Excelsior Life

Passwords are the single most common thing we use to authenticate ourselves to a computer system. But it is surprising how little care people use in choosing and managing their passwords. of the National Cybersecurity Institute explains.

A zero-day attack is a malware attack that is so new it is not recognized by signature-based anti-virus software, and is therefore able to infect a system without detection. of the National Cybersecurity Institute explains.  

Computer forensics is a set of processes used to acquire and analyze digital evidence. This is useful in determining how malware entered a system and also for proving or disproving that information of a certain form exists or does not exist on a system. of the National Cybersecurity Institute explains.

A risk assessment is used to identify assets within an organization, determine the threats to those assets, evaluate the probabilities of the asset being compromised, the impact to the organization, and a plan to mitigate or eliminate the risks. of the National Cybersecurity Institute explains.

Encryption is a process where we take information that is readable and make it unreadable. Symmetric encryption uses one key to encrypt and decrypt. Asymmetric encryption uses two keys: one key to encrypt and a second key to decrypt. of the National Cybersecurity Institute explains.

of the National Cybersecurity Institute explains the importance of performing backups on a regular basis, testing the backups to make sure they work, and with storing the backups off site so they are not destroyed during a disaster.

of the National Cybersecurity Institute explains social engineering. This technique is essentially clever lying or deception, where one human tricks another human to obtain information or access to a restricted area.

Security must be built in layers, with each layer providing a different measure of security, such as hardware, software, and even human behavior. of the National Cybersecurity Institute explains.

Authentication is how a human proves who he or she is to a computer, using one or more of the following: something you know, something you have, or something you are. of the National Cybersecurity Institute explains.

All three of these areas – confidentiality, integrity, and availability - must be present in order to provide a secure information environment. This is true for information that is stored as well as transmitted. of the National Cybersecurity Institute explains.

Information security depends on people, process, and technology. of the National Cybersecurity Institute discusses why all three areas must be utilized properly in order for a security program to be effective.    

In response to last night’s National Republican debates, Excelsior College President John Ebersole offered the following response. “In last night’s Republican debates, little was said about either K-12 or higher education. While the Common Core curriculum received passing criticism, slightly more attention was given to the role of the Federal government in quality setting as opposed to those of the states. Senator Rubio of Florida, who has been an instructor at Florida International University and is a frequent critic of higher education, described how the U.S. government frequently uses Federal funding to pursue interests that may be at odds with those of the State or educational systems. He also mentions that like many college graduates, he had amassed considerable student loan debt. However, he says this in the context of pulling himself up from humble beginnings and seem to suggest that education may have played an important role in his success. In the earlier debate between the candidates, especially tho

Dr. Robin Berenson, associate dean, School of Business and Technology, joins the Distance EDU on Demand podcast to discuss how adults returning to college online can find and connect with a mentor who can help guide them through their academic and professional pursuits. Topics include: ·        How early in the process adults should begin to think about mentorship ·        How newly enrolled students can find a mentor within an online classroom or on social media ·        Advice on approaching a potential mentor and determining whether they would be a good fit ·        Setting and managing expectations Show Notes  

Beyond the iron triangle of cost, quality, and access, the narratives around the reauthorization of the Higher Education Act are focusing squarely on transparency and simplification, in particular around the Federal financial aid process.   at Excelsior College, discusses the benefits of simplifying the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and particular proposals, including the NASFAA FAFSA Working Group’s three-level means-tested application.

Laurie Cox , course chair at Samaritan Hospital School of Nursing in Troy, New York, earned her first nursing degree in 1984 - from a traditional school. More than 30 years later, she’s graduating from Excelsior College with a  She joins the podcast to discuss what brought her back to school, initial challenges adjusting to the online classroom environment, and how her education turned her into a better leader and educator.  

Jason Duke, recipient of the Jean M. Smith Award, presented to a student who demonstrates outstanding academic and professional achievement in the world of business, joins the podcast to discuss his educational journey. Duke, a supervising auto damage appraiser, earned a Bachelor of Science in Business from Excelsior with a 3.9 GPA, graduating summa cum laude. Planning to continue his educational pursuits, Duke has enrolled in Excelsior’s MBA program.

 joins the podcast to discuss the development of the Center for Game and Simulation-Based Learning, why he wants to spark a revolution in learning, and why One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest is a great example of the power of games in education. The interview ends with a discussion of the Center’s upcoming  conference,scheduled for May 20 in Washington, DC. 0:31 The idea. 3:31 First year reflections. 7:14 “What kind of revolution do you seek?” 8:55 What “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” can teach us about the power of games in education. 12:00 How games can solve public health challenges. 15:48 Revolutionary Learning 2015.

, founder of the Center for Game and Simulation-Based Learning, discusses the upcoming Revolutionary Learning 2015: Using Games and Simulations to Solve Critical Issues in Public Health. The event will be held on May 20 in Washington, DC.

The goal of the National Cybersecurity Initiative for Women in Cybersecurity is to offer support and solutions to women in cybersecurity by offering skills training and identifying best practices for utilization by women in the cyber security field to help understand and influence perceptions. Women in Cybersecurity Leadership will cover best practices utilized by women in the cybersecurity field in various areas of critical infrastructure. Each podcast will feature a noted woman leader in the cyber security arena who will share with Who she is! What she does! and How she gets it done! Interviewee: Anne Kohnke, PhD is an Assistant Professor of IT at Lawrence Technological University and teaches courses in both the Information Technology and Organization Development/Change Management disciplines at the bachelor through doctorate levels.  Anne started as an Adjunct Professor in 2002 and joined the faculty full-time in 2011.  Prior to joining LTU, Anne worked in Industry for 25 years where she focused in inf

Glen Braddock, director of student success at Excelsior, presents to the college community on the development of the Excelsior College Student Success Center. Braddock discusses the central role of academic advising, enhanced student services, data informed outreach to vulnerable student populations, and other efforts to increase persistence, retention, and graduation rates.