Securing the web

Dependence on the Internet is growing and so are the dangers related to it. This PG programme seeks to help address the cyber security concerns.

February 09, 2014 07:17 pm | Updated May 18, 2016 07:07 am IST - Chennai

The cyber sphere is what one would call a double-edged sword. While it brings the world closer with easy information and fast communication, it also poses serious problems that threaten your online presence and computer systems.

“India is totally under-equipped when it comes to dealing with the emerging cyber threats,” says Professor Harjinder Singh Lallie, an expert on cyber security and digital investigation from the University of Warwick, U.K.

The authorities in the government and private sector are neither prepared nor qualified to withstand or counter cyber threats. Viruses, malware and Trojans that have already hit the West will eventually find their way here, and it will be virtually impossible to tackle it if the security is not strengthened.

WMG at the University of Warwick offers a post-graduate programme in cyber security and management, suitable for students with a background in computer science and information technology.

The U.K. boasts of providing around 60 undergraduate and post-graduate courses on cyber security.

However, in India, there are less than 10 undergraduate and post-graduate courses on the same, and even these focus on encryption and password protection rather than the more serious threats.

A large corpus of the curriculum is, in fact, missing. The lack of expertise in the field leaves the administrative and service sectors of the country vulnerable and susceptible to more cyber crimes.

The U.K. government had announced an investment of 650 million pounds in cyber security after declaring that it has become a priority parallel to fighting international terrorism.

The course at the University of Warwick is of one year, and it includes 10 modules covering network security, information security and computer security.

The course is short and intense. Students will be required to choose elective modules and do a dissertation specialising in any topic in the field. Guest lectures by individuals from IBM, HP, Kaspersky, Mozilla and the U.K. police forces comprise 20 per cent of the course.

Indian scenario

There is a huge shortage of cyber security professionals and specialists, leaving the country exposed and defenceless against cyber attacks. What is even more disheartening is that the courses, materials and modules currently offered in India are inadequate to equip these professionals. In India, there are only a limited number of colleges and institutes that provide courses on cyber security.

Apart from the University of Madras, which offers a master’s programme in cyber forensics and information security, SRM University, National Institute of Technology, Calicut, and Amrita School of Engineering, Coimbatore, provide courses on cyber security.

While dealing with codes and ciphers is part of ensuring cyber security, these courses must address the need for digital investigation, online risk management, industrial espionage, data forensics and cyber fraud. And given that there are few institutes in India that provide these elements in the course, students can gain exposure to the industry in the UK and the US.

According to Prof. Lallie, Iran, China, North Korea, the U.K. andistan are recruiting and buildings armies of cyber security professionals.

These include programmers, malware writers, malware analysers and encryption algorithm developers among others. Tomorrow’s war need not be fought in a battlefield because part of that war is going to involve using technology against the opponent.

Course details

• The one-year course starts in September and consists of 10 modules. Depending on qualifications and prior experiences, students may choose one or more elective modules as well.

• In addition to the course, students are provided with opportunities to visit and participate in specialist conferences and industrial trips.

• Upon course completion, graduates can work in corporate security teams, consultancies, government information security departments and do cyber security related research.

• For more information about the course, contact the admissions office: wmgmasters@warwick.ac.uk

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