The Need for Higher Education in Cyber Supply Chain Security and Hardware Assurance

Abstract

Higher education curricula, specialized degrees, and certificate programs related to cybersecurity are proliferating in response to student demand; faculty interest and expertise; employer demand; government and industry standards and funding; and the expectations of specialized, state, or regional accrediting agencies. These expanding academic programs, however, do not adequately address supply chain threats that affect national security. The authors assert that cyber supply chain risk management (C-SCRM), with a focus on hardware assurance, should be considered a critical aspect of cybersecurity and be included in higher education curricula to prepare the future cyber workforce to face challenges related to supply chain security and hardware assurance.