Standards - Career & Technical Education

Identify network vulnerabilities that threat actors use to exploit an organization’s security and implement control measures to avoid such attacks.

Analyze real-time data and apply security solutions for infrastructure management in real-world scenarios.

Research and detail the use of current cybersecurity frameworks, policies, procedures, and controls.

Apply security concepts that mitigate organization-specific risk and explain their effectiveness.

Compare and contrast hardware and software quality assurance practices and determine their effectiveness in a given scenario.

Analyze data as part of security monitoring activities.

Implement configuration changes to network hardware and software controls to improve and increase security.

Compare and contrast automation concepts and technologies.

Justify the importance of data privacy and protection in the context of privacy versus security, non-technical controls, and technical controls in a given scenario.

Describe the tools and procedures used during the main phases of a penetration test.

Perform passive and active reconnaissance and analyze the results.

Use empirical data and evidence strategically to perform vulnerability scanning, social engineering and physical attacks, and post-exploitation techniques.

Investigate common vulnerabilities and attacks against specific, specialized types of systems and report findings to peers.

Research attack vectors and determine the detailed steps used in performing network, wireless, application-based, and cloud-specific attacks based on experimentation data.

Outline the key components of written reports regarding the procedures and results of penetration testing, and explain the importance of maintaining transparent communication during the entire penetration testing process.

Analyze final penetration testing data and recommend appropriate remediation.

Choose the most effective activities to be implemented after results are reported in relation to the client, post-engagement cleanup, attesting to findings, and the data destruction process.

Summarize the basic concepts of scripting and software development for offensive and defensive security purposes.

Analyze a script or code sample for use in a penetration test.

Incorporate safety procedures in handling, operating, and maintaining tools and machinery; handling materials; utilizing personal protective equipment; maintaining a safe work area; and handling hazardous materials and forces.

Demonstrate effective workplace and employability skills, including communication, awareness of diversity, positive work ethic, problem-solving, time management, and teamwork.

Explore the range of careers available in the field and investigate their educational requirements, and demonstrate job-seeking skills including resume-writing and interviewing.

Advocate and practice safe, legal, responsible, and ethical use of information and technology tools specific to the industry pathway.

Participate in a Career and Technical Student Organization (CTSO) to increase knowledge and skills and to enhance leadership and teamwork.

Use technology to collaborate with peers and/or experts to create digital artifacts that can be published online for a target audience.

Formulate new ideas, solve problems, or create products through the design and engineering process by utilizing testing, prototypes, and user feedback.

Compare and contrast various operating systems.

Compare and contrast the functions of operating systems, environments, and platforms and explain how they are related.

Contrast different types of computer hardware platforms.

Research various types of operating systems (OS) and indicate the hardware platform(s) required for each system to perform well.

Compare and contrast Windows and Linux file systems using a graphical user interface (GUI) and command line interpreter.

Explain how system processes work and how to manage them, using a flow chart.

Describe the functions, structures, and evolution of operating systems.

Evaluate design choices and trade-offs in the implementation of different operating systems, and decide which type of operating system would be most appropriate for a given situation.

Explain data structures, algorithms, computer architecture, and programming in the context of operating systems.