Unwrap Savings: Save 20% on all courses this December. Ends 14/12.

Unwrap Savings: Save 20% on all courses this December. Ends 14/12.

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Professional Academy Diploma in Cybersecurity

Live Expert-Led Learning Next Course Starts Jan 18th from €1,360

Get an intensive introduction to the cybersecurity landscape with this course. Become familiar with cybersecurity and information security and be better equipped to recognise attacks on your personal or business data. This essential skill will help you reduce risk and protect digital assets.

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Save 20% on all courses this December. Download the brochure now to reveal your discount code.

Choose Your Start Date

Browse our upcoming live online classes. Download your brochure to learn more.

Starts 18 Jan — Ends 04 Apr 24

Part-time / evening
  • Live online lectures with an industry expert
  • 12 weeks: One 3 hour lecture per week
  • Thursdays, 6:30pm - 9:30pm
  • €1700, €1,360 with discount code

Starts 27 Feb — Ends 14 May 24

Part-time / evening
  • Live online lectures with an industry expert
  • 12 weeks: One 3 hour lecture per week
  • Tuesdays, 6:30pm - 9:30pm
  • €1700, €1,360 with discount code

Starts 20 Mar — Ends 05 Jun 24

Part-time / evening
  • Live online lectures with an industry expert
  • 12 weeks: One 3 hour lecture per week
  • Wednesdays, 6:30pm - 9:30pm
  • €1700, €1,360 with discount code

Secure your place with a 10% deposit and pay the rest in instalments. Flexible payment options available.

Why UCD Professional Academy?

  • Valuable, trusted certification
  • Industry expert lecturers
  • Flexible learning options

Cybersecurity Course Modules

This practical course is a great introduction to the key themes and concepts of cybersecurity and uses real-world examples to teach methods that you can immediately apply at work or home. By learning to think like a hacker, you’ll understand how tools such as ethical hacking, digital forensics, and open-source intelligence can be used to defend against cybercrime. You will also learn to manage incidents and recover after a breach.

Or browse our wide range of expert-led online courses and grow your career potential today.

1. Threat Landscape

Understand the key concepts and principles in the current cybersecurity threat landscape, including the three main goals of information security: confidentiality, integrity, and availability.

  • Threat landscape
  • Definitions
  • CIA Triad

2. Cryptography

Learn how cryptography is used to protect information and communications through the use of codes.

  • History of cryptography
  • Encryption and decryption
  • Hash functions

3. Passwords & Authentication

Learn about authentication and secure passwords. Practice using online tools or resources for cracking passwords.

  • Authentication
  • Secure passwords
  • 2FA/MFA
  • Cracking Passwords

4. Malware

Learn to identify malicious software and security threats. Understand the weaknesses of network solutions and deployments - both external and internal.

  • Malware
  • Detecting malware
  • Protecting from attack
  • Notable attacks and zero-days

5. Networking & Communications

Understand the evolution of the internet and network communications.

  • Evolution of the internet
  • Evolution of computer networking
  • Wireless networks
  • Protocols
  • The World Wide Web

6. Network, Application & Mobile Security

Learn about the fundamental concepts and principles in network, application, and mobile security.

  • Threat detection
  • Network security
  • Application and mobile security
  • The OWASP Top 10

7. Risk Management

Learn to define and enforce risk assessment, compliance, auditing, and policy updates.

  • What is risk?
  • Risk assessment
  • Compliance, audits, and policies

8. Introduction To Penetration Testing

Discover the main concepts of penetration testing and ethical hacking.

  • History of hacking
  • Methods, tools, and resources
  • Demonstration

9. Digital Forensics

Understand the concepts of digital forensics and electronic discovery (ediscovery), including the preservation of evidence.

  • Digital forensics
  • Ediscovery
  • Tools and resources

10. Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT) & Social Engineering

Learn how open-source intelligence (publicly available data) is used in cybersecurity measures. Understand how social engineering exploits human behaviour to bypass security.

  • Open-source intelligence
  • Social engineering
  • Tools and resources

11. Business Continuity & Disaster Recovery

Learn to analyse the capabilities of network protection. Look at threat remediation solutions and how to manage incidents.

  • Business continuity
  • Disaster recovery
  • Managing incidents
  • Plans and policies

12. Compliance, Certifications & Resources

Learn how to identify the popular ISMS frameworks, cybersecurity certifications, tools, and resources.

