大象传媒

Canadians lost over $43 million to  last year, and the number of cyber threats is rising and becoming more sophisticated. The Professional Master鈥檚 Program in Computer Science launched a new cybersecurity concentration in fall 2020 to combat this threat, as it is considered very likely that attacks are now targeting Canada鈥檚 critical infrastructure鈥搒uch as water or electricity supplies.

鈥淐yberattacks are increasing in frequency, severity and sophistication. Cybersecurity technology is advancing, but not fast enough to keep pace with the globally evolving threat landscape,鈥� says computing science professor Uwe Gl盲sser, who specializes in cybersecurity research and leads the new concentration.

鈥淩esponding to the talent gap in cybersecurity, graduates from this program will join the tech workforce in capacities that allow them to contribute in leading roles, ranging from cyber research and architecture design to policy creation and the development and implementation of innovative technologies, products and services for a safe and secure cyberspace.鈥�

In a span of 16 or 20 months, students receive hands-on training in areas such as cyber-threat intelligence, risk assessment and mitigation, and penetration-testing. Students are also required to complete a work placement through 大象传媒鈥檚 cooperative education program to further hone their skills in cybersecurity.

鈥淪tudents in the cybersecurity concentration are trained in theoretical and practical knowledge necessary to succeed in the cybersecurity industry, but also how to research and solve cybersecurity challenges and tackle real world cyber trends,鈥� says 大象传媒 research associate Mohammad Tayebi, who teaches in the program. 鈥淭his is going to position our students at the forefront of cybersecurity.鈥�

In addition to the core teaching materials of the program, guest lecturers from the cybersecurity industry are regularly invited to inform and train students on current cybersecurity trends. This hands-on training is meant to bridge the gap between academia and industry.

鈥淟earning theory and principle are the essence of starting your journey in computer science; however, hands-on training makes you truly ready to tackle any challenges in real-world scenarios,鈥� says cybersecurity student Jiawen Zhang.

To ensure that students continue to receive hands-on training and up-to-date industry knowledge, the cybersecurity concentration has partnered with four leading companies in cybersecurity: , ,  and  Through providing a variety of software, training materials and training sessions, all four company partnerships help students get a better grasp of the cybersecurity industry throughout their education at 大象传媒. 

The cybersecurity concentration also receives input on current cybersecurity trends through its external advisory board, comprised of industry and government leaders in cybersecurity, including the .

鈥淭hrough our partnerships with leaders in industry, professional and government organizations, we receive invaluable advice and recommendations regarding the assessment of the program鈥檚 impact and evolving demands for cybersecurity education and training,鈥� says Gl盲sser.

These efforts are all made with the goal of preparing students to work in the cybersecurity industry and helping them land their dream job after graduation.

鈥淓mployers want to recruit someone who is able to start working and contributing to the company in a short time,鈥� says cybersecurity student Dickson Lee.

鈥淩eceiving hands-on training and equipping the required skillsets will sharpen our edges when looking for job positions in the industry.鈥