Submission Deadline: February 5, 2023
    • We are happy to announce that the NICE Committee will be providing sponsorships to a select few higher education students that will cover their registration cost, travel, hotel accommodation and some meals. This opportunity will provide students with the ability to attend the conference with the goal of gaining new knowledge, sharing their work, and engaging with cybersecurity practitioners from academia, government, and industry.
    • The selection is competitive and only a small number of students will be accepted. Students must be prepared to submit their basic personal information, an application essay, resume, and a letter of recommendation. Students will then be selected by our 2023 NICE Conference Washington State Academic Consortium Committee based on the criteria that was requested.
    • Learn more about the application process and how to apply:https://niceconference.org/registration-landing/
  • The National Cybersecurity Training and Education Center (NCyTE) is offering a limited number of travel stipends of up to $1,500 for faculty to attend the 2023 NICE Conference.
  • Cyber Career Challenge Schedule
    • March 2 - Commitment Agreement due
    • April 10 - Workshop begins: Introduction to program work roles
    • April 17 - Introduction to the network requirements and team selection
    • April 24 - Network admin basics, Kanban, Gantt charts, Visio diagrams
    • May 1 to June 5 - Teams work independently and receive guidance on network management and pentest prep
    • June 12 - Pentest
    • June 15 - Team presentations
    • September 15 (Optional) Virtual Career Fair
  • The CSM Velocity Center will be hosting our second annual hackathon at the Velocity Center and virtually March 30 - March 31, 2023.
    • Velocity X: Climate Innovation Hackathon will feature two challenges aimed to solve one of two challenges that address climate change issues facing Southern Maryland and similar areas. One challenge is a data visualization challenge, and the other is a marketing strategy challenge.
    • Teams may participate in-person or virtually in the hackathon and will be able to win cash prizes from a $12,000 prize pool. We highly encourage anyone interested in the Velocity X: Climate Innovation Hackathon to register and participate as it is a great opportunity to make an impact on the community, win cash, meet new people, and bolster professional experience. Please spread the word to students. However, the hackathon is not limited in participation, so faculty, staff and the community at large may form or be members of teams.
    • To learn more about Velocity X: Community Innovation Hackathon and register, go to: https://csm.brightidea.com/VelocityX2023
  • Apply for the NCL Games Scholarship
  • NASA's internship programs provide training, mentoring, and career development opportunities while working with the best science, engineering, financial, information technology and business minds in the world.  https://intern.nasa.gov/ 

  • Work
    • Utilize resources to complete assignments, access technology tutors for additional help and on-site lab assistants to help with technical issues.
  • Learn
    • Participate in demo workshops, utilize self-paced labs, or study up on the ever-changing skills and techniques of cybersecurity.
  • Play
    • Utilize the lab to experiment and explore your cybersecurity skills in a cyber safe environment. Create apps, VR content, hacking gaming systems, and more.
      • Location/Room/Hours (Spring II)
        • La Plata (Room ST 159):
          • Monday- 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM
          • Tuesday- 1:00 PM to 6:00 PM
          • Thursday- 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM
        • Leonardtown (Room B 303): 
          • Tuesday through Thursday- 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM
          • Monday and Friday- 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM
        • Prince Frederick (Room B 201):
          • Tuesday and Thursday- 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM
          • Wednesday- 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM
          • Friday- 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM

  • Download instructions (.pdf)
  • Virtual Machine Instructions
    • Pick an operating system that you want to run as a virtual machine. Some useful downloads are in the links below. (You can either install a Kali Linux VM for cybersecurity purposes or a Ubuntu machine for general Linux command line purposes. Note that Ubuntu may need 2048 MB of memory nowadays to run.)
    • Instructions: Download VirtualBox (https://www.virtualbox.org/) or VMware Player (VMware Workstation 15.1.0) or, depending on the type of 'Prebuilt Kali Linux Image' of Kali downloaded.
    • If you have a ISO file, Create a New Virtual Machine, and insert the ISO CD. If you have an existing Virtual Machine, Open the existing Virtual Machine. When prompted: "Are you moving/copying this from another place?" click Yes.
  • Pick an operating system:
  • Note: Try not to run too many graphically demanding virtual machines at once. It can slow your PC down. It uses your PC's memory/RAM resources. Only run what you need to get done. To obtain the IP address, you can type 'ipconfig' in the terminal on Linux machines, or in Windows you can go to Start> cmd  or  Command Prompt > type 'ipconfig'  or   Start > Type in 'ncpa.cpl' > and double click on the interface > Local Area Connection Status > Details... > IPv4 Address.

Advisory Board

  • Aviation Systems Engineering Company
  • Booz Allen Hamilton​
  • DCS Corporation 
  • General Dynamics Information Technology 
  • Greer Consulting 
  • MIL Corporation 
  • Naval Surface Warfare Center, Indian Head​
  • Naval Warfare Center, Aircraft Division 
  • Peerless Technology Solutions 
  • PSI Pax​
  • Resource Management Concepts 
  • Sabre Systems ​

  • Sabre System
  • SMECO

Why Choose CSM

CSM offers courses through nationally recognized organizations and degrees for you to pursue opportunities in today’s promising information technology field.


Benefits

  • Affordable Tuition
  • Training and courses offered locally in Calvert, Charles, and St. Mary’s counties
  • Connections with local job opportunities
  • Secure lab for Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) Certification
  • Complete some IT certifications within 6 weeks
  • CSM is a Pearson VUE testing center for your IT certifications in (ISC)2, EC-Council, and CompTIA
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