Case Study 1: Impetus of the DHS

Due Week 2 

Prior to the 9/11 attacks, there were a number of other “terrorist” events that occurred on both U.S. soil and abroad. Read the article discussing the Oklahoma City bombing, located at https://www.fbi.gov/history/famous-cases/oklahoma-city-bombing and the article discussing the 1993 World Trade Center bombings, located at http://www.fbi.gov/news/stories/2008/february/tradebom_022608. These events, however, did not have the impact on the American psyche and the political repercussions that accompanied the 9/11 attacks, such as the creation of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). A webpage dedicated to the creation of the DHS is located at http://www.dhs.gov/creation-department-homeland-security.

Write a two page paper in which you:

1. Describe why the 9/11 attacks was the impetus for forming the Department of Homeland Security and raising greater awareness of terrorist attacks.
2. Describe why the Oklahoma City and 1993 World Trade Center bombings did not cause the dramatic impact as that of 9/11.
3. Predict how these two (2) historical attacks could have potentially been diminished or avoided with the protections in place today.
4. Use at least three (3) quality resources in this assignment. Note: Wikipedia and similar websites do not qualify as quality resources.

Your assignment must follow these formatting requirements:

• Be typed, double spaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides; citations and references must follow SWS or school-specific format. Check with your professor for any additional instructions.
• Include a cover page containing the title of the assignment, the student’s name, the professor’s name, the course title, and the date. The cover page and the reference page are not included in the required assignment page length.

The specific course learning outcomes associated with this assignment are:

• Describe the foundations of homeland security.
• Use technology and information resources to research issues in homeland security.
• Write clearly and concisely about topics related to Homeland Security Organization and Administration using proper writing mechanics and technical style conventions.

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Case Study 2: Information Security and the National Infrastructure

Due Week 3 and worth 100 points

Read the Infosecurity magazine article “Using Information Security to Protect Critical National Infrastructure: Energy Sector is Hackers’ Biggest Target,” located at

http://www.infosecurity-magazine.com/view/2310/using-information-security-to-protect-critical-national-infrastructure-energy-sector-is-hackers-biggest-target-/.

Write a two page paper in which you:

1. Explain in your own words the information security concerns that exist in protecting the United States’ national infrastructure.
2. Describe why the author of the article says that oil and gas industries are prime targets for cyber criminals more than other infrastructures and state whether or not you agree and why.
3. Conclude why there is a need to regulate SCADA and industrial control systems and why there is concern that this is not being dealt with appropriately.
4. Using the Internet find a recent article, within the last 6 months, that either supports the need for regulating SCADA or that discusses a recent attack. Discuss how this article validates the need for tighter controls.
5. Use at least three (3) quality resources in this assignment. Note: Wikipedia and similar websites do not qualify as quality resources.

Your assignment must follow these formatting requirements:

• Be typed, double spaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides; citations and references must follow SWS or school-specific format. Check with your professor for any additional instructions.
• Include a cover page containing the title of the assignment, the student’s name, the professor’s name, the course title, and the date. The cover page and the reference page are not included in the required assignment page length.

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Case Study 3: Social Media

Due Week 8 

Write a two page paper in which you:

1. Explain how social media has been used in terrorism.
2. Find and reference a recent article, within the last 3 months, depicting the use of social media in terrorism.
3. Describe a method that can be used to monitor social media sites used to propagate terrorism and hate.
4. Determine which agency should be involved in an investigation involving “hate” sites.
5. Use at least three (3) quality resources in this assignment. Note: Wikipedia and similar websites do not qualify as quality resources.

Your assignment must follow these formatting requirements:

• Be typed, double spaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides; citations and references must follow SWS or school-specific format. Check with your professor for any additional instructions.
• Include a cover page containing the title of the assignment, the student’s name, the professor’s name, the course title, and the date. The cover page and the reference page are not included in the required assignment page length.

The specific course learning outcomes associated with this assignment are:

• Compare and contrast terrorism, terrorist groups, organized crime, and their financing activities and practices.
• Analyze the role of intelligence and counterterrorism activities among federal agencies.
• Use technology and information resources to research issues in homeland security.
• Write clearly and concisely about topics related to Homeland Security Organization and Administration using proper writing mechanics and technical style conventions.