The Master of Engineering in Cybersecurity program is designed to equip students with the technical expertise, practical skills, and strategic insights needed to protect and secure information systems from cyber threats. This program focuses on developing a deep understanding of network security, cryptography, risk management, and ethical hacking, preparing graduates to tackle complex cybersecurity challenges across industries, such as finance, healthcare, government, and critical infrastructure.
| PROGRAMME |
SEMESTRE |
DURATION |
CREDIT |
PARTNER INSTITUTION |
ACCREDITATION |
| CYBER SECURITY |
2 SMESTERS |
2 YEARS |
120 |
UNIVERSITY OF BUEA |
|
CORE OBJECTIVES
1. Develop a Strong Foundation in Cybersecurity Principles
- – Network Security : Teach students the fundamentals of network security, focusing on the protection of network infrastructure, including firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and VPNs.
- – Cryptography : Equip students with knowledge of cryptographic algorithms, encryption/decryption techniques, and their application to secure communication, data privacy, and authentication.
- – Security Protocols : Provide an understanding of security protocols such as SSL/TLS, IPSec, and other standards used to safeguard data integrity, confidentiality, and authentication.
- – Threat Modeling and Attack Vectors : Teach students to analyze and model potential cyber threats and attack vectors, focusing on understanding how attackers exploit vulnerabilities.
2. Promote Expertise in Ethical Hacking and Penetration Testing
- – Ethical Hacking Techniques : Teach students the methodologies and tools used by ethical hackers to identify, exploit, and report vulnerabilities in systems.
- – Penetration Testing : Equip students with the skills to perform penetration testing on networks, applications, and systems to discover weaknesses before they can be exploited by malicious actors.
- – Vulnerability Assessment : Teach students how to conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments and risk analysis to identify security gaps and recommend appropriate mitigation strategies.
- – Social Engineering : Introduce the concept of social engineering as an attack method, focusing on how attackers manipulate individuals to gain unauthorized access.
3. Strengthen Knowledge in Cybersecurity Governance and Risk Management
- – Cybersecurity Policies : Teach students how to design and implement cybersecurity policies and frameworks in organizations to protect against risks and ensure compliance with regulations.
- – Risk Management : Provide students with an understanding of risk management methodologies, including risk identification, assessment, mitigation strategies, and business continuity planning.
- – Regulatory Compliance : Equip students with knowledge of cybersecurity laws, standards, and regulations (such as GDPR, HIPAA, and PCI-DSS) and how to ensure organizational compliance.
- – Incident Response : Teach students the processes and best practices for responding to cybersecurity incidents, including detection, containment, eradication, and recovery.
4. Develop Advanced Skills in Secure Software Development
- – Secure Software Engineering : Teach students how to develop secure software by integrating security throughout the software development lifecycle (SDLC), including secure coding practices and code reviews.
- – Application Security : Equip students with knowledge of application security vulnerabilities, such as SQL injection, cross-site scripting (XSS), and buffer overflow, and how to secure applications against these threats.
- – Security Testing : Provide students with skills in secure testing methodologies, including static and dynamic analysis, fuzz testing, and code review to identify and fix security flaws in software.
- – DevSecOps : Teach students how to integrate security into DevOps practices, automating security checks and ensuring security is an ongoing part of the software development process.
5. Enhance Knowledge of Cloud and Virtualization Security
- – Cloud Security : Equip students with knowledge of securing cloud environments, including identity and access management (IAM), data protection, and cloud-specific vulnerabilities.
- – Virtualization Security : Teach students how to secure virtualized environments, including hypervisors, virtual machines, and containers, and protect them from attacks.
- – Cloud Service Models : Provide an understanding of the security implications of different cloud service models (IaaS, PaaS, SaaS) and how to secure resources in the cloud.
- – Cloud Incident Response : Equip students with the skills to respond to and mitigate incidents within cloud-based environments, ensuring the integrity and availability of cloud services.
6. Foster Proficiency in Advanced Cybersecurity Technologies
- – Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning in Cybersecurity : Introduce students to the role of AI and machine learning in cybersecurity, focusing on threat detection, anomaly detection, and predictive analytics.
- – Blockchain Security : Teach students the principles of blockchain technology and how to secure blockchain-based applications, focusing on cryptographic techniques and decentralized systems.
