On Monday, March 20th, the Strauss Center hosted a virtual information session on the Applied Cybersecurity Community Clinic and its associated two-course undergrad sequence with Professor Francesca Lockhart of the Strauss Center. The UT Austin Applied Cybersecurity Community Clinic and two-course sequence is the fruit of discussions with the Department of Homeland Security Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency’s Cybersecurity Advisory Board, the City of Austin, and UT’s Robert Strauss Center for International Security and Law, all of which were interested in providing students with hands-on cybersecurity experience while also providing pro bono services to community organizations and small businesses that cannot afford such services on their own.   

The Applied Cybersecurity Community Clinic consists of two, 3-credit hour courses hosted by the UT Austin School of Information. During the first semester course “Applied Cybersecurity Foundations,” students learn key cybersecurity defense concepts and skills, including vulnerability assessment, network configuration and security, access controls, authorization techniques, responding to a cyberattack, and penetration testing, as well as associated skills required to implement these abilities effectively in a real business or non-profit institutional setting.   

Students then deploy these skills, under supervision, in a real world setting in the second semester course “Applied Cybersecurity Clinic Practicum,” thereby gaining invaluable practical experience.  The clients, for their part, get the benefit of a substantially improved defensive posture.  

The course is taught and supervised by Professor Lockhart. Application process through the Strauss Center and the ability to make a two-semester commitment is required for registration. No prior experience or knowledge required.   

More information is available here. Email Professor Lockhart with any questions at [email protected].

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