MASTER’S PROGRAM IN INFORMATION SECURITY. Concentration Cybersecurity technologies

The master’s program in Information Security focuses on training top-quality professionals in the area of information security.

The program in Information security has seven concentrations. The students should select one during the first semester. “Cybersecurity technologies” is fully taught in English, including the master’s thesis.

Students in Information security have the possibility to complete a double degree program at ITMO University and at University of Nicosia. The program is delivered in collaboration with University of Nicosia which is one of the leading universities in the field. The students have an excellent opportunity to learn from top-quality professionals ready to share their experience in the sphere of information security both from ITMO University and University of Nicosia.

First year students spend at University of Nicosia and on the second they study at ITMO University. The double degree program consists of one academic year at ITMO University and 1 or 2 semesters in Cyprus. The master’s thesis will be completed in supervision at ITMO University.

The program covers a set of problems related to ensuring the information security of various objects: computer systems, cyber-physical systems, cloud computing, etc. Master’s degree advances student’s knowledge in computer science and expands it with a knowledge of a wide range of cybersecurity technologies.

The Master of Information Security at ITMO University prepares professionals to assume cybersecurity leadership roles in IT industry companies, government agencies, and scientific organizations.

A curriculum rich in cryptography, ethical hacking, network security, cybersecurity threat assessment and vulnerabilities identification (web, networks, operating systems), cloud computing and IoT security, cryptography, and research leads students to become high-qualified professionals with a wide range of career opportunities. During the research, internship masters obtain leadership and research skills that help them to be open-minded specialists and real inventors.

The program aims to develop the learning outcomes related to the real-world tasks and to provide skills for identification of potential vulnerabilities of computer systems and deploy key technologies to defend and countermeasure attacks, and to ensure the security of modern computer systems and cybersecurity systems.

The master’s degree includes a set of core courses that provide the necessary skills in cybersecurity: Cyber-Physical Systems and the Internet of Things, Cryptography and Network Security, Distributed Systems, Cloud Computing, Mobile Systems Security, Ethical Hacking, Computer virology, Network Security and Defense Technologies, Data Processing and Analysis, Applied Artificial Intelligence.

The graduates are ready to start a wide range of IT careers, such as information security auditors and defense analysts, managerial positions in the IT companies, or government sector. During the study soft-skills, key professional and research skills are developed, helping graduates to start their own projects or continue study to earn a doctoral degree.

Student’s path

On the first year all students study at University of Nicosia, and on the second year they continue at ITMO University.

Career options

The graduates may hold such positions as information security experts, information security auditors and analysts, heads and deputy directors for information security. The industry’s demand for experts in this field is very high and it is expected to grow in the future.

In the digital age, information security has become extremely crucial not only for people but also for companies and large corporations. That is why computer security specialists are in such continuous demand both in private and public economic sectors.

Graduates of the MSc program may hold such positions:

• information security experts;
• information security auditors and penetration testers;
• computer systems defense analysts;
• cybersecurity managerial positions in the IT companies or government sector;
• entrepreneurs and start their own projects and create new cybersecurity companies;
• continue in doctoral studies to earn Ph.D.

Further studies

The successful graduating from the master's program provides the opportunity to continue studies to earn a doctoral degree in Computer Science (05.13.19 Methods and systems of information protection, information security).