identity MSc Cyber Security hacker virus QA is the foremost provider of education in the UK. We work with individuals at all stages of their careers, from our award-winning apprenticeship programmes, through to our extensive range of training programmes and our part-time Master s degrees for working professionals. network information Our Master s Programmes are built by industry experts around leading-edge content and grounded in best practice. QA s Master s (MSc) in Cyber Security provides students with a critical understanding of information governance and assurance along with technology risk management practices. Utilising QA s high end curriculum and adding the rigour of an academic programme, the 2 year part-time programme gives students the skills to handle security incidents as well as identifying new and existing threats and determine methods to minimise them. Our flexible study options and our professional study environment ensure students are able to maximise their learning experience with us.
Why study for a Master s? Studying for a Master s degree presents a significant opportunity for individuals wishing to enhance their career prospects. It is natural to want to understand what you will get out of it. What difference will a Master s degree make to you? Will your investment pay off? Is this the right option for you? The answers to these questions will of course vary from individual to individual. However, there are some key benefits which our students on our Cyber Security Master s will be able to take advantage of: Increased earning potential In the UK, over 350,000 people each year enrol in Master s programmes and, on average, their lifetime earnings will benefit to the tune of 250,000 over the equivalent bachelor degree student. Increased employability and career prospects In today s sophisticated business world the expectations of employers has grown significantly and a Master s degree can help differentiate you from your workplace peers. For organisations who invest in these programmes for their people, it has been proven that it has helped attract and retain talent. Latest thinking Our Master s programme will give students access to the latest technologies and thinking from QA s industry leading experts in web and mobile development. Access to new networks Attending our Master s programme will help you build your professional network, and connect you to a talented peer group, which will help you refresh your own thinking and range of ideas that your organisation has access to. Transform individual and organisational performance The MSc will enable students to learn and think independently and deliver the strategic benefits to your organisation. Our programme combines real-world experience with academic theory, to give students a robust grounding in strategic web development skills, allowing students to share best practice, build knowledge and prove competence.
MSc Cyber Security Module 1 Information Governance and Security Module 2 Information Assurance & Risk Management Module 3 Network Security Module 4 Ethical Hacking for Computer Security Module 5 Research and Project Management MSc Dissertation The aim of this module is to critically explore the governance, management and security principles that underpin the management of an organisation s information assets. It will provide you with a comprehensive and in-depth knowledge and understanding of the key concepts, theories, standards and frameworks of information governance, information management and information security. Through the critical analysis of these principles and tools you will develop a solid practical foundation on which to evaluate a range of organisations approaches to information. You will understand how to design and implement robust strategies and programmes for managing an organisation s information to meet legal, regulatory, organisational and societal needs. This module will provide students in-depth knowledge of the processes used in assuring the security of information during use, sharing, storage, transmission and disposal. It will cover the protection of the integrity, authenticity, availability and confidentiality of all classes of information. The module is designed to provide a comprehensive framework for ensuring the resilience of business activities during threats and disruptive events thus enabling the assessment of potential risks to the business which could result from disasters or emergency situations. A breakdown of the key areas of information risk assessment and context establishment will be followed by the various elements of risk analysis and evaluation. The main objective of this module is to provide an in-depth coverage of the fundamental concepts, principles and technologies for network security. This module will provide students with a theoretical and practical understanding on two important aspects related to security, namely: data security and network security. The module will cover a number of topics including cryptography, classical systems, IP protocol security, private and public-key cryptography, cryptographic protocols, hash functions, authentication, signature schemes, email and web security, viruses and firewalls. Students will also explore the wider impact of security via a consideration of related legal, ethical and social issues. This module will enable learners to develop a deep understanding of both theoretical and practical aspects of ethical hacking. An essential part of a modern organisation s e-security includes rigorous testing and