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July 24, 2025

Cloud Computing Technical Writing

Instructions:

You are required to write an 10 page technical paper on a technical topic of your choosing. Your final draft is due at the end of Week 8. Be sure your paper meets the following requirements:

Include in the final paper: A description of the scope and principal features of writing a technical paper, cite core theories and practices, and offer a similar explication (explanation) of a related field such as business field that would benefit from technical writing.

Cloud Computing Technical Writing

1) 10 pages (double-spaced).

2) Choose any technical topic to write your report about.

3) Identify the purpose and audience of your report.

4) Use at least seven references outside of your textbook (you may use your textbook too, but are not required to).

5) In addition to the required number of pages for the assignment, you must also include the index from week 6, a reference page (bibliography), written in APA style, and a title page. Be sure to give all of your papers a descriptive title!

6) Use your approved topic.

7) Use your approved outline.

8) Typewritten in double-spaced format with a readable style and font and submitted inside the electronic classroom (unless classroom access is not possible and other arrangements have been approved by the professor).

9) Arial 11 or 12-point font or Times New Roman styles.

10) Page margins Top, Bottom, Left Side and Right Side = 1 inch, with reasonable accommodation being made for special situations

11) Your paper must be in your own words, representing original work. Paraphrases of others’ work must include attributions to the authors. Limit quotations to an average of no more than 3-5 lines, and use quotations sparingly!

Submission Instructions: Submit your completed assignment. See attached rubric for further guidance.

Cloud Computing Technical Writing

What is the purpose and scope of technical writing?,
What technical topic is selected?,
Who is the report’s intended audience?,
What theories support technical writing?,
How can business benefit from it?

July 24, 2025

ABA Intervention Effectiveness

By Academic Wizard Blog

ABA Intervention Effectiveness

May 19th, 2025 Comment by Microsoft Office User: Polly, nice job with your title page. It is close to proper APA format. Here is a link to a resource for proper APA formatting. https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/apa_style/apa_formatting_and_style_guide/general_format.html

Part I: Treatment Effectiveness Comment by Microsoft Office User: You will need to format your paper differently. Here is a link for proper APA formatting. https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/apa_style/apa_formatting_and_style_guide/apa_sample_paper.html

1. ependent Variable and Target Behaviors

The dependent variable is disruptive behavior, consisting of the following three target behaviors: – Yelling profanities: Any instance of John shouting inappropriate or offensive language that can be heard from a distance of at least 5 feet. – Kicking over a desk: Using force from the foot or leg to tip or move a desk from its upright position. – Tipping over his chair: Deliberately leaning or shifting his weight such that the chair falls to the ground, with or without him in it. Comment by Microsoft Office User: 1.1 Nice job with the dependent variable. 4/4

ABA Intervention Effectiveness

2. Operational Definitions Comment by Microsoft Office User: It’s a little confusing to have both an explanation of the behavior and operational definitions. I would recommend taking off descriptions and just leaving the operational definitions.

– Yelling profanities: A vocal outburst containing inappropriate words at a volume exceeding conversational level. – Kicking over a desk: Contact with the desk using the foot or leg resulting in the desk tipping or being displaced. – Tipping chair: Purposeful movement leading the chair to fall onto the floor from an upright position. Comment by Microsoft Office User: 1.2 This is a hard one to define. What makes it hard is trying to not use subjective words like inappropriate. Words can be considered inappropriate by one person and be viewed differently by another individual. Look for using words other than inappropriate in your definition. Maybe you could say ‘uses profane words’ or ‘words that are not allowed in the setting’. 1/2 Comment by Microsoft Office User: 1.2 Great job with this definition. 2/2 Comment by Microsoft Office User: 1.2 When we are writing operational definitions, we are not trying to determine the intention, just defining what to observe. 1/2

3. Measurement Dimension and Recording System

The measurement dimension used is frequency, and the recording method is event recording. This approach is appropriate for discrete, observable behaviors that have a clear beginning and end, allowing for accurate counts of how often the target behaviors occur. Comment by Microsoft Office User: 1.3 Excellent, this is correct. 5/5 Comment by Microsoft Office User: 1.3 Good job. 5/5

4. Single-Subject Design

An ABAB reversal design was used to assess the intervention’s effectiveness. Comment by Microsoft Office User: 1.4 Nice work. 5/5

5. Graph of the Data

Graph displaying data across four phases of intervention: Comment by Microsoft Office User: 1.6 For proper formatting you will want to put the graph in this section and not at the end of the paper. Additionally, we typically don’t connect the data points across the phase change line. This will help with the visual analysis process. 7/10

6. Intervention Effectiveness

Yes, the intervention was effective. Disruptive behaviors decreased significantly during intervention phases and increased again during baseline phases.

