1. OVERVIEW OF THE PROGRAMME

These qualifications have been accredited to the Regulated Qualification Framework (RQF) and have their own unique Qualification Accreditation Numbers (QAN). This number will appear on the learner’s final certification document. Each unit with the qualifications has its own RQF code. The QANs for these qualifications are as follows: QUALIFI Level 5 Diploma in Cyber Security: 603/4139/7.

The qualification has been created to develop and reward those learners who are looking to or already have chosen a career in a business-related sector.

We hope that centres and learners take the opportunity to learn a great deal from this programme that will provide relevant new skills and qualities. It is envisaged that this programme will encourage both academic and professional development so that learners move forward to realise not just their own potential but also that of organisations across a broad range of sectors.

The Diploma is accredited at Level 5 with a total equivalence of 120 credits. It is envisaged that learners completing this Level 5 programme will progress to a university Level 6 Top-Up programme in the risk management field.

2. RATIONALE FOR THE DIPLOMA

The rationale of the programme is to provide a career path for learners who wish to develop their core capabilities within the cyber security and risk management sector. The outcome of the Diploma, which is a recognised UK Qualification, is for learners to develop the cyber security skills required by organisations globally. It is also to provide a pathway via learner credits and potential direct entry into related Level 6 Cyber Security and/or Risk Management Degree programmes.

All QUALIFI programmes create learning that advances the thought leadership of organisations, offering conceptual and practical insights that are applicable in the companies of today and tomorrow. Furthermore, we look to develop the cyber security team leaders, managers and leaders of the future through the creation and delivery of learning appropriate for that industry. The qualification will:

• advanced levels of higher education learning
• prepare learners for employment; and
• support a range of senior IT and Digital, Data and Security roles in the workplace.

By 2019, it is predicted that cyber security breaches will cost the global economy $2 Trillion per annum (Forbes). Back in 2015, insurance firm Lloyd’s of London assessed cyber breaches to have cost international commerce some $400bn. This multiplication of the economic value of threat and risk (500% over four years) is likely to continue following a wave of mega data breaches, state- sponsored attacks, bespoke malware refinement, and the mainstreaming of IoT (50 billion web- enabled devices:Cisco) and cryptocurrencies. The cyber security market sector has now reached at least $100bn in value (GlobalCyberAcademy.com: 2018). As an exemplar, the median annual wage for Information Security professionals was some $87,000 in the USA by 2012. This is expected to rise by 37% by 2022 (Bureau of Labor Occupational Handbook 2014-15).

This Level 5 qualification is potentially unique because it is about ‘cyber security’ as a workplace management discipline. It is therefore a semi-technical qualification that examines technical cyber security measures as well as the management, project management and leadership skills required to organise internal and external business responses to major incidents (or the threat of such).

Due to the huge economic risks to businesses, sectors, as well as global regions, from specific and dynamic forms of threat vectors, this course programme will provide solid business management and leadership education (including disaster management, project management and business continuity management) within the context of the digital tech and cyber security threat environment. The course programme is designed and delivered by a mix of academics from Business Schools and Security Management teaching roles.

This Level 5 course is especially designed for existing or aspiring organisational executives and leaders who are tasked with responsibility for business resilience, information security, safe technological innovation, safe and secure change management, HR planning and physical risk management, professionals.

The course is flexible and online. It is easily able to be blended. The programme utilises many case studies from business and public-sector organisations and embeds isomorphic learning into its technical and management education. The programme is particularly suited for those who are already in work. Or those who are seeking to develop a structured management competency in information security, risk management and organizational resilience.

This course particularly suits students who work for large multinational firms, international organisations or widely distributed governmental bodies and agencies. Often our learners might be employees who are responsible for colleagues’ and customer data located across several time-zones via diverse, international business IT and telecoms networks and environments. This qualification will therefore also incorporate converged security considerations critical for those leading and managing the protection of people, assets and information, as well as those responsible for the confidentiality, integrity and availability of company data processes. Cyber security considerations have now very much converged with physical security requirements.

Due to the course’s more advanced technical settings, it is recommended that applicants without any technical experience or understanding of computer networking, network security, programming or security risk management principles, should first complete the Qualifi Level 3 Diploma in Cyber Security Management and Operations, then scale up to the Level 4 Diploma in Cyber Security, before enrolling onto this course programme. Learners seeking to enter a university degree top-up programme will be required to have successfully completed our Cyber Security Diplomas at Levels 4 and 5, and attain the respective 240 learning credits, before their application for a Level 6 Top-Up application with a university can be considered.

The qualification will identify and evaluate practical ways to safely and securely protect people and organisations from cyber-attacks, data breaches and the consequential impacts. This will be done by accessing and researching a wide range of open-source information: websites, specialist books, journals, manuals, news articles, guidance, International Standards, court documents and other materials. Videos, audio, course content, informal exercises and formal assignments will all be provided by the course tutor team.

