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Message from the Director
Back in the 60's, information assurance meant little more than controlling access to the computer room. Then the Internet changed everything. Now a hacker can attack an organization's information resources from anywhere in the world. A disgruntled employee can download a gigabyte of company data onto a flash drive smaller than a salt shaker and walk out with it in his or her pocket.
Today we are seeing more and more high profile data loss cases in the news, and securing an organization's information assets has become a critical business process. Information assurance (IA) professionals are in high demand, and studies indicate that the demand will continue to grow in the coming years. This field has a bright future.
The increased need for information assurance has also come with increased demands on practitioners. The information assurance professional has to worry not only about securing an organization's proprietary information, but securing customer and employee information as well. The IA professional must understand the new regulatory environment created by HIPAA and the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, as well as computer crime and business continuity principles.
The greatest need is not for technical skills, but rather the management skills necessary to implement an organization-wide information assurance program. This means working with a variety of constituencies outside of the IA field. Information assurance is more about people than about technology, and the profession needs individuals who understand the policies, procedures, and overall structure of an information assurance program. Organizational behavior is as important to security as technology is.
Norwich University created the Master of Science in Information Assurance program to fill the need for professionals who understand the management of information assurance and how IA supports and advances business needs. We prepare students to enter upper management positions and implement information assurance principles across all areas of an organization.
In 1819, Norwich University was founded on the belief that real learning requires the immediate application of concepts to practice, and modern education research has proven this theory. We meld theory and practice through our unique case study system whereby students use their own organization as an ongoing case study of the principles that they learn in their classes. Apply what you learn by examining how those principles apply to your organization and then make recommendations for improvement. Many of our students have been promoted as a result of their case study before even completing the program, and others have used it to enter consulting.
Join our community of instructors and students — all professionals or future professionals in the field — as we explore this growing profession.
Sincerely,
John Orlando, PhD
Program Director
Master of Science in Information Assurance
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