- – IoT Security : Equip students with the knowledge to secure Internet of Things (IoT) devices and networks, addressing the unique challenges posed by IoT systems in terms of scalability, connectivity, and vulnerabilities.
- – 5G Security : Provide students with an understanding of the security challenges and protocols in 5G networks, including privacy, data protection, and network slicing.
7. Prepare Students for Cybersecurity Leadership and Strategy
- – Cybersecurity Leadership : Teach students leadership strategies to manage cybersecurity teams, set organizational priorities, and communicate security risks and strategies to stakeholders.
- – Strategic Security Planning : Equip students with the skills to develop and implement strategic cybersecurity plans that align with business goals and protect against evolving threats.
- – Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery : Provide students with the knowledge to design business continuity plans and disaster recovery strategies to ensure critical systems are maintained during and after a security incident.
- – Cybersecurity Metrics and Reporting : Teach students how to assess and measure cybersecurity effectiveness, develop security KPIs, and communicate security performance to executives and boards.
8. Strengthen Communication and Collaboration Skills
- – Effective Communication : Equip students with the ability to effectively communicate complex cybersecurity concepts and technical details to both technical and non-technical audiences through reports, presentations, and public speaking.
- – Collaboration with Stakeholders : Promote teamwork and collaboration with business units, vendors, and third-party organizations to ensure security is integrated across all aspects of the organization.
- – Cybersecurity Awareness : Teach students how to design and implement cybersecurity awareness programs for employees, ensuring that staff members are aware of security best practices and potential threats.
9. Prepare Students for Career Readiness and Professional Development
- – Capstone Projects : Offer students the opportunity to work on real-world cybersecurity projects, simulating actual industry scenarios and providing hands-on experience in tackling security challenges.
- – Industry Certifications : Guide students in obtaining industry-recognized certifications, such as Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP), Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH), or Certified Information Security Manager (CISM), to enhance career prospects.
- – Internships and Networking : Provide opportunities for students to gain hands-on experience through internships, field studies, and networking with professionals in the cybersecurity field.
- – Career Services and Counseling : Offer career support, resume-building workshops, and interview preparation to help students transition from academic studies to professional roles.
10. Encourage Lifelong Learning and Continuous Improvement
- – Commitment to Lifelong Learning : Foster a mindset of continuous learning, encouraging students to stay updated on the latest trends, threats, and technologies in cybersecurity.
- – Innovation and Adaptability : Prepare students to innovate and adapt to the rapidly changing cybersecurity landscape, ensuring they can anticipate new threats and implement cutting-edge solutions to combat cybercrime.
CAREER OPPORTUNITIES
1. Cybersecurity Analyst
- – Security Monitoring : Monitor, detect, and respond to security incidents across an organization’s networks, systems, and applications, ensuring data confidentiality, integrity, and availability.
2. Ethical Hacker (Penetration Tester)
- – Penetration Testing : Perform penetration testing to identify and exploit vulnerabilities in systems and networks, providing recommendations to strengthen security and prevent attacks.
3. Security Architect
- – System Design : Design and implement secure network and system architectures, ensuring that all components are protected against cyber threats and comply with industry standards and regulations.
4. Incident Responder
- – Incident Management : Manage and respond to cybersecurity incidents, coordinating efforts to contain, investigate, and recover from security breaches or attacks.
5. Security Consultant
- – Risk Assessment : Advise organizations on cybersecurity best practices, helping them to assess vulnerabilities, develop security policies, and implement security solutions to protect against evolving threats.
6. Cloud Security Engineer
- – Cloud Security : Focus on securing cloud infrastructures and services, including managing access controls, data encryption, and cloud security protocols in multi-cloud or hybrid environments.
7. Cybersecurity Risk Manager
- – Risk Mitigation : Identify, assess, and manage risks related to cybersecurity, advising organizations on the mitigation of potential security threats and ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements.
8. Chief Information Security Officer (CISO)
- – Leadership : Lead the cybersecurity strategy of an organization, overseeing security operations, risk management, and compliance efforts at the executive level.
9. Forensic Analyst
- – Digital Investigations : Conduct investigations into cybercrimes, gathering and analyzing digital evidence to identify perpetrators and assist in legal proceedings.
10. Malware Analyst
- – Malware Analysis : Analyze malware samples to understand their behavior, develop detection methods, and create countermeasures to prevent infections or attacks.