  • ISMS frameworks
  • Cybersecurity certifications
  • Kali Linux
  • Tools and resources
Exclusive

Access to thousands of journals, articles and papers. Free of charge.

Students taking part in this course will now have access to the EBSCO Online Library, free of charge, for the full duration of the course. Here you can browse thousands of relevant journals, articles and other reliable academic and commercial texts like the Harvard Business Review, Bloomberg Businessweek and Forbes Magazine, to supplement your learning and assignments.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is this course right for me?

This course is ideal for professionals looking to gain an awareness of the issues and risks around cybersecurity and information security, which is a global threat to organisations and individuals. There is no coding or programming, as this course focuses on concepts, tools, and principles.

This course would also suit someone considering a career in cyber or information security, as it will introduce you to the types of roles available within this cyber career path and the certifications required.

How will this course help with my career?

Cybercrime is a huge threat to organisations. Methods of attack evolve constantly, and businesses face escalating levels of responsibility and compliance. Because human error is an organisation’s greatest vulnerability when it comes to cybersecurity, having employees that understand security issues and best practice is highly desirable. 

Cybersecurity skills are some of the most in-demand in the world, making this Professional Academy Diploma a great addition to your CV. Guidance and resources are provided during the course for those who wish to continue learning.

What is the learning experience like?

Many of our courses are now available in a variety of formats. All formats cover the same course content. You now have more choice in how you learn with us:

Live Online

Our online experience is designed to be just as interactive, supportive, and inspiring as the UCD Professional Academy campus experience.

Online courses can be accessed from any computer or laptop with an internet connection.

Live lectures are delivered using Zoom. During these lectures, your teachers will use technology interactively to ensure an engaging learning experience. When appropriate, students will be encouraged to activate their microphones so that they can ask questions and communicate with other students.

On Campus

UCD Professional Academy is delighted to welcome learners back on the UCD Belfield Campus. On Campus courses are delivered in-person with our industry experts in the O'Brien Science building.

On Demand

On Demand courses enable you to complete your course on your own schedule. Course modules are delivered in the form of one “lesson”. The lesson is broken up into short videos followed by activities designed to put the new information and concepts into practice through exercises, quizzes, forum participation and other activities.

What is the student experience like?

Student care is a high priority at UCD Professional Academy, which is why our Student Services team is on hand to support you throughout your time with us. They will respond to any queries you have, help you with any technical issues, and facilitate your learning experience at every point. All students are given access to our Student Portal, where you can see your timetable, access all your study materials, and manage your account.

How is this course assessed?

Every week, after the online session, you will complete a short multiple-choice test to assess your understanding of the concepts you have learned. You will also be expected to keep a weekly learner log and complete a report-style written assignment focusing on a cybersecurity topic, both of which will be submitted at the end of the course.

How do I get my Professional Academy Diploma?

Your UCD Professional Academy Diploma will be issued electronically on a secure platform, with a link that you can share with employers and others wishing to verify your credentials. You can also add this certificate to your LinkedIn profile.

What are the benefits of a Professional Academy Diploma?

UCD Professional Academy Diplomas and Certificates are designed to give your career an advantage. Developed in conjunction with industry thought leaders our courses teach practical, applied skills to support you to achieve your career and business goals. Professional Academy Diplomas are suitable for career minded learners wishing to advance their professional skills and prospects rather than their academic credentials.

The Professional Academy is an independent wholly owned part of UCD designed to address the need for skills development in the workforce. Courses tend to be short, designed and delivered by industry practitioners, and are not part of nor do they lead to a traditional University award such as a degree or a masters. They are widely accepted by employers and many students are sponsored to study by their organisation.

For full details of UCD Professional Academy’s Certifications & Governance please visit https://www.ucd.ie/professionalacademy/governance/

What payment options are available?

A place on any of our courses can be secured with a 10% deposit.

For full-time (boot camp) courses, the balance must be paid in full before course commencement.

For part-time courses, learners will be required to pay 40% of the fees before the start of the course, with the remaining balance due within 30 days of the course commencing.

Please note that standard terms and conditions apply, which you can review here: https://www.ucd.ie/professionalacademy/terms-and-conditions/

Still have more questions? Download the brochure

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Live Classes

  • Weekly live online classes
  • 36 hours of course material
  • Complete in 12 weeks
  • Online classes delivered via Zoom
€1700 €1,360 Enrol Now
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