7. Visual Analysis

– Level: Sharp reduction in frequency noted in intervention phases. – Trend: Decreasing trend in intervention; increasing trend during baselines. – Variability: Moderate variability in baseline phases, more stability during intervention. Comment by Microsoft Office User: 1.7 You will need to add more detail in your analysis and explanation of why the intervention is effective. 6/9

Part II: Treatment Generalization

1. Single-Subject Design for Generalization

Multiple baseline across settings was used. Comment by Microsoft Office User: 2.1 That is correct. 5/5

2. Type of Generalization Evaluated

Setting generalization. Comment by Microsoft Office User: 2.2 Correct. 5/5

3. Initial Generalization Effect

Generalization did not occur initially in Classrooms 2 and 3 during the first intervention in Classroom 1. Disruptive behavior remained unchanged in those settings. Comment by Microsoft Office User: 2.3 I would like to see a little more explanation on what you are analyzing and seeing in the data. What led you to this conclusion? 3/5

4. Effect of Break Card Without Instruction

– Classroom 2: Slight decrease, not significant. – Classroom 3: No change. Generalization was not evident without instruction. Comment by Microsoft Office User: 2.4 Think back to the definition of setting generalization. Generalization is the decrease, in this scenario, of the behaviors in the novel settings without instruction occurring. 3/5

5. Effect of Break Card + Instruction in Classroom 2

– Classroom 2: Disruptive behavior decreased noticeably. – Classroom 3: No change. Generalization did not occur in Classroom 3. Comment by Microsoft Office User: 2.5 I want you to look again the data in classroom 3. 0/5

6. Why Not Implement in Classroom 3

To test whether generalization would occur naturally through mediated stimuli without additional instruction. Comment by Microsoft Office User: 2.6 You are almost there. Generalization is not going to occur ‘naturally’ it is from deliberate programming. How did the behavior analyst in this scenario program for generalization? 1/5

7. Summary Statement

Generalization only occurred when the break card was paired with specific instruction. The presence of the card alone was not sufficient to produce behavior change. Comment by Microsoft Office User: 2.7 This is incorrect. The intervention worked but that does not mean there was generalization. Review the definition of setting generalization. 0/9

8. Suggestion for Future Treatment

Future interventions should ensure that mediating stimuli are introduced with explicit instruction across all relevant settings. Booster sessions and consistent prompts can support generalization. Comment by Microsoft Office User: 2.8 –It is unethical and impractical to provide instruction in all targeted settings. Ethically, as behavior analysts, we have to program for generalization. Can you imagine having to teach what 2+2 is in the home environment, in the store, at McDonalds, at school, at the park, at a friend’s house, etc.? We can’t provide instruction in all settings. 0/5

Graphical Analysis of Treatment Generalization

The following figure illustrates disruptive behavior across the three classrooms:

ABA Intervention Effectiveness

What are the dependent variables and their operational definitions?,
What measurement and recording systems were used?,
Was the intervention effective and how was this determined?,
Did treatment generalize to other settings?,
What improvements are suggested for future interventions?

July 24, 2025

Maternal Health in Poverty

By Academic Wizard Blog

Maternal Health in Poverty

A causal pathway is the first step in organizing an intervention to address a public health issue. Think of a public health issue you want to address through a behavioral intervention. Throughout this course, we will work to address the public health issue within a specific population. Take a look back at Week 2 and review your discussion feedback as well as the “assignment preparation” module. The public health issue you select will be the same topic you address throughout the assignments this term.

A causal pathway is the outline to identifying the determinants of health of your selected public health issue. Use what you have learned from your studies material to “map” a path FROM the Structural Determinants of Health (SDOH) to a health outcome THROUGH the intermediary determinants of health for the public health issue you have selected.

Instructions

The SDOH Framework is outlined on page 25 of your textbook. Construct a “flowchart” (an example is provided below) and a narrative describing the pathway of your flowchart. It is highly encouraged to use PowerPoint to construct your map and use the “Notes” portion below to write the narrative describing the pathway. Please be aware that your ‘notes’ will not be visible in the ‘preview’ of the assignment during the submission process. The instructor will download the PPT file and view the notes on the download.

Maternal Health in Poverty

Your pathway should include at least one complete path from a structural determinant to the health outcome (i.e., there should not be any “gaps” in the connections between the mediating constructs in your illustration or narrative) and the points marked on your map for potential interventions.

Mark the “points of potential public health interventions” on your pathway with a star. You should have at least two points of intervention (one will be used as potential interventions to develop on later assignments). Provide a narrative (in the notes section under the slide) identifying and discussing each of the constructs in your model along with potential interventions that could be utilized to change the points you identified.

Points will be deducted for lack of correspondence between the structural determinants, the intermediary determinants and the health behavior and outcome, and for unprofessional presentation of your exercise (i.e., poor organization in your writing, misspelling, etc.). You do not need to cite literature or provide references in this exercise.

It may be helpful to review the Causal Pathway Example [PPTX] before beginning work on your assignment.

Your submission will be assessed on the following criteria:

Create a pathway from the structural determinants to the selected health outcome.
- Make sure the pathway clearly flows through the structural and intermediary determinants. Please note the structural determinants begin with a policy, governance, etc. as outlined in the SDOH Framework in your book on page 25.
Identify two points of intervention on the causal pathway.
- Why are the points of intervention you identified relevant?
- How do these points of intervention have the potential to have positive impacts?
Describe the connection between the constructs of the causal pathway and the health outcome(s).
- Are the connections clear and easy to follow for someone else?
- Are the constructs clearly explained?
Convey purpose, in an appropriate tone and style, incorporating supporting evidence and adhering to organizational, professional, and scholarly writing standards.

Maternal Health in Poverty

Please note the following when submitting your assignment:

The file must be a PPT or PPTX file of your presentation. You cannot upload slides from google slides or any other cloud-based service. You must upload as a PowerPoint file for the notes to be visible to the instructor when downloaded.

The Public Health Masters Program Library GuideLinks to an external site. and Writing CenterLinks to an external site. may also be helpful resources.

