Air Force Network Integration Center officials launch IA education tools

  • Published
  • By Katherine Kebisek
  • Air Force Network Integration Center
SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. (AFNS) --  Air Force Network Integration Center officials recently introduced new information assurance education tools to help Airmen stay up to speed in the constantly evolving cyberspace environment.

The initiatives, which include a robust community of practice, webinars and computer-based training, are focused efforts to make on-the-job training faster and more efficient by enabling rapid access to timely information, officials said. While the tools are aimed at IA officers and program managers, they are accessible to any Airman who wants to learn more about IA.

"As awareness of the need for cyber security grows, the need to get information out to people on how they can protect their systems and meet Air Force policy also grows," said Deb Pulley, the AFNIC certification and accreditation policy manager. "These tools are our latest effort to meet that need and give (Airmen) as much assistance as we can."

With the frequency and sophistication of malicious activity toward the defense information networks growing exponentially, threats to America's security in the cyberspace domain are now recognized to be just as real and significant as physical threats, she said. And, with so much daily work directly dependent on the availability and security of the cyberspace domain, the Air Force counts on its personnel to take an active role in defending the networks and information.

Information assurance is a critical piece of cyber security which encompasses computer security, communications security and emissions security, officials said. All network users are required to complete information assurance training annually for continued access to the network.

While the average user needs a basic understanding of the threats and how to mitigate them, cyber professionals need regular, timely training and education to stay up to date on policy changes, guidance and threats.

"Probably the biggest challenge that any IA professional has is that there's so much content out there that they have to be aware of and knowledgeable about to execute," said Ariel Garcia, the AFNIC's COMSEC policy lead. "We've tried to consolidate all of that as much as possible into a one-stop shop."

The information assurance community of practice, hosted online on the Air Force Knowledge Now community framework, is a collaborative effort among all IA disciplines and contains a wealth of IA information with a quick search, Mr. Garcia said. The site includes an extensive frequently asked questions section with policy clarifications straight from the policy developers; discussion forums which host lively IA dialogue between cyber warriors and policy writers; various wikis with direct links to relevant IA content; a document repository and a library of "how to" process guides.

"(Airmen) can easily access information relevant to their specific job or task," said Mr. Garcia. "From the feedback we've (received the CoP) has really helped a lot."

Additionally, "the forums give people the opportunity to ask questions and get feedback from people across the Air Force," Mrs. Pulley said. "You get a conversation going which allows us to make sure we're providing the best solution and the best information back to them that they need to do their jobs."

Monthly webinars dealing with various IA topics are also conducted through Defense Connect Online, a DOD-provided video teleconference service, and then archived on the CoP.

According to Mr. Garcia, they began the webinars by covering broad overviews of the facets of IA and always offer the opportunity for participants to ask questions.

"With the Air Force, you have a very high rotation of people, and sometimes you get some relatively inexperienced people into some pretty important positions within the IA world," Mr. Garcia said. "It's essential to have some webinars available that they can at least get that foundation in place. You do learn a lot from reading straight from a regulation but that doesn't always show you the whole picture."

In November 2010, AFNIC officials launched a computer-based training tool to help IA professionals and program managers learn the new Air Force process for certification and accreditation.

This process is managed by AFNIC and helps ensure Air Force IA policy is implemented correctly by validating that all applicable IA requirements have been satisfied on a system or network, officials said. The Air Force Certification and Accreditation Program CBT, which is available through information technology e-Learning via the AF Portal, provides an in-depth look at the new certification and accreditation process and requirements, as well as an executive summary for those just looking to increase their general knowledge.

According to Mrs. Pulley, while the CBT is not considered official Air Force training, individuals can earn a certificate for each module they complete which can be included in one's official records.

To learn more about the CoP, webinars and AFCAP CBT, visit https://afkm.wpafb.af.mil/IA.