Cybersecurity

Post-Secondary Programs
Credential Earned: Graduate Certificate
Campus: Timmins
Program Length: 4 Semesters

This program is currently open to International Students only.

Program Code: T200

This 2-year Ontario College Graduate Certificate in Cybersecurity prepares graduates to take on exciting and challenging positions within organizations that increasingly have realized their need to secure information. This program takes a hands-on approach through lab activities, project work, and case study analysis.

The program combines technical skill-building on topics that include ethical hacking, network security, incident response, forensics, and cloud security.

This curriculum will further broaden students’ leadership skills in the areas of risk analysis, vulnerability management, and cybersecurity law and ethics. Students will also gain real-world experience through a co-operative education work term.

Upon completion of the program, students will be able to efficiently manage security in an organization through the application of cybersecurity controls designed to identify, protect, detect, respond, and recover. Graduates will also be prepared to attain certifications including: CompTIA Security+ and PenTest+, (ISC)² SSCP, and EC-Council’s CEH.

Contact Information

David Francis
Dean of Trades, Technology and Apprenticeships
Phone: 705-235-3211 ext. 2292
Email: francisd@northern.on.ca

Admission Requirements

General Admission Requirements

Ontario College Diploma, Ontario College Advanced Diploma, Degree, or equivalent in Information Technology or Computer Studies.

Additional Requirements for International Students

In addition to the general admission requirements, international students must have proof of English Proficiency and meet the requirements below.

English Proficiency (we will require one of the following):

Applicants possessing degrees/diplomas from institutions where the language of instruction was not English will be required to provide test scores as evidence of their English language proficiency.

  • IELTS Academic International English Language Testing System: a minimum overall score of 6.0 must be achieved with no individual band score under 6.0.
  • TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) – Computer-based overall minimum score of 80+
  • PTE (Pearson Test of English) Academic – Graduate Diploma: 60+

All educational documents must be submitted in English and will be dependent on the country of citizenship.

For more information, please contact admissions@northern.on.ca.

Semester 1
CY1001 – Networking Fundamentals

Students will explore computer and communication technologies within Canada including transmission concepts, network hardware and software, and standards and protocols. The course relates these concepts to other areas of information technology and prepares students for the optional CompTIA Network+ certification.

CY1002 – Linux Server Fundamentals

In this course, students will learn fundamental concepts of system administration using modern Linux operating system implementations. Successful completion of the course will prepare students for an optional CompTIA Linux+ certification.

CY1003 – Windows Server Fundamentals

Students will learn about to the installation, storage requirements, and features and functionality of Windows Server, including server administration.

CY1004 – Information Security Fundamentals

Students will explore contemporary risks and threats within a Canadian context to an organization’s sensitive data and strategies to use to safeguard these assets. Successful completion of this course will prepare students for an optional CompTIA Security+ certification.

CY1005 – Scripting Fundamentals

In this course, students will be provided with an introduction to scripting languages, such as Python, including data types, control structures, and regular expressions in the context of cybersecurity applications.

Semester 2
CY2001 – Intrusion Detection and Prevention

In this course, students will learn how to design, implement, and administer intrusion detection and prevention systems. Various attack signatures and network traffic are analyzed to better understand threats to the organization.

CY2002 – Ethical Hacking

Students will examine the methodology used within a Canadian framework for ethical hacking using a practical application of security tools. Mitigation strategies are also covered, including countermeasures to reduce the risk of an attack.

CY2003 – Digital Forensics

In this course, students will learn the technical aspects of digital forensics, including forensic procedures, imaging, hashing, file recovery and reporting. Digital forensic software tools are also introduced so students can learn how to conduct forensic examinations for themselves.

CY2004 – Cloud Security

This course introduces students to the concepts of cloud security, including security governance using cloud technologies, security principles and controls, and secure cloud architecture.

CY2005 – Cybersecurity Risk Management

This course covers the management of information security risks, including assessing and analyzing threats to the organization. Students will learn how to use a risk registrar and develop and implement a risk treatment plan.

Semester 3
CY3001 – Network Security Fundamentals

In this course, students will learn the security principles needed to secure a network including developing a network infrastructure, understanding core security concepts, managing secure access, VPN, cryptography, firewalls, web and email content security, and endpoint security.

CY3002 – Cybersecurity Law and Ethics

Students will explore the issues of Canadian law and ethics of the Internet, including regulations of online behaviour, intellectual property, hacking and ethical behaviour. Practical examples of laws concerning security breaches and corresponding responses to these reaches will be discussed.

CY3003 – Network Forensics and Incident Response

In this course, students will learn about security incidents, how to identify and categorize them, appropriate incident responses, and how to work with security information and event management systems (SIEMs).

CY3004 – Vulnerability Management Fundamentals

In this course, students will learn about information security vulnerability assessment fundamentals, practical analyses of threat intelligence, and automation and modeling with the overall goal of implementing successful organizational security vulnerability assessment programs
within a Canadian context.

CY3005 – Security Operations Centre Fundamentals

This course introduces students to security operation centres (SOCs) within Canada and the various roles and responsibilities required to support these centres. Students will learn fundamental requirements of SOCs, including how to map networks, scan systems for vulnerabilities, and monitor infrastructure for signs of an attack.

Semester 4
CY4000 – Cybersecurity Work Term/Capstone

In this semester, students will apply their skills in cybersecurity in a Canadian work environment or complete an applied capstone project. The applied project will enable students to work on Canadian industry-relevant challenges to further demonstrate their skills and knowledge in cybersecurity and prepare for employment.

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