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Graduates of Griffith University’s new Master of Cyber Security will take a key role in protecting Australia from the evolving threat of cyber crime.
FURTHER cementing its reputation as a forward-thinking educator, Griffith University is set to be the first university in Queensland to offer a specialised postgraduate degree in cyber security.
Kicking off in 2019, the Master of Cyber Security is a unique offering, in that it draws from Griffith’s strengths across IT, business and criminology to better prepare for the evolving cyber threat.
Experts point to cybercrime as a major threat to global security, with Australia facing a critical shortage in skilled workers to protect corporate and private citizens.
Lynn Moore, head of engagement, operations and intelligence at the Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC) says that given the upward crime trend domestically and globally, as a nation Australia desperately needs more cyber workers to defend against harm.
ACSC figures reveal that one-in-four Australians were hit by cybercrime in 2017, that’s more than six million people. The centre also reported that 43 per cent of cyber-attacks are aimed at small businesses, with an average cost to those businesses of $10,000.
“A recent study found Australia’s domestic cyber security industry would have to employ at least 11,000 additional workers in the 10 years to 2026 to keep building an information security sector that advances national cyber security and safety for individuals and businesses,” Ms Moore says.
“Cyber security skills are crucial given the breadth of cybercrime Australian businesses are routinely exposed to.”
Associate Professor Vallipuram Muthukkumarasamy leads the Network Security Research Group at Griffith’s Institute for Integrated and Intelligent systems. For the past three years he’s worked hard to ensure the Masters of Cyber Security degree met international curriculum guidelines.
Advisors from 35 countries contributed to the development of the Cyber Security Curricula 2017 (CSEC2017) guidelines, which were the first-ever set of global recommendations for cyber security curricular content at university level.
Associate Professor Muthukkumarasamy says the need for a qualification such as Griffith’s new Master of Cyber Security was clear because we’re living in a data-drive era, which creates enormous risks for businesses of all sizes.
And the concern is not just an economic one, it’s about ensuring all personal and professional data is securely stored and maintained.
“It’s a scary prospect when you realise how open you are to cyberattacks. [Cyber-criminals] don’t need be physically here to wreak havoc, they can be anywhere in the world and we often don’t know whether it’s an inside or outside attacker,” he says.
Associate Professor Muthukkumarasamy says as cyber criminals become more sophisticated, the range of cybersecurity careers are becoming more diverse. Graduates of Griffith’s Master of Cyber Security degree will be able to get jobs anywhere in the world, either for a large corporation or bank, in-house or as a contractor to smaller-to-medium businesses and other organisations.
“This is probably one of the very first programs of its kind based on the 2017 guidelines and the first one in Australia that is an interdisciplinary program involving information and communication technology, criminology, business and law,” he says.
“Students will develop the expertise to investigate and identify cyber security threats, tackle contemporary cyber crime and security challenges, as well as conduct risk and vulnerability badessments of networked devices and infrastructure and then generate innovative solutions.”
Associate Professor Muthukkumarasamy says everyone needs to have an element of cyber security in their business, making this qualification a very attractive skill set that will help Griffith University graduates walk into any industry. With flexible entry and exit points, and the option to study full or part-time, he says interest is already high from both local and international students.
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