Topic pregnant women in low-income communities as a vulnerable healthcare population

What public health issue is being addressed?,
What structural determinants affect this issue?,
What intermediary determinants connect to health outcomes?,
What are two key points for intervention?,
How do these interventions influence outcomes?

July 24, 2025

Museum Artwork Analysis

By Academic Wizard Blog

Museum Artwork Analysis

The objective of this project is to see works in person, research into the object(s) or artwork for background information, and discuss its purpose and importance in the history of art.

The Project counts for 10% of your grade. Please see the Rubric below for information on how the paper is to be graded.

A visit to an art museum and a report of that visit is required.

Alternatively, a student may not have physical access to a museum in his/her area and a virtual visit may be arranged with the instructor’s prior approval. Many museums have virtual visits, some are listed with the Google Arts and Culture project partners. Some of these have a virtual walkthrough and a Google Arts & Culture app is available for virtual reality tours. The following list contains examples of museum resources to explore and choose from:

· The MET Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History (Essays and Works of Art)

· Google Arts & Culture:

. Pergamon Museum , Germany

Museum Artwork Analysis

. The Catedral de Santiago Foundation , Spain

. Grotte Chauvet/Chauvet Cave , France

. Museo della Civiltà Romana , Italy

. The British Library , London

. Museum of Cycladic Art , Greece

. Mev Museu d’Art Medieval , Spain

The report must discuss one artwork, including the style and time period in which the artwork was created. The report should be three to five typed pages saved in MS Word document or as a PDF. using MLA (Modern Language Association) format. It must include the information listed in the following outline:

I. Chosen Artwork

a. Name and location of the museum

b. Name of exhibition

c. Name of artist or group associated with if there is no artist name

d. Title of work

e. Dimensions of work

f. Media

g. Date or time period created

h. Art movement, period, or region if it is ancient

i. Place of origin

j. Manner of display

II. Description of Artwork

a. A description of the work (what does it look like, include things that would allow people to recognize it)

b. An analysis of the work

i. To understand how to analyze, two references should be researched before starting:

· Introduction to art historical analysis (article from Smarthistory)

· How to do a visual (formal) analysis (video from Smarthistory)

ii. Elements of Art (describe types of lines, marks, tones, textures, colors, etc.)

iii. Principles of Art (describe placement of elements, symmetry, movement, sense of weight, etc.)

III. Response to Artwork

a. Your personal reaction to the work (how do you feel when you see it, what does it remind you of, would it be difficult to replicate, etc.).

b. Additional interesting information (is there some background about the object we should know about such as materials it’s made of, how it came to be, or its utilitarian use).

IV. Images

a. Proof of concept—you will need to take a selfie on location and/or informational literature such as a brochure or pamphlet from the exhibit or museum OR if using an alternative museum resource (with prior approval), provide the online URL of the location of the museum resources and/or virtual visit and a screenshot of the website it was obtained from.

b. Photo/card/slide of Artwork (if a work is not allowed to be photographed, research to find one, or find it in a brochure or other materials from the museum.) Any images obtained from online resources must provide proper credit and licensing whether it is a Creative Commons License or Public Domain.

V. References

The paper is to include:

· Cover page with Title, location of the works chosen, date visited, and your name.

· A well-written and edited three to five-page paper which is to be single-spaced, paragraph indented or double-spaced between paragraphs, 12 pt text in a serif font (either Georgia, Palatino, Minion, or Times/Times Roman).

· Quoted material: No more than 15% of the written paper may be directly copied and included in the total work. The quoted portion must be cited in the bibliography.

· The paper should include an overview of what the object or exhibition is about, the materials and techniques used in the work, your research into the background and history of the work, the work’s significance in the arts, and your personal observations about the work, such as what made you choose this work, how you feel about the work, how it impact you or others.

· A page with images of the art, artifact, or an example of art from the exhibition printed either in color or black and white with caption labels.

· A bibliography of references where you found your research.

Suggested Schedule: (Note: This is for a 16 week-course, you should adjust the schedule accordingly for a shorter course.)

· Weeks 1-4 Visit a museum or exhibit, take notes, and gather resources.

· Weeks 5-8 Write the outline and the first draft.

· Weeks 9-12 Add more in-depth information and revisions to the first & second drafts.

· Weeks 13-15 Finish proofreading and finalize the paper.

Check the local or regional museum, gallery, or arts organization offerings.

Museum Artwork Analysis

What is the selected artwork’s name medium and historical background?,
What museum or virtual gallery did the artwork come from?,
How does the artwork reflect its artistic period or movement?,
What elements and principles of art are present in the work?,
What is your personal interpretation and response to the artwork?

July 24, 2025

Political Science and Voting Rights

By Academic Wizard Blog

Political Science and Voting Rights

Week 4 Lesson

Topic Selection: Select one of the topics below. It can be a theme that aligns with your final assignment, your program of study, or simply one of general interest. Read the linked source associated with that topic.