analysis to determine vulnerabilities. Carrying out such work requires a special skill set which crosses legal issues, psychology, computer networks along with detailed understanding of system vulnerabilities and exploits. Additionally, you will be exposed to a collection of industry standard hacking tools and will learn how to apply these in an ethical manner to determine system vulnerabilities. Throughout the world of science, engineering, technology and business, the ability to pursue research is seen as a requisite for continued career progression in the appropriate subject discipline. This module introduces students to the nature of research and the processes involved in carrying out research. General research approaches and methods for research will be covered including literature searching, evaluation and reviewing. This generic introduction will be followed by the inclusion of topics specifically designed to meet the requirements of the students programme of study. The module is designed to enable you to examine a topic of direct relevance to this Master s programme and to produce a research based dissertation around a chosen topic, which would include; a critical review of the literature; justification of the research method(s) adopted; presentation and discussion of the findings and appropriate conclusions. This is an individual piece of work and not a group activity. 0845 074 7967
Why study for a MSc in Cyber Security? Cyber-crime costs the UK between 18bn and 27bn annually. In 2010, the UK government announced a 650 million investment strategy into Cyber Security & declared that Cyber-Security had become a tier 1 priority alongside international terrorism and major national incidents. The UK is one of many governments around the world which recognise the serious nature of the threat that is emerging from the cyber-sphere. If your business does not have the right measures in place, your IT systems are at risk of being compromised in fact, they may already have been compromised and the impact of not recognising or pre-empting online security breaches can be far reaching and long term. A National Audit Office report earlier this year said that it could take 20 years to address the current cyber security skills gap, while analysts Frost & Sullivan found that the number of security professionals globally is about 2.25 million and they anticipate that by 2015 it will be approximately 4.25 million. QA s MSc Cyber Security programme will give students access to a network of academics, practitioners and experts in the field of Information and Cyber Security. Students will be introduced to key theoretical and practical aspects using real world scenarios and case studies. They will be encouraged to question current approaches and processes and investigate new approaches, processes and solutions in this fast moving environment. QA Ltd 2014. All rights reserved.
Why QA? Real-world skills from industry experts As one of the largest providers of technical training in the UK, QA s Cyber Security Master s programme is built around leading-edge content and grounded in best practice. It allows students to gain access to industry experts and leading-edge thinking and content. Learn in comfort Where you study is important to how you feel and ultimately how you perform. That is why the QA s Master s programmes are taught out of our state-of-the-art, technologically advanced flagship training centre at International House. Gain an industry recognised qualification By studying part-time with QA, students will gain a recognised Master s accredited by the University of Northumbria* in the space of just 24 months. Northumbria is one of the UK s most innovative and dynamic universities. Northumbria University has an excellent and growing research base and a distinguished record in innovation and support for the development of cutting edge industries. The University places a real focus on academic quality and research-informed teaching and is influenced by its global and national links with professional bodies and associations. Last year Northumbria University climbed eight places in the Times Higher Education Student Experience Survey, rated as the 23rd best in the UK. Study with like-minded professionals Students will study with like-minded business professionals and developers allowing sharing of experiences, ideas and best practice. Learning which works with your schedule We offer our students the opportunity to fit their course of study around their work and family commitments. Our weekend study option means that the degree works around existing commitments. The programme will last approximately 24 months, with students studying one weekend per month with courses running from 10am 4pm. Support for your future To help students sustain their learning, we offer our alumni up to 40% off any of our 1,500 public programmes. Let us help you fund your investment All of our Master s programmes are part-time and noninvasive, allowing you to fit study time around normal working hours, allowing you to work and study together. We can support you through the application for a Personal Career Development Loan or work with you to try and gain company sponsorship from your employer. What next? Sign up for one of our MSc Cyber Security Summits to see if the Master s programmes is right for you or your organisation. Please contact one of our Learning Advisors for the next available date. QA Executive Master s 0845 074 7967 www.qa.com/executivemasters executivemasters@qa.com * awaiting validation