Member Article

Degrees Now Available In Cyber Security

Oxford, Napier, Lancaster, Cranfield, Surrey, and Royal Holloway Universities have been selected to offer Master’s Degrees in cyber security. Included in these studies are digital forensics, in which students learn how to track a cyber attack to perform damage assessment. Students also perform hacking themselves, in order to learn what to expect from hackers.

Napier University has been certified by the GCHQ to present MSc degrees in digital forensics and advanced cyber security. The head of security at Napier, Professor Bill Buchanan, says the school is presenting its students with real-world scenarios to train them in detection of cyber crimes. Among the training methods is an online bank, in which the students learn to look for vulnerabilities. Students look for security breaches, learn cyber investigation techniques, and learn to present evidence. He also says that many of their students already work in the area’s financial services providers.

At Lancaster University, Professor Awais Rashid is director of security at the security research centre. He says that students can’t learn to “defend systems if they don’t know how they’re attacked.” He goes on to point out that while cyber crime is a global problem, laws concerning enforcement tend to be locally structured and enforced. The program at Lancaster works to establish common ground between global problems and local detection and enforcement. Prof. Rashid’s hope is that more people will become aware of career opportunities in cyber security, and that schools will promote interest in this area. According to LogicalJack These programs have been approved by the UK’s Government Communications Headquarters, or GCHQ, and will train students to battle the increased sophistication of cyber criminals.

The GCHQ has approved £860m for use in cyber security, part of which is being used for this initiative. Cabinet Office Minister Francis Maude has said that the goal is to make the UK the safest place in the world to do online business.

Cyber crime, once a mere nuisance, has grown to epidemic proportions. Entire banking systems, medical services, and even governments can be brought to a screeching halt by hackers. Computing systems can be disabled and identities stolen by unscrupulous entities. With Master’s programs now available, the GCHQ hopes that more young people will become excited about working in cyber security.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Mike Parsons .