Embracing the Diversity of Information Assurance & Security

Abstract

Changes in the definition and approach to security have led to more contemporary presentations of Information Assurance & Security (IAS) that are far broader than older notions of "computer security," "network security," "OS security," and the like. These earlier security courses were the exclusive domain of faculty expert in particular technical areas. Nowadays it is only a slight exaggeration to state that it is difficult to find a sub-discipline of CS that is not relevant to this growing field. While the extreme diversity of IAS poses certain difficulties, it also opens up considerable opportunities for a wider range of faculty to develop a first course in IAS. Paradoxically, the immense diversity of the field has rendered specialized expertise less relevant than a more generalist approach. Hence, many more faculty than previous are in a position to develop and teach at least a first course in IAS. This claim is supported here.