News

Norwich University’s College of Graduate and Continuing Studies (CGCS) will host its second annual Forensics Exercise and the third annual Hack-a-Thon as part of the 2018 Residency Conference. These events will take place June 18-20 on the Norwich campus.

Furthering Norwich’s commitment to innovative educational experiences, these exercises are fully immersive and provide master’s degree candidates in Information Security & Assurance, Public Administration and Criminal Justice with the opportunity to apply the knowledge they’ve gained in the classroom to a series of real-world scenarios.

The Hack-a-Thon provides individuals in the Master of Science in Information Security & Assurance (MSISA) program’s Vulnerability Management concentration with the opportunity to conduct vulnerability assessments and penetration tests on the information technology of a Vermont state agency. This relationship is mutually beneficial; MSISA students gain practical experience in assessing threats to cyber security while the participating state agency will learn more about vulnerabilities in its information technology systems, and how to rectify said insufficiencies. This hands-on experience allows participants to explore the boundaries of ethics in cyber security, as well as develop a sense of business acumen and communication techniques that can complement their technological prowess. Consequently, students are better able to gather and analyze cyber intelligence and extrapolate outcomes based on data trends and observable evidence.

The Forensics Exercise represents the continuing evolution of Norwich’s foundational experiential learning, combining principles of incident response, computer forensics, criminal justice and public safety. The exercise begins with the discovery of a (staged) crime scene at which student investigators from the Criminal Justice, Public Administration and Information Security and Assurance master’s programs gather physical and digital evidence before embarking on an in-depth investigation that will span the Norwich campus. The scenario for this year’s exercise is written by Vermont mystery author, Archer Mayor and will test participants’ ability to protect evidence assets and incorporate emerging trends in forensic investigation. Supporting the participants in their endeavor will be local and state police—such as the Northfield Police Department and the Vermont State Police—as well as personnel from the State Attorney General’s office. Through this cooperation, student forensic investigators will gain access to sophisticated technology and valuable professional mentoring as they explore investigative practices and procedures.