SLIIT introduces Graduate Diploma in Cyber Security by Curtin University

SLIIT has collaborated with long-standing academic partner Curtin University – Australia to provide students with an opportunity to obtain an internationally recognised Graduate Diploma in Cyber Security awarded by Curtin University leading to the MSc. in IT specializing in Cyber Security at SLIIT, marking yet another milestone in the institutes portfolio of academic offerings.

Entry requirements for the programme include a bachelors degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, Software Engineering or a related discipline.

Professor Lalith Gamage, President and CEO of SLIIT stated at the launch; “The internet is essential for communication, data storage, data transfer, online transactions, marketing, entertainment and education. The responsibility of protecting computer systems, the networks and online data facilities from cyber threats falls on Cyber Security Professionals. This involves Information Assurance where vulnerabilities are identified and security measures are implemented to avoid any attacks. As we are aware, Cybercrime involves frauds, stealing identities and intellectual property, violating privacy, hacking, hactivism, cyber espionage and cyber terrorism. In Sri Lanka, Cyber Security Professionals are able to assist the government in ‘Cyber crime Investigations and Digital Forensics’ to prosecute cybercrime offenders”.

He further stated that “a recent survey conducted by (ISC)2, the world’s largest notfor-profit information security professional body and administrators of the CISSP reveals that the global shortage of information security professionals has profoundly impacted the economy and is caused by a combination of business conditions, with executives not fully understanding the need for security, and an inability to locate sufficient qualified information security professionals”.

The report reveals that hactivism (43 percent), cyber-terrorism (44 percent), and hacking (56 percent) are among the top concerns identified by respondents, yet more than half - 56 percent - feel their security organizations are short-staffed. Many organizations (15 percent) are not able to estimate a time-frame on their ability to recover from an attack, even though service downtime is one of the highest priorities for nearly three-quarters of respondents. “It is this need and demand that we attempt to cater to by launching this unique programme to produce Cyber Security Professionals”.

Dr. Malitha Wijesundara, Dean – Faculty of Computing at SLIIT states that “the Graduate Diploma in Cyber Security is awarded by Curtin University which will provide a path way to the SLIIT MSc. in Information Technology specializing in Cyber Security, which are both are conducted at SLIIT. During a time when cyber crime is on the rise globally, there is a vital need for skilled cyber security professionals to apply their knowledge to address these advanced and sophisticated cyber threats and infiltrations. The skilled professionals produced by this course will prove to be of great demand both locally and globally.

Upon successful completion students can follow a MSc. in Information Technology specialising in Cyber Security awarded by SLIIT

The programme will be conducted by industry-leading experts and the course is designed to provide coverage of all the domains of the Common Body of Knowledge developed by the (ISC)2 and CISSP, which is the only universally recognized certification in the industry.

Plans are currently in progress for SLIIT to introduce an undergraduate specialisation in Cyber Security during 2014.

Chief Guest at the event was Mr. Lal Dias, COO of The Sri Lanka Computer Emergency Readiness Team/ Coordination Centre (Sri Lanka CERT/ CC), Professor S. Karunaratne – Chairman of SLIIT, Deans, Heads of departments, academic staff of SLIIT, and the lecture panel for the Cyber Security programme also graced the occasion.