Reflect: Reflect upon the themes that the disciplines covered this week explore and the methods that they use to explore these topics. How do these different approaches and themes help contribute to the larger understanding of society, culture, and human behavior? Based upon your understandings of these disciplines, how might their approach to topics be helpful to other disciplines within the social sciences? Other academic disciplines outside of the social sciences? To the general public?In addition, think about the strategies used by practitioners of these disciplines to avoid bias. Do these differ from the social science disciplines that you read about last week? If so, how? Can these approaches be adapted for use outside of the social sciences?Write: In an initial post of at least 250 words

Political Science and Voting Rights

Select one of the three disciplines examined this week, and discuss why you selected the discipline you did and how this discipline is distinct from other disciplines in the social sciences (Think about methods topics explored, etc.).
Examine the topic discussed by the source linked above for your discipline.
- Describe how your selected topic is related to the concepts of the individual, society, and culture.
- Note the main points of the article, its conclusion, and assess how the questions asked by the social scientist in question are related to their discipline’s practice.
- Discuss the methodology used within the article and relate the authors’ approach to specific examples in the text.
Assess any potential connections between the discipline you examined this week and the disciplines explored in week 3 with regard to the source you examined.
Postulate potential applications for your selected discipline and its approaches to everyday life.

Please use in-text APA citations within your post, as well as full APA references at the end of your post. If you need APA assistance, review the APA StyleLinks to an external site. resources.

Political Science and Voting Rights

Why did you choose this week’s selected discipline and how is it distinct from others?,
What is the main topic of the article, and what conclusions does it present?,
How does the topic relate to the individual society and culture?,
What methods did the article’s authors use and how do they reflect political science practice?,
How does this week’s discipline connect with those from Week 3 and how can it apply to daily life?

July 24, 2025

Introduction to Scholarly Project

By Academic Wizard Blog

Introduction to Scholarly Project

For this assignment, you will write an introduction. Refer to Module 3: Lecture Materials & Resources to help you complete this assignment.

Your Introduction must include:

· Your PICOT question.

· Purpose of or rationale for the scholarly project:

· Provide an evidence-based explanation of why it is necessary to complete your scholarly project and what benefit will be gained (health promotion, fiscal, and efficiency).

· Background on the problem or population of interest:

· Using primary sources, provide data on your topic.

· Providing the background will demonstrate the focused need for your project.

· Significance of the problem to nursing and health care:

· State how your problem or population of interest aligns with the larger interest of health care in the community.

· Create a context to why your topic is important.

· Benefit of the project to nursing practice:

· State what will be gained from your project.

Introduction to Scholarly Project

· Describe the expected outcomes of your project to practice within your population and setting.

· Relate the outcomes to evidence-based guidelines and outcomes.

· Describe how your project may influence other populations or settings.

Submission Instructions:

· The introduction is original work and logically organized.

· The paper is 2-3 pages in length and follows current APA format including citation of references.

· Incorporate a minimum of 4 current (published within the last five years) scholarly journal articles or primary legal sources (statutes, court opinions) within your work.

· Journal articles and books should be referenced according to the current APA style (the library has a copy of the APA Manual).

Introduction to Scholarly Project

What is your PICOT question?,
Why is it necessary to complete this scholarly project and what are the expected benefits?,
What background data supports the problem or population of interest?,
Why is this problem significant to nursing and health care?,
What benefits and outcomes will your project bring to nursing practice?

Comprehensive General Answer:

PICOT Question:
In adults with hypertension (P), how does the use of mobile health (mHealth) applications to monitor blood pressure and medication adherence (I) compared to traditional follow-up visits alone (C) affect blood pressure control and medication adherence (O) over three months (T)?

Purpose of Scholarly Project:
The purpose of this scholarly project is to evaluate the effectiveness of mobile health applications in improving self-management of hypertension, focusing on medication adherence and blood pressure control. This project addresses the need for innovative, accessible interventions that enhance chronic disease management and reduce healthcare system burdens.

Evidence supports the use of digital health tools in managing chronic diseases, particularly for conditions requiring continuous monitoring like hypertension. This project is justified on health promotion grounds (empowering patient self-care), fiscal benefits (reducing costly ER visits and complications), and system efficiency (decreasing the need for in-person follow-ups).

Background on the Problem:
Hypertension affects approximately 45% of U.S. adults and is a leading cause of heart disease and stroke (CDC, 2021). Poor medication adherence and inadequate monitoring contribute to uncontrolled blood pressure and increased morbidity. According to the American Heart Association (2020), only about 50% of patients with diagnosed hypertension have their blood pressure under control. The population most affected includes adults aged 40–65, particularly those in underserved communities, where access to regular care is limited.

Recent studies have shown that mHealth tools significantly improve medication adherence rates and patient engagement. For instance, a randomized trial by Smith et al. (2020) found that patients using a smartphone app had a 23% increase in adherence and better clinical outcomes.

Significance to Nursing and Health Care:
This problem aligns with broader healthcare goals, including population health improvement, reduction of health disparities, and enhancement of care delivery models. Nurses are often at the frontline of chronic disease management, making this issue highly relevant to nursing roles in education, care coordination, and patient advocacy. Additionally, it speaks to current health care priorities—such as leveraging digital tools to improve access and outcomes.

Benefit to Nursing Practice:
The project is expected to offer evidence-based strategies nurses can use to support hypertensive patients, including incorporating mHealth tools into daily care routines. Anticipated outcomes include increased medication adherence, improved BP control, and enhanced patient satisfaction.

These outcomes are supported by guidelines from the American College of Cardiology and the Joint National Committee, which endorse self-monitoring and digital tools for chronic disease management. Positive findings may be extended to other chronic conditions or populations, fostering broader adoption of tech-supported nursing interventions in diverse settings.

Let me know if you’d like this fully formatted into an APA-style document with citations and references!

