A Hands One Workshop on Computer Security Tools for Classroom Instruction

In the last ten years, the Internet has become an important component of the global economy and security has emerged as a important part of the Information Technology professions. It is clear that universities and colleges must start preparing professionals ready to take on these challenges in the workplace. NSA is actively encouraging universities and colleges to start new courses and programs in information assurance and recently, Pace University was awarded designation as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance Education by NSA. This ½ day hands-on workshop will very briefly overview basic security issues (e.g. security policies and management, firewalls, host security, cryptography, application security, incident and disaster response, Social Engineering). Participants will learn a number of tools which are used in our introductory courses

Development and piloting of a software tool to facilitate proactive hazard and risk analysis of Health Information Technology

Health Information Technology is now widely promoted as a means for improving patient safety. The technology could also, under certain conditions, pose hazards to patient safety. However, current definitions of hazards are generic and hard to interpret, particularly for large Health Information Technology in complex socio-technical settings, that is, involving interacting clinical, organisational and technological factors. In this article, we develop a new conceptualisation for the notion of hazards and implement this conceptualisation in a tool-supported methodology called the Safety Modelling, Assurance and Reporting Toolset (SMART). Safety Modelling, Assurance and Reporting Toolset aims to support clinicians and engineers in performing hazard identification and risk analysis and producing a safety case for Health Information Technology. Through a pilot study, we used and examined Safety Modelling, Assurance and Reporting Toolset for developing a safety case for electronic prescribing in three acute hospitals. Our results demonstrate the ability of Safety Modelling, Assurance and Reporting Toolset to ensure that the safety evidence is generated based on explicit traceability between the clinical models and Health Information Technology functionality. They also highlight challenges concerning identifying hazards in a consistent way, with clear impact on patient safety in order to facilitate clinically meaningful risk analysis

Challenges to full implementation of open distance and flexible learning in Nigerian tertiary institutions

This paper focused on the challenges to full implementation of open distance and flexible learning in Nigerian tertiary institutions. The conceptual clarification of distance education, open distance learning was presented; the justifications for ODFL programmes in developing countries were highlighted. The expected role of libraries towards the sustainability of ODFL programmes include provision of technology-based information services, organization and provision of online information resources, provision of digital information literacy; the challenges to implementation of ODFL programmes in tertiary institutions in developing countries such as dearth of well-defined national distance education policies, dearth of trained cadre of professionals to support the implementation of distance education; technological constraints, dearth of collaborative partners, low level of funding in Nigerian institution and erratic power supply were well articulated. Strategies like adequate funding, recruitment of quality staff, engaging in sustainable collaborative effort, re-training of librarians and compliance with quality assurance principles

Prehospital Electronic Patient Care Report Systems: Early Experiences from Emergency Medical Services Agency Leaders

Background: As the United States embraces electronic health records (EHRs), improved emergency medical services (EMS) information systems are also a priority; however, little is known about the experiences of EMS agencies as they adopt and implement electronic patient care report (e-PCR) systems. We sought to characterize motivations for adoption of e-PCR systems, challenges associated with adoption and implementation, and emerging implementation strategies. Methods: We conducted a qualitative study using semi-structured in-depth interviews with EMS agency leaders. Participants were recruited through a web-based survey of National Association of EMS Physicians (NAEMSP) members, a didactic session at the 2010 NAEMSP Annual Meeting, and snowball sampling. Interviews lasted approximately 30 minutes, were recorded and professionally transcribed. Analysis was conducted by a five-person team, employing the constant comparative method to identify recurrent themes. Results: Twenty-three interviewees represented 20 EMS agencies from the United States and Canada; 14 EMS agencies were currently using e-PCR systems. The primary reason for adoption was the potential for e-PCR systems to support quality assurance efforts. Challenges to e-PCR system adoption included those common to any health information technology project, as well as challenges unique to the prehospital setting, including: fear of increased ambulance run times leading to decreased ambulance availability, difficulty integrating with existing hospital information systems, and unfunded mandates requiring adoption of e-PCR systems. Three recurring strategies emerged to improve e-PCR system adoption and implementation: 1) identify creative funding sources; 2) leverage regional health information organizations; and 3) build internal information technology capacity. Conclusion: EMS agencies are highly motivated to adopt e-PCR systems to support quality assurance efforts; however, adoption and implementation of e-PCR systems has been challenging for many. Emerging strategies from EMS agencies and others that have successfully implemented EHRs may be useful in expanding e-PCR system use and facilitating this transition for other EMS agencies

E-learning: A new way of Library and Information Science Education through Distance Mode

This study explored that the e-learning mechanism is required to provide for quality of Library and Information Science education at university level through the distance learning. This paper is divided into three sections. The first section deals with the LIS education in distance mode. Second section examines the developments of E-learning and LIS education in India. Third Section spells out the universities are forced to face the following major challenges to adopt e-learning mechanisms, which are to design LIS programmes to fit into the e-learning environment, to provide quality education, the teachers aswellas students are to be trained the information technology advancement, to enhance LIS education e-learning consortium, collaboration, quality assurance with accreditation and cost effective were discussed in details to strengthening the LIS education

Intention-oriented programming support for runtime adaptive autonomic cloud-based applications

The continuing high rate of advances in information and communication systems technology creates many new commercial opportunities but also engenders a range of new technical challenges around maximising systems' dependability, availability, adaptability, and auditability. These challenges are under active research, with notable progress made in the support for dependable software design and management. Runtime support, however, is still in its infancy and requires further research. This paper focuses on a requirements model for the runtime execution and control of an intention-oriented Cloud-Based Application. Thus, a novel requirements modelling process referred to as Provision, Assurance and Auditing, and an associated framework are defined and developed where a given system's non/functional requirements are modelled in terms of intentions and encoded in a standard open mark-up language. An autonomic intention-oriented programming model, using the Neptune language, then handles its deployment and execution. © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Could the Outsourcing of Incident Response Management provide a Blueprint for Managing Other Cloud Security Requirements?

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