WKU News

Business professionals who would like to be better informed about the cybersecurity risks looming in various industries can take an online graduate-level course through the Gordon Ford College of Business’ MBA program.

Dr. Mark Ciampa, renowned expert in cybersecurity, will teach a special topics course called Managing Cybersecurity Risk during the second bi-term of the fall semester, which begins October 17 and ends December 13.

The course is designed for business professionals to be able to look at cybersecurity not from a technical perspective, said Ciampa, but from a perspective of knowledge and eventual support for those who need resources to ensure the business is secure.

“Students will identify an economic sector, such as healthcare or logistics, and frame the information and discussions around that sector,” Ciampa said. “We hope to learn from each other and gain practical advice on how to support those in the IT areas of our businesses as we assess risks.”

Each week of the course will focus on a different area of cybersecurity, from ransomware attacks to biometrics authentication. Special attention will be paid to educating end users how they can positively influence a secure business environment.

“Since 90 percent of all cyber attacks are people clicking on phishing emails, we need to focus on how we help the end user practice good security measures,” Ciampa said.

Ciampa has authored more than 25 textbooks in the area of cybersecurity, computer networking, wireless data technologies, and health information technology. One of his textbooks is the current best-selling guide on the market.

Contact the WKU MBA program for more information about this and other online courses: 270.745.5458 or email them at mba@wku.edu.