3. AIMS OF THE DIPLOMA

This Level 5 programme provides the opportunity for individuals to develop a more advanced career in a specific area of business or public organisations by developing analytical knowledge and deeper understandings of several core cyber security operational domains. The course will also provide core information security technical and generic management and leadership teaching. Much of this teaching will be directly relevant to learners moving forward into Information Security Management technical qualifications at the higher-end of the industry market, including the CompTIA Security + accreditation and the cyber security industry gold standard: The Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP).

At key points, in each unit, learners will be asked to use their own equipment to practise using, and conduct live exercises on, technical IT hardware and software platforms and apps, including Virtual Machines, Linux OS, as well as working beyond the GUI (Graphical User Interface) and into their own Command Lines. Learners studying this course via the Global Cyber Academy (globalcyberacademy.com), our Approved Learning Centre, will have free access to its many cyber security industry events, videos, audio and elibrary. This course’s core aims are:

• To equip individuals with the knowledge, understanding and skills required for success in information security-related employment
• To enable progression into a university approved Level 6 Degree award
• To provide specialist study relevant to individual vocations and environments in which learners are currently working, or to which learners are aiming to work within business and public service sectors
• To develop learners’ ability to contribute positively to good and ethical practice in technology and risk management environments, through effectively utilising the practical and theoretical knowledge and skills gained
• To develop skills and techniques, personal qualities and attributes essential for successful performance in working life and thereby enabling learners to make a positive contribution to their employment and therefore enhance their prospects for promotion and remunerative advancement.

4. LEARNING OUTCOMES OF THE DIPLOMA

Learners studying for the Level 5 Diploma in Cyber Security will be expected to develop the following skills during the programme of study:

1. The ability to read and utilise relevant technical and security literature (including threat intelligence feeds), hardware and software, with a proficient or developed competence
2. Understanding: the ability to think independently and solve potential overarching cyber security issues within a business or organisation
3. Apply subject knowledge and understanding to address familiar and unfamiliar problems in the cyber security and digital risk management domains within their workplace and/or sector
4. Recognise the moral and ethical issues of business practice and research; appreciating the need for ethical standards and professional codes of conduct, including in relation to conducting investigations, audits and incident responses
5. An appreciation of the interdisciplinary and interdependent nature of cyber security within wider business and service provision, and broader operating environments and supply chains
6. Capacity to give a clear and accurate account of a subject, in a mature way; engage in credible debate and dialogue both with specialists and non-specialists in relation to cyber security- related issues and challenges
7. To develop transferable skills and knowledge – including in project management, business continuity management crisis management, disaster recovery and management and incident response – which will enable individuals to meet the requirements of, and successfully manage/lead, major business incidents
8. To motivate individuals to progress to further professional development and advancement through future study or as part of their chosen career
9. To instill and embed a sense of understanding and respect of the global nature of the cyber threat environment; as well as the criticality of respecting, anticipating and learning from diverse,international business practices and the global operating context.
10. To engender positive digital citizenship, inculcating an ethos of understanding responsibilities and exercising personal and organisational ‘rights’ in an ethical, responsible and sustainable manner

5. ENTRY CRITERIA

This qualification has been designed to be accessible without artificial barriers that restrict access and progression. Entry to the qualification will be through a centre application form or interview and the candidates will be expected to hold the following:

• learners who possess qualifications at Level 4 and/or;
• learners who have some technical and risk management work experience in a computing or security business environment and demonstrate ambition with clear career goals;
• learners who possess a Level 5 qualification in another discipline and want to develop their careers in cyber security and/or risk management.

In certain circumstances, learners with considerable experience but no formal qualifications may be considered, subject to interview and being able to demonstrate their ability to cope with the demands of the programme. In the case of applicants whose first language is not English, then IELTS 5 (or equivalent) is required. International Qualifications will be checked for appropriate matriculation to UK higher education postgraduate programmes. The applicants are normally required to produce two supporting references,at least one of which should preferably be academic.

6. PROGRAMME SUMMARY

There are four mandatory units for this qualification. All units cover a number of topics relating to learning outcomes. Each unit has the equivalency of 30 credits.

Learners are required to complete four units to achieve the 120 credits required to gain the Level 5 Diploma in Cyber Security. Learners will be expected to attend lectures and workshops that will introduce the subject matter. Formative assessments (weighted at 0%) may be used in lectures or tutorials to check knowledge and understanding of specific topics and subject areas. Units require reflective exam sets and/or summative assessments for marking.

Unit Reference	Mandatory Units	Level	TQT	GLH	Credits
DCS01	Cryptography	5	300	150	30
DCS02	Digital Investigations and Forensics	5	300	150	30
DCS03	Communications and Incident Management	5	300	150	30
DCS04	Strategic Leadership	5	300	150	30