July 24, 2025

Remote Access Security & Infrastructure

By Academic Wizard Blog

Remote Access Security & Infrastructure

Complete the following activity after reading Chapter 13, the Unit VI Lesson, and participating in the Unit VI Live Lecture.

You will develop a PowerPoint from the information below:

Summarize the content for the Unit VI Lesson in 2 to 3 slides. Next, create a slide for each numbered task below.

1. Identify and describe three key business drivers influencing remote access solutions and infrastructure. Why are these drivers critical to the development of a secure remote access strategy?

2. Explain two roles or functionalities of devices within a remote access infrastructure that you found particularly significant. Why did you choose these specific roles or functionalities?

3. What is one unresolved issue or question you have related to applying security best practices to protect the Remote Access Domain from threats?

Please use the speaker notes function to provide an explanation or justification for your answers on the slides. The presentation must have a title slide and a references slide. Your presentation must be at least five slides, not counting the title slide and references slide. APA Style must be used for citations and references

Remote Access Security & Infrastructure

What are the main points from the Unit VI Lesson?,
What are three key business drivers for remote access solutions and why are they critical?,
What are two significant roles or functions of remote access devices?,
What is one unresolved question about securing the Remote Access Domain?,
How should this content be presented in APA format using slides and speaker notes?

General Comprehensive Answer (PowerPoint Content Overview):

Slide 1: Title Slide

Title: Remote Access Security & Infrastructure
Your Name
Course Title
Date

Slide 2: Unit VI Lesson Summary (Slide 1 of 2)

Title: Overview of Remote Access Security

Definition of Remote Access Domain
Increased reliance on remote workforces
Risk considerations for off-site access
Importance of secure protocols (VPN, SSH, etc.)

Speaker Notes:
This slide introduces the Remote Access Domain, which is vital as organizations increasingly support mobile workforces. It outlines how expanding connectivity creates new threat surfaces and the importance of controlling access using secure tools.

Remote Access Security & Infrastructure

Slide 3: Unit VI Lesson Summary (Slide 2 of 2)

Title: Strategies for Securing Remote Access

User authentication (MFA, SSO)
Device hardening and endpoint protection
Monitoring and logging remote sessions
Policy enforcement and user training

Speaker Notes:
Security strategies must be layered. Using multi-factor authentication (MFA) and strong endpoint protections ensures that both users and devices are verified and protected. Logging helps detect anomalies in remote sessions.

Slide 4: Key Business Drivers

Title: Business Drivers for Remote Access

1. Workforce Mobility: Employees demand flexible, location-independent access.
2. Business Continuity: Ensures operations during disasters or pandemics.
3. Cost Efficiency: Reduces overhead by supporting remote work infrastructure.

Speaker Notes:
These drivers directly influence the adoption and security planning for remote access. They justify investment in VPNs, cloud services, and endpoint protection to maintain productivity while reducing risk.

Slide 5: Significant Device Functions

Title: Key Device Roles in Remote Access

1. VPN Gateway: Encrypts and authenticates remote traffic.
2. Network Access Control (NAC): Validates device compliance before granting access.

Speaker Notes:
These functions are central to enforcing security at the perimeter. I chose them because they form the core of controlling and filtering remote connections to protect internal resources.

Slide 6: Unresolved Question

Title: Open Question in Remote Access Security

How can organizations consistently enforce remote access policies across personal (BYOD) devices while maintaining user privacy?

Speaker Notes:
This question remains challenging because personal devices vary widely, and enforcing compliance must be balanced with respecting personal data. Emerging tech like containerization may help, but widespread implementation is still a hurdle.

Remote Access Security & InfrastructureSlide 7: References (APA Style)

Title: References

National Institute of Standards and Technology. (2020). NIST SP 800-46 Rev. 2: Guide to Enterprise Telework, Remote Access, and Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) Security. https://doi.org/10.6028/NIST.SP.800-46r2
Whitman, M. E., & Mattord, H. J. (2022). Principles of Information Security (7th ed.). Cengage Learning.
Center for Internet Security. (2023). CIS Controls v8. https://www.cisecurity.org/controls

July 24, 2025

Cybersecurity Implementation Plan

By Academic Wizard Blog

Cybersecurity Implementation Plan

Your Task:

The Acquisition of Island Banking Services has moved from the strategy development phase to the integration phase. In this phase, the M&A team will develop transition and implementation plans. Padgett-Beale’s Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) has recommended that a separate Cybersecurity Management Program be established for the Padgett-Beale Financial Services (PBI-FS) subsidiary to isolate as much risk as possible to the PBI-FS organization. This management program will require the establishment of policies, plans, and procedures which are customized to the financial service industry and the operating structure of PBI-FS.

The CISO has asked you to continue supporting the Merger & Acquisition team’s efforts. Your specific tasking is to assist in developing an implementation plan for the previously developed Cybersecurity strategy (Project #1). Since there have been additional developments in the M&A strategy overall, you should pay close attention to the Background Information provided later in this document.

Using your prior work (Project 1), develop a high-level plan for implementing a Cybersecurity Management Plan that will allow PBI-FS to begin operations in its new, on-island location. (The plan for the U.S. headquarters is being developed separately from your efforts.) This plan must take into account compliance requirements for U.S. banking laws, regulations, and standards. It must also include recommendations for required security controls, replacement of outdated hardware and software, and other measures necessary to reduce risk to an acceptable level. You must specifically address measures to reduce risks associated with both insider threats and external threats and threat actors.

