Leveraging Virtualization Technology in Teaching Cyber Security Courses in Sub-Saharan Africa

Clement Amone Keyamo, Patrick Ogholuwarami Ejeh, Daniel Osamwonyi Iyoha

Abstract

Teaching and learning can be effective and enjoyable if the course is well-packaged and presented. This was the experience of students and teachers participating in our hands-on Cyber Security course. Effective teaching of Cyber Security requires practical demonstration of attack patterns and their related countermeasures. This implies that outstanding and modern laboratories must be in place to teach and learn the necessary principles and practices effectively. Unfortunately, newly established universities in Sub-Saharan Africa need more funds for establishing and maintaining such laboratories. However, several researchers have shown that virtualization technology (VT) can enhance available but limited physical computing laboratories as an alternative to complex physical laboratories with huge procurement costs. This paper proposes an ad hoc and mobile laboratory for teaching practical principles in Cyber Security. The report aims to demonstrate the effectiveness of virtualization technology in teaching Cyber Security in newly established universities in Sub-Saharan Africa with zero to minimal computer laboratory infrastructure.

Keywords

Cyber Security, Education;Teaching-learning Process; Virtualization Technology; Virtual Machine.

Full Text:

PDF

References

Ahmed, B. T. (2020). Virtualization Mechanisms and Tools: A Comprehensive Survey. Use retrieves from: Bakhan Tofiq Ahmed / International Journal of Computer Science Engineering (IJCSE), 9(4), pp. 346-255. https://doi.org/10.21817/ijcsenet/2020/v9i4/200904022

BouSaba, C., Burton, L., & Fatehi, F. (2010). Using virtualization technology to improve education. In EDULEARN10 Proceedings (pp. 201-206). IATED.

Czajkowski, A.(2012) Virtualization as a Support Tool for Teaching of The Information Technologies at Higher Education Level.

Deng, Y., Lu, D., Chung, C. J., Huang, D., & Zeng, Z. (2018, October). Personalized learning in a virtual hands-on lab platform for computer science education. In 2018 IEEE frontiers in education conference (FIE) (pp. 1-8). IEEE. https://doi.org/10.1109/FIE.2018.8659291

Wu, D., Fulmer, J., & Johnson, S. (2014). Teaching information security with virtual laboratories. Innovative Practices in Teaching Information Sciences and Technology: Experience Reports and Reflections, 179-192 https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-03656-4

Eliot, N., Kendall, D., & Brockway, M. (2018). A flexible laboratory environment supporting honeypot deployment for teaching real-world cybersecurity skills. IEEE Access, 6, 34884-34895. https://doi.org/10.1109/ACCESS.2018.2850839

Fernández, D., Ruiz, F. J., Bellido, L., Pastor, E., Llorente, O. W., & Mateos, V. (2016). Enhancing learning experience in computer networking through a virtualization-based laboratory model. The International Journal of Engineering Education, 32(6), 2569-2584. ISSN-e 0949-149X

García, J., & Entrialgo, J. (2015). Using computer virtualization and software tools to implement a low cost laboratory for the teaching of storage area networks. Computer applications in engineering education, 23(5), 715-723. https://doi.org/10.1002/cae.21644

Haag, J., Vranken, H., & van Eekelen, M. (2019). A virtual classroom for cybersecurity education. Transactions on Edutainment XV, 173-208. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-59351-6_13

James, P., Powell, L., O'reilly, L., & Moller, F. (2020, June). Hands-on security testing in a university lab environment. In Proceedings of the 2020 ACM Conference on Innovation and Technology in Computer Science Education (pp. 68-74). https://doi.org/10.1145/3341525.3387366

Klement, M., & Gregar, J. (2016). Options of Integration Virtualization Technologies into Education. In 3rd International Multidisciplinary Scientific Conference on Social Sciences and Arts SGEM 2016 (pp. 713-722).

Lemus-Zúñiga, L. G., Benlloch-Dualde, J. V., Montañana, J. M., Pla, M. A. M., & Pons, J. (2015, June). Teaching computer networks using virtual machines. In 2015 International Conference on Information Technology Based Higher Education and Training (ITHET) (pp. 1-6). IEEE.

Miseviciene, R., Ambraziene, D., Tuminauskas, R., & Pazereckas, N. (2012). Educational infrastructure using virtualization technologies: Experience at kaunas university of technology. Informatics in Education, 11(2), 227-240. https://doi.org/10.15388/infedu.2012.12

Ogunyemi, A., & Johnston, K. (2010). The use of virtual machines to support hands-on learning experiences in undergraduate systems-oriented courses. In Proceedings of the 4th International Conference on Dynamic Informatics.

Pérez, C., Orduña, J. M., & Soriano, F. R. (2016). A Nested Virtualization Tool for Information Technology Practical Education. SpringerPlus, 5, 1-9. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40064-016-2041-8

Usman, A. B. (2021). Teaching and Learning Cybersecurity courses with Virtualization Technology.

Vojtěšek, J., Bližňák, M., Matušů, R., & Dulík, T. (2009). Virtualization as a Teaching Tool for IT-based Courses. WSEAS Transactions on Advances in Engineering Education.6 (1), 265-274 http://www.wseas.us/e-library/transactions/education/2009/29-098.pdf

Du, W., Jayaraman, K., & Gaubatz., N.B. (2010, June). Enhancing security education with hands-on laboratory exercises. In proceedings of 5th Annual Symposium on Information Assurance (ASIA ’10) (pp.156-61)

Xie, X., & Chu, J. (2022). Data collection and Visualization Application of VMware Workstation Virtualization Technology` in college Teaching Management. Mathematical Problems in Engineering, 2022. https://doi.org/10.1155/2022/6984353

DOI: https://doi.org/10.20961/ijie.v7i1.74983