Incorporating simulation into the computer security classroom

Attacks on Department of Defense computer systems are a serious and growing threat. The cornerstone to the protection of these highly valuable networks is education and training. The U. S. Naval Academy is examining a new tool to teach computer security to determine if the complex concepts relating to computer security can be more effectively taught by including simulations in the classroom. The simulation environment under investigation consists of both an Internet attack simulator and a network simulator. The Internet attack simulator has a menu of attacks that can be launched against the network simulator's virtual network. The system is essentially an interactive virtual cyber world which requires the student defender to implement security measures and respond to attacks. Novice computer science students and information technology professionals benefit from the visualization of cyber behavior afforded in the risk free environment that simulation provides. The simulation reinforces the lecture in both concurrent demonstrations of the principles being taught, and later, in individual practical exercises.