Note: you MUST use the implementation plan outline provided later in this document.

You may need to perform additional analysis to address issues specific to the findings from the M&A team regarding the as-is state of the purchased assets which comprise the existing IT infrastructure.

Your high-level plan should include the system development life cycle (SDLC) gates/decision points and relevant tasks required to implement changes in the company’s hardware, software, and infrastructure. See https://www.sebokwiki.org/wiki/System_Life_Cycle_Process_Models:_Vee for more information about the gates & decision points.

You must also address any systems or software interoperability issues which may arise (especially those associated with the company’s existing custom software applications). You do not need to prepare a comprehensive Interoperability Assessment but, you should identify key issues and concerns. See the following resources for definitions and guidance:

· https://www.smartgrid.gov/recovery_act/overview/standards_interoperability.html

· https://www.fcc.gov/general/interoperability

Cybersecurity Implementation Plan

You must clearly show that you have applied the following frameworks and concepts in your analysis and planning:

· Cybersecurity Principles: confidentiality, integrity, availability, non-repudiation, authentication, auditability, accountability

· NIST Cybersecurity Framework (see https://‌nvlpubs. ‌nist.gov/‌nistpubs/‌CSWP/‌NIST. ‌CSWP. ‌04162018.pdf )

· NIST Security and Privacy Controls (see NIST SP 800-53) OR Center for Internet Security (CIS) 20 Critical Security Controls for Effective Cyber Defense (see https://www.tripwire.com/state-of-security/security-data-protection/security-controls/cis-top-20-critical-security-controls/ )

· Information Security Management Systems (ISMS) – ISO 27001/27002 (see https://www.praxiom.com/toc35.htm and https://www.praxiom.com/iso-27001.htm )

Note: Make sure that you include (in detail) the steps you would take to secure the new infrastructure.

Background:

As part of the purchase agreement for Island Banking Services, Padgett-Beale made a commitment to the bankruptcy court to operate the call center and transaction processing center on the island for the next five years. The Padgett-Beale, Inc. Merger and Acquisition Strategy for Island Banking Services has been updated and now includes the following stipulations which are derived from requirements to comply with U.S. laws and regulations while also implementing the contractual agreement to continue some operations on the island.

1. Island Banking Services will become Padgett-Beale, Inc – Financial Services (PBI-FS).

2. PBI-FS will operate as a wholly owned subsidiary with its own management structure.

3. PBI-FS’s will be incorporated as a U.S. corporation and will comply with all applicable laws and regulations.

4. PBI-FS’s headquarters unit and executive staff (including the CEO, COO, and CFO) will have separate offices from PBI but will be located within a 5 mile radius of the PBI Headquarters.

5. PBI-FS’s call center and transactions processing center will remain on the island but will move to a vacant office building adjacent to the existing Padgett-Beale resort property.

6. The deputy CISO from Padgett-Beale will serve as the interim CISO for PBI-FS.

7. The CISO from Padgett-Beale will serve as a consultant to PBI-FS for all matters relating to the establishment of the subsidiary’s Cybersecurity Management Program.

As part of its due diligence efforts, the Padgett-Beale M&A team reviewed the existing cybersecurity posture for Island Banking Services. This review determined that, while there were some IT security protections in place, Island Banking Services never had a formal IT security program. Instead, the company outsourced management of its hardware, software, and networks to an islander owned and operated IT services company. This company installed and managed the networking equipment, firewalls, and workstations. Some workstations were used by tellers to conduct financial transactions using a web-based interface to a back-end database. The M&A team is suspicious of the existing software and databases due to the level of criminal activity that was uncovered during the police investigation into money laundering.

The M&A team also reviewed the inventory of digital assets (HW/SW/Licenses) included in the purchase of Island Banking Services. The team also reviewed existing contracts for services related to those assets. It has determined:

1. Telecommunications. Undersea fiber optic cables connect the island to the global Internet. These cables are managed by a consortium of companies that contract with national and regional governments to provide telecommunications services (voice, video, and data) to a country or region. On-island access to Internet, cable television, and land-line telephone service are provided to residents and businesses on a contract basis by a government owned Communications Services company. The island’s local communications infrastructure was upgraded to buried fiber optic cables providing broad-band service after a hurricane destroyed the previous above ground copper cable infrastructure. Island Banking Services’ contract for communications services includes Voice over IP telephone service, one physical telecommunications connection via fiber optic cable, and one static IP address associated with that connection. Domain name services for the company’s Internet presence are provided by the island’s Communications Services company. The company uses network address translation services provided by the premises router to assign internal IP addresses to workstations and servers.

2. Network Equipment. The network equipment is more than five years old and should be replaced. Since the company is moving PBI-FS’s operations to a new physical location, the entire network infrastructure from cables to routers to firewalls to wireless access points will be replaced. The network equipment closet also contains a special purpose access control system that uses hard wired RFID badge readers and RFID badges to control employee access to exterior and interior doors. This equipment is out of date and will need to be replaced once the company moves.

3. Workstations. The computer workstations are more than five years old and currently run Windows 8.1. The workstations were custom built using refurbished components. All copies of Windows have an OEM license installed.

a. Licenses for Office 2019 were included in the purchased assets.

b. Three business licenses for an anti-virus program were included in the purchased assets. These licenses were installed on computers that were seized and taken into evidence as part of the ongoing law enforcement investigation. It is unclear whether these licenses will be usable in the future.

c. More than 10 computer workstations were found to be using “free” versions of an anti-virus application. These licenses state “for non-commercial or personal, home use only.”

