Answer the following questions in your thread:
What do you see as the number one most pressing issue regarding homeland
security, and why do you say this?
What are your solutions to this issue?
Did this course cause you to change your mind or opinion about anything related
to homeland security? If so, what was it?
Why or why not? Maybe something was reinforced—if so, explain.
What was the most important thing you learned in this course, and why (an "aha"
moment)?
Homeland Security takes on many roles and responsibilities including borders, airports, water ports,
natural disaster response, and the ever-evolving cybersecurity. I feel that the most pressing issue
regarding Homeland Security is cybersecurity. I know there are cyber-attacks being thwarted constantly
that citizens never know about. I believe that most Americans would agree if they know the full
understanding of the goals from cyber-attacks. This understanding would assist American citizens
understand how important Homeland Security is now that most e-commerce and money is tied up in
internet usage. Keman (2018) tells us that fighting an impending cyber-attack has become an important
issue for companies in all industries and governments, especially those relying heavily on information
technologies. Cybersecurity has to be important and we have to have allotted budgets in an effort to
train and staff personnel specifically for combating it. If we are not proactive, our reaction will be
devastating to corporations and governments. There are now communities of hackers waiting for people
to pay them fees over the black market.
There will never be a one fix solution to resolving cyber-crimes. However, there are certain solutions that
can be done to lower the risk or vulnerability to be susceptible for a cyber-attack. Most of this has to do
with paying to have a vulnerability study completed. This will show what areas are most vulnerable to be
attacked and then to make plans for reducing that vulnerability. A well trained IT will also help facilitate
reduction of attacks. IT will have to be active in training all staff what is important to look for and what to
do when someone suspects an attempt. For example, phishing emails or other internet scams that will
entice someone to allow access to unauthorized person. Finnemore (2016) states that cybernorms must
be created and exist, but there is now way to create a solid blank slate of a norm that applies to all.
Cyberspace is so diverse and there are so many laws or regulations including international law,
professional standards, political agreements, and even technical protocols trying to regulate it that there
is no one single cybernorm created to handle any situation.
This course did not change my mind or opinion in regards to Homeland Security. It heightened my
awareness as to the importance of Homeland Security and all the ways we are susceptible to attacks.
This is an increased awareness as to the importance and to paying attention to surroundings as we
continue in our daily lives. I believe that Homeland Security should be priority for budgeting purposes
and the hope would be no short staffing in order to fully protect Americans. I understand this is often
difficult or sometimes unrealistic, however if we shortchange on being proactive then we must rely
heavily on being reactive because it is not if something occurs, but when, where, and how bad.
The most important aspect of this course for me was learning about the pillars of Homeland Security.
You already have a basic understanding of what needs to be done, but putting it into a formalized plan
with the pillars makes it more of a realistic approach. These include the research on Mitigation,
Preparedness, Response, and Recovery. I especially have a better understanding of these with the
functions separated based on my research with Hurricane Katrina. Learning what is involved with plans
including NRF, NIMS, and ICS gives a better framework on if something happens that I can educate
others as to why responses are the way they are. America is very vulnerable and we must find proactive
ways to reduce that vulnerability in an effort to keep our citizens safe.
Psalm 71:6 “I have relied on you all my life; you have protected me since the day I was born. I will always
praise you.” We must remember that throughout our lives and the lives of those before us, the Lord has
always protected. We must remember to have faith in his plan and continue to live. There will be those
that wish to do wrongdoing, but we can be strong in our faith that we will be seen through it. Homeland
Security is not a new concept. Even though we must believe in the Lord to have a plan, we must also be
willing to protect one another. I hope that there will always be those willing to serve out of eagerness to
protect Americans from harm as many do it through service in military, service in law enforcement, and
service through many other means with most of it being because they have the drive to do so and not
because of some other motive.
Keman Huang, Michael Siegel, and Stuart Madnick. 2018. Systematically Understanding the Cyber Attack
Business: A Survey. ACM Comput. Surv. 51, 4, Article 70 (July 2019), 36 pages. DOI: https://doi-
org.ezproxy.liberty.edu/10.1145/3199674
Martha Finnemore, & Duncan B. Hollis. (2016). Constructing Norms for Global Cybersecurity. The
American Journal of International Law, 110(3), 425–479.
http://www.jstor.org/stable/10.5305/amerjintelaw.110.3.0425
,
As I looked back over the course, I agree that I learned a bunch in reference to the mission, history, and
different pieces that make up the phases for DHS. It is true that the major theme behind it all seemed to
be with communication between groups and interagency communications. These problems often
compound the issues at hand and can lead to disastrous consequences. This course did not change my
mind or opinion in regards to Homeland Security. It heightened my awareness as to the importance of
Homeland Security and all the ways we are susceptible to attacks. This is an increased awareness as to
the importance and to paying attention to surroundings as we continue in our daily lives. You are correct
in saying that the general public has little awareness of what goes on behind closed doors and that we
should be more worried after learning what all is lacking with a response to major events. I believe that
Homeland Security should be priority for budgeting purposes and the hope would be no short staffing in
order to fully protect Americans. I understand this is often difficult or sometimes unrealistic, however if
we shortchange on being proactive then we must rely heavily on being reactive because it is not if
something occurs, but when, where, and how bad. You stated that consistent education, overseeing, and
training should help. I agree that it can, but I also agree that in an effort to be transparent all agencies
need to take an inner look at how to do better rather than waiting for something to happened and then
reacting.
Keman Huang, Michael Siegel, and Stuart Madnick. 2018. Systematically Understanding the Cyber Attack
Business: A Survey. ACM Comput. Surv. 51, 4, Article 70 (July 2019), 36 pages. DOI: https://doi-
org.ezproxy.liberty.edu/10.1145/3199674
Martha Finnemore, & Duncan B. Hollis. (2016). Constructing Norms for Global Cybersecurity. The
American Journal of International Law, 110(3), 425–479.
http://www.jstor.org/stable/10.5305/amerjintelaw.110.3.0425
,
I have read several of the discussions and it is very interesting that you picked up on human trafficking as
the most pressing issue. I was curious when you first started with it, but I agree that there should have
been a question as to most pressing issue facing from outside the United States and another from inside
the United States. Human Trafficking is a real problem and can be difficult to recognize as you stated
from police officers simply responding to calls. The relation to slavery is true, because the deprivation of
human rights and exploitation is very similar if not the same. I have seen this first hand and had a chance
to interview several that have been involved with this. They all feel trapped and if there is no way out
other than to continue to do what is asked for fear of the consequences that may come or fear that
there is nobody to help when they do decide to leave. I didn’t know fully about the Center for
Countering Human Trafficking so I did research that after reading your post. The other unknown to me
was the Blue Campaign. I am sorry for your loss at such a young age. It is true about you saying recovery
is only possible if the issue is faced head-on from Nemeth. That is in life more so than complications
from responses to disasters. There will be those that wish to do wrongdoing, but we can be strong in our
faith that we will be seen through it. Homeland Security is not a new concept. Even though we must
believe in the Lord to have a plan, we must also be willing to protect one another.
Keman Huang, Michael Siegel, and Stuart Madnick. 2018. Systematically Understanding the Cyber Attack
Business: A Survey. ACM Comput. Surv. 51, 4, Article 70 (July 2019), 36 pages. DOI: https://doi-
org.ezproxy.liberty.edu/10.1145/3199674
Martha Finnemore, & Duncan B. Hollis. (2016). Constructing Norms for Global Cybersecurity. The
American Journal of International Law, 110(3), 425–479.
http://www.jstor.org/stable/10.5305/amerjintelaw.110.3.0425
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