The Mean Failure Cost Cybersecurity Model to Quantify Security in E-Learning Environments

Abstract

This chapter presents an overview of security challenges in e-Learning systems, and discusses a recent review related research on security risk management approaches in e-Learning to give a proper context to our work. The literature review proves a lack in quantitative security risk management models applied to e-learning system and presents the strengths of the Mean Failure Cost model in quantifying security threats with a financial risk measure. Moreover, we focus on presenting security aspects of e-Learning applications, and analyze its respective stakeholders, security requirements, architectural components and threats. The Mean Failure Cost (MFC) cyber security measure suitable for e-Learning systems is defined and computed. We adapt it to quantify security threats and risk within e-learning systems. It is based on the identification of system's architecture, the well-defined classes of stakeholders, the list of possible threats and vulnerabilities and the specific security requirements related to e-Learning systems and applications.