4. Banking Applications Database & Servers (Hardware & Software). The current banking applications software uses a custom browser-based interface built on an Apache Web server connected to a MySQL database. The Apache Web server also hosted the company’s internal web site. The server software licenses, the code for the custom browser-based interface, and the web server and database server hardware were included in the purchased digital assets. The storage media (hard disk drives) containing the Linux operating system, applications software, and database files were seized as part of the investigation and have not yet been returned to the company.

5. Electronic Mail and Public Web Server. At the time of purchase, Island Banking Services was in the middle of converting from an internally hosted email server based on Linux/Exim to individual Gmail accounts (not owned or managed by the company). The company had recently moved its public website from the internal Apache server to the Wix hosting service. This public website provides customers with access to the company’s custom built, web-based mobile banking services application.

6. Data Backups and Data Recovery Services. The system administrator for Island Banking Services used a commercial image backup utility to manually backup the company’s servers on a weekly basis. The image backups were written to multiple Solid State Disks (SSDs) that were connected to a Linux server connected to the company’s internal network. The financial transactions software (custom written) used electronic journaling to create copies of each transaction record in a MySQL instance hosted in a private cloud (Platform as a Service). The entire transactions database was copied to this private cloud once every 12 hours. Transaction records were copied to the cloud database every 30 minutes.

Figure 1. Island Banking Services IT Infrastructure (as-is).

Putting It All Together

Your plan will be a combination of a paper and a detailed list of steps and resources that you would follow to implement and complete this project. Think about all of the actions, resources, and tasks that you would need to ensure a successful implementation of the “to-be” state for the PBI-FS cybersecurity program and infrastructure. These should also be included as part of the plan. The minimum structure for this assignment is below:

· INTRODUCTION

· Purpose of Plan (implementation of the security strategy)

· GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

· Business Goals and Objectives

· Project Goals and Objectives

Cybersecurity Implementation Plan

· ASSUMPTIONS

· Project Assumptions

· CONSTRAINTS

· Project Constraints

· Barriers to Success

· PROJECT MANAGEMENT PLAN (for implementation of the security strategy)

· People

· Processes

· Technologies

· STRATEGY IMPLEMENTATION

· Security Controls

· Baseline (mandatory controls)

· Compensatory Controls (Administrative, Operational, Tactical)

· System Development Life Cycle/Schedule

· The 7 phases are: planning, requirements, design, development, testing, deployment, and maintenance

· Milestones

· Resource Requirements (People, Finances)

· ENTERPRISE IT ARCHITECTURE (“To-Be” – must include overview diagram)

· Hardware

· Software

· Network Infrastructure

· Cybersecurity Defenses

Additional Information

1. Consult the grading rubric for specific content and formatting requirements for this assignment.

2. Your 10-12 page Implementation Plan should be professional in appearance with consistent use of fonts, font sizes, margins, etc. You should use headings and page breaks to organize your paper. The listed page length is a recommended target. You should not, however, exceed double that page count (i.e. no more than 25 pages including diagrams, tables, and lists).

3. Your deliverable should use standard terms and definitions for cybersecurity. See Course Content > Cybersecurity Concepts Review for recommended resources.

4. Your Enterprise IT Architecture Overview diagram may be constructed using commercial clip art but you may not copy / glue together architecture diagrams from other sources. MS Word and Power Point both provide drawing tools and clip art which you can use to construct your diagram. See Figure 1 in this file for an example of the type of diagram / level of detail required.

5. The CSIA program recommends that you follow standard APA formatting since this will give you a document that meets the “professional appearance” requirements. APA formatting guidelines and examples are found under Course Resources. An APA template file (MS Word format) has also been provided for your use CSIA_Paper_Template(TOC+TOF,2021).docx.

6. You must include a cover page with the assignment title, your name, and the due date. Your reference list must be on a separate page at the end of your file. These pages do not count towards the assignment’s page count.

7. You are expected to write grammatically correct English in every assignment that you submit for grading. Do not turn in any work without (a) using spell check, (b) using grammar check, (c) verifying that your punctuation is correct and (d) reviewing your work for correct word usage and correctly structured sentences and paragraphs.

8. You are expected to credit your sources using in-text citations and reference list entries. Both your citations and your reference list entries must follow a consistent citation style (APA, MLA, etc.). Note: you may use footnotes to credit sources when doing so will improve the readability of the deliverable.

What are the goals, scope, assumptions, and constraints of the cybersecurity implementation plan?,
What people processes and technologies are required for implementation?,
What mandatory and compensatory security controls are needed to reduce insider and external threats?,
How will the system development life cycle (SDLC) guide implementation?,
What should the future “to-be” Enterprise IT Architecture look like?

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July 24, 2025

Database Relationship Strengths

By Academic Wizard Blog

Database Relationship Strengths

Defining relationships within a database can improve search capabilities and optimal performance of the database in the long run.

Identify at least two relationship strength types that can be used within the entity relationship model.
Provide a real-world scenario that demonstrates each relationship strength classification, using the classifications.

What are two relationship strength types used in the entity relationship model?,
What is a real-world scenario for each relationship strength classification?,
How do relationship strengths impact database performance?,
Why are defined relationships important in databases?,
How do relationship strengths affect search capabilities?

