Prospectus

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Cyber Crisis Management and Communication

Course
2022-2023

Admission requirements

Only students of the MSc Crisis and Security Management can take this course.
This course only offers a place to a maximum number of 40 students.

Description

No organisation can achieve totally assured cybersecurity. Thus, organisations must develop capabilities to effectively identify and respond to cyber incidents, minimising negative impacts. This course focuses on the theory and practice of cyber crisis management and communication strategies at the organisational level. It combines the study of academic perspectives on crisis management and cybersecurity governance with the practice of creating readiness, response and recovery capabilities in organisations. Emphasis will be given to the analysis (both theoretical and practical) of the crisis management lifecycle, including readiness plans, cyber incident response, and recovery. Through traditional lectures and practical exercises, students will learn about the analytical and decision-making skills required to respond to cyber incidents and manage cyber crises at the organisational level.

Course objectives

After finalising this course, students will be able to:
1. Formulate a cyber crisis management plan, including preparation, detection, response, and mitigation phases.
2. Describe examples of cyber crisis using key concepts and theories of crisis management and cybersecurity.
3. Assess the challenges, strategies and leadership styles of public leaders before, during and after a cyber crisis.
4. Evaluate the role of the media during crises and its consequences for communication, cooperation and self-organizing principles.
5. Elaborate a cyber crisis communication plan based on evidence-based framing strategies, rituals of reassurance and best practices.
6. Advice professionals working in the field of cyber crisis management.

Timetable

On the right side of programme front page of the E-guide you will find links to the website and timetables, uSis and Brightspace.

Mode of instruction

This course consists of seven interactive sessions including lectures, seminars, presentations and group work. In the lectures, students will learn the relevant concepts, theoretical models, and methodologies. In the seminars and workgroups, students will complete in-class formative (non-graded) assignments, team presentations, and exercises.

Attendance is not mandatory, but highly recommended in order to pass the course. Active participation during the sessions therefore is strongly recommended to pass this course.

Total study load 140 hours:

  • 21 Contact hours

  • 119 Self-study hours: reading, preparing lectures, assignments, etc.

Assessment method

Students are not obliged to hand in an assignment at the first opportunity in order to make use of the re-sit opportunity. The re-sit assignment will test the same course objectives, but will be different in terms of topics, cases or substance.

  • Mid-term assignment (group paper), 30% of final grade. Course can be compensated in case of a fail (grade < 5.50), resit not possible.

  • Final exam (individual paper), 70% of final grade. Grade cannot be compensated, a 5.50 is required to pass the course.

The calculated grade of the assignments must be at least 5.50 in order to pass the course.
If a student passed an assignment, it is not possible to participate in a re-sit in order to obtain a higher grade. Students are only permitted to resit the 50% assignment if they have a calculated overall course grade lower than 5.50.

Reading list

A selection of books and articles, to be announced on Brightspace.

Registration

Register yourself via MyStudymap for each course, workgroup and exam (not all courses have workgroups and/or exams). Do so on time, before the start of the course; some courses and workgroups have limited spaces. You can view your personal schedule in MyTimetable after logging in.

Registration for this course is possible from Wednesday 8 March 13.00h.

Leiden University uses Brightspace as its online learning management system. After enrolment for the course in MyStudymap you will be automatically enrolled in the Brightspace environment of this course.
The corresponding Brightspace course will become available one week prior to the first seminar.
Brightspace is the main tool for communicating with you. All information about the organisation of the course, the reading materials, announcements, assessment, etc. will be provided through Brightspace. Students have the responsibility to stay informed by visiting Brightspace regularly.

After registration for an exam you still need to confirm your attendance via MyStudymap. If you do not confirm, you will ultimately be de-registered and you will not be allowed to take the exam.

More information on registration via MyStudymap can be found on this page.

Please note: guest-/contract-/exchange students do not register via MyStudymap but via uSis. Guest-/contract-/exchange students also do not have to confirm their participation for exams via MyStudymap.

Contact

Dr. Cristina del Real c.del.real@fgga.leidenuniv.nl

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