Authentic Learning Modules for DevOps Security Education

信息技术（IT）组织使用开发和运营（DevOps）来快速向最终用户提供基于软件的服务。在软件开发过程中，经常会创建各种文档。这些材料称为软件工件，可能包括设计文档、源代码、风险评估和其他项目计划或文档。DevOps中使用的软件工件为IT组织带来了巨大的好处。然而，如果没有这些构件的安全开发，部署的软件可能包含恶意用户可以利用的安全漏洞，从而对组织造成严重后果。因此，准备成为下一代专业人士的学生需要接受以下方面的教育：（i）DevOps工件中常见的安全漏洞的后果，以及（ii）如何通过安全开发减轻安全漏洞。该项目旨在创建一个吸引人和激励性的学习环境，鼓励所有计算机科学学生学习将网络安全集成到用于DevOps的工件中。该项目有可能改变软件工程和网络安全交叉领域的计算机科学教育，并培养一支精通安全软件开发实践和技术的网络安全队伍。来自田纳西理工大学、肯尼索州立大学和塔斯基吉大学的主要研究人员将合作开发和部署用于DevOps安全教育（ALAMOSE）的真实的基于学习的模块。ALAMOSE项目将利用真实的学习，为学生提供解决现实世界问题的实用知识。将包括实验前内容传播、动手练习和实验后活动。这些模块将部署在这三个机构现有的网络安全，软件工程和IT系统安全课程中，可能会影响来自不同背景的学生。教师研讨会和外联网络研讨会将被用来促进采用的模块，并收集和介绍经验教训和经验反馈。此外，这些模块将通过代码和容器共享平台（如GitHub和DockerHub）提供给全国的教育工作者。 该项目得到了安全和值得信赖的网络空间（SaTC）计划的支持，该计划为解决网络安全和隐私问题的提案提供资金，在这种情况下，特别是网络安全教育。SATC计划与联邦网络安全研究和发展战略计划和国家隐私研究战略保持一致，以保护和维护网络系统日益增长的社会和经济效益，同时确保安全和隐私。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Information technology (IT) organizations use development and operations (DevOps) to deliver software-based services rapidly to end-users. During software development, various documents are often created. These materials, referred to as software artifacts, may include design documents, source code, risk assessments, and other project plans or documentation. Software artifacts used in DevOps yield tremendous benefits for IT organizations. However, without the secure development of these artifacts, deployed software can contain security vulnerabilities which malicious users can exploit to cause serious consequences for organizations. Therefore, students who are poised to become next-generation professionals need to be educated on (i) the consequences of security weaknesses that are commonplace in DevOps artifacts and (ii) how security weaknesses can be mitigated through secure development. This project aims to create an engaging and motivating learning environment that encourages all computer science students to learn cybersecurity integration into artifacts used for DevOps. The project has the potential to transform computer science education in the cross-cutting areas of software engineering and cybersecurity and grow a cybersecurity workforce that is well-versed in secure software development practices and techniques. Principal investigators from Tennessee Tech University, Kennesaw State University, and Tuskegee University will collaborate on developing and deploying authentic learning-based modules for DevOps security education (ALAMOSE). The ALAMOSE project will leverage authentic learning, which provides students with practical knowledge to solve real-world problems. Pre-lab content dissemination, hands-on exercise, and post-lab activities will be included. The modules will be deployed in existing cybersecurity, software engineering, and IT system security courses across the three institutions, potentially impacting students from diverse backgrounds. Faculty workshops and outreach webinars will be employed to promote the adoption of the modules and to gather and present lessons learned and experiential feedback. In addition, the modules will be available to educators nationwide through code and container sharing platforms, such as GitHub and DockerHub. This project is supported by the Secure and Trustworthy Cyberspace (SaTC) program, which funds proposals that address cybersecurity and privacy, and in this case specifically cybersecurity education. The SaTC program aligns with the Federal Cybersecurity Research and Development Strategic Plan and the National Privacy Research Strategy to protect and preserve the growing social and economic benefits of cyber systems while ensuring security and privacy.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.