General Comprehensive Answer:

Database Relationship Strengths

Defining relationships in a database using the Entity Relationship (ER) model is essential for structuring data logically and efficiently. Relationships define how entities (such as people, places, or events) interact with each other and are key to enabling fast searches, data integrity, and long-term performance improvements.

Two Relationship Strength Types in ER Modeling:

Strong (Identifying) Relationship:
This occurs when a child entity cannot exist without a parent entity. In database terms, the child entity’s primary key includes the primary key of the parent. The relationship is tightly coupled, meaning deletion of the parent entity often affects the child entity directly.
Weak (Non-Identifying) Relationship:
This relationship exists when the child entity can exist independently of the parent. The child entity maintains its own primary key, and the relationship is looser, often just a foreign key reference.

Real-World Scenarios:

Strong Relationship Example – Order and Order Items:
In an online shopping platform, an “Order” entity contains information like order ID, date, and customer ID. An “OrderItem” entity lists products within the order. Each item depends entirely on an existing order and cannot exist without it. Therefore, this is a strong (identifying) relationship. If an order is deleted, its associated order items should be deleted too.
Weak Relationship Example – Employee and Department:
An “Employee” entity and a “Department” entity may be related in that each employee is assigned to a department. However, employees can be reassigned, and departments can exist independently of current employees. Therefore, this is a weak (non-identifying) relationship. The department remains even if employees leave, and employees can be moved between departments without affecting the existence of either entity.

Impact on Performance and Search Capabilities:
Strong relationships can enforce strict referential integrity, which improves data reliability and reduces the chances of orphaned records. Weak relationships offer flexibility and are easier to scale in some scenarios. Defining these relationships correctly helps optimize indexing strategies, reduces redundant data, and enables quicker joins during queries.

Importance of Defined Relationships:
Clearly defined relationships help database designers maintain structure, enforce data rules, and streamline queries. For example, when relationships are defined via foreign keys, the database can use them to join tables more efficiently. This ensures faster data retrieval and enhances overall system performance.

Database Relationship Strengths

July 24, 2025

IT Auditing Ethics & Certification

By Academic Wizard Blog

IT Auditing Ethics & Certification

What are the key ethical principles that IT auditors must adhere to, and why are they important?

How does the code of conduct guide the actions and decisions of IT auditors in various scenarios?

Provide an example of a potential ethical dilemma that an IT auditor might face and discuss how adherence to the code of conduct and integrity standards would help in resolving it.

Reflect on how these ethical standards align with your personal values and how you plan to uphold them in your future career.

Summarize the process for IT auditing certification.

IT Auditing Ethics & Certification

Your journal must be at least two pages in length, double-spaced with paragraph indents. Submit the paper as an attached MS Word document. No references or citations are necessary.

What are the key ethical principles that IT auditors must adhere to and why are they important?,
How does the code of conduct guide the actions and decisions of IT auditors in various scenarios?,
Provide an example of a potential ethical dilemma that an IT auditor might face and discuss how adherence to the code of conduct and integrity standards would help in resolving it.,
Reflect on how these ethical standards align with your personal values and how you plan to uphold them in your future career.,
Summarize the process for IT auditing certification.

General Comprehensive Answer:

Information Technology (IT) auditors operate in a field where trust, confidentiality, and precision are vital. Their work influences organizational decisions, data protection, and compliance efforts. Because of this, adhering to strong ethical principles is essential for maintaining credibility and protecting stakeholders’ interests.

Key Ethical Principles in IT Auditing:
The primary ethical principles IT auditors must follow include integrity, objectivity, confidentiality, and professional competence.

Integrity requires honesty and fairness in all professional interactions.
Objectivity ensures that auditors remain impartial and avoid conflicts of interest.
Confidentiality obligates auditors to protect sensitive data from unauthorized disclosure.
Professional competence demands ongoing learning and performance at a high standard.
These principles are crucial because they safeguard the accuracy of audits and ensure that public and organizational trust in audit outcomes remains intact.

Code of Conduct in Practice:
The code of conduct acts as a moral compass, helping IT auditors navigate complex and ambiguous situations. For example, if an auditor discovers data manipulation or unlicensed software usage, the code helps them prioritize transparency and report such findings without personal bias or fear. It encourages ethical decision-making even when those decisions are unpopular or difficult.

Example of an Ethical Dilemma:
Imagine an auditor uncovers that the IT manager has overridden access controls to view confidential employee files. The auditor may face pressure from executives to keep the issue quiet to protect the company’s image. However, adhering to the code of conduct and upholding integrity means the auditor must report the violation. Doing so ensures ethical consistency and shields the organization from greater risks, such as legal repercussions or reputational damage.

Personal Reflection and Career Commitment:
These standards closely align with values I hold personally—honesty, accountability, and fairness. In my future IT auditing career, I will commit to these principles by continuously educating myself, reporting any misconduct I encounter, and striving to maintain objectivity in all tasks. These values will help me build trust with colleagues and clients alike.

IT Auditing Certification Process:
To become a certified IT auditor, one commonly pursues the Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) credential. This process involves:

Meeting the required professional experience (typically five years in IT auditing, control, or security).
Passing the CISA examination, which covers auditing processes, governance, systems acquisition, information systems operations, and protection of information assets.
Adhering to ISACA’s code of ethics and continuing education policy.
This certification not only boosts credibility but also ensures the auditor is equipped with up-to-date industry knowledge and skills.

IT Auditing Ethics & Certification

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