How can we better protect soft targets, including K-12 schools?

Soft Target Risk Assessment Engine and Recovery Resources

So What?

Soft targets are buildings and organizations that don’t necessarily have access to high-level security services or expertise, making them vulnerable to cyber, natural, and physical threats. In the U.S., this includes at least 125,000 schools and about 350,000 churches, as well as other houses of worship, malls, and arenas.

Project Summary 

This project seeks to create and distribute risk assessment tools that can be used by individuals working to secure soft targets to better understand and address vulnerabilities. The assessment tool will initially be developed for K-12 use, with the potential to expand to other categories of soft targets.

Purpose/Objectives 

This project seeks to develop a new risk engine tool that will help soft targets be more secure and resilient.

Method 

• Literature review of risk assessment tools and methodologies
• Expert and stakeholder panel discussions
• Risk engine development, prototype, and evaluation
• Threat landscape assessment
• Resource availability and gap analysis
• Toolkit development 

Outputs and Impact 

• Create the first risk engine prototype for soft-target use.
• Write a literature review of risk assessment tools and methodologies.
• Develop a toolkit of resources for common threats.

	Joel Elson, Ph.D. University of Nebraska at Omaha Assistant Professor College of Information Science and Technology, NCITE Head of Information Science & Technology Research Initiatives Expertise: Collaboration technologies, decision support systems
	Sam Hunter, Ph.D. University of Nebraska at Omaha Professor Department of Psychology, NCITE Head of Strategic Initiatives Expertise: Malevolent creativity, leadership in organizations, creativity and innovation in organizations

Gina Ligon, Ph.D. University of Nebraska at Omaha Director of NCITE Expertise: Counterterrorism, extremist leadership, industrial-organizational psychology