Cybersecurity for IT Professionals Certificate
Intended for those already employed in computing or who have a computing background, the certificate emphasizes computer security and information assurance concepts augmented with current industry standard techniques. This career curriculum prepares students for entry-level careers in cybersecurity.
Topics cover threats and vulnerabilities, prevention at the technical (hardware and software) and human levels, detection, response, and management aspects of security.
This program of study is built upon the National Security Telecommunications and Systems Security Instruction (NSTISSI) 4011 and 4013. Each course in this certificate prepares the students in part to sit for the respective professional certifications.
Program Outcomes
Upon completion of this program, a student will be able to:
- Describe: security threats, integrity, confidentiality, and availability in security information.
- Describe security ramifications, technology weaknesses, configuration weaknesses, policy weaknesses, and human errors.
- Describe authentication, understand password issues, Kerberos assumptions, challenge handshake authentication protocol, security tokens, and biometrics.
- Define common Internet components, and identify techniques used in web hacking, attacks and malicious code, IP fragmentation attacks, spoofing, man in the middle, and TCP session hijacking.
- Investigate advanced concepts and procedures related to the transmission control protocol/internet protocol (TCP/IP).
- Secure version of internet protocol (IP) and internet protocol security (IPSec).
- Describe Web security, SSL and TLS, HTTPS vulnerabilities, javascript, activex, and buffer overflows.
- Secure workstations and servers running current Windows OS software and test the effectiveness of various security measures.
- Investigate measures that can help ensure business continuity in the event of a disaster, such as contingency planning and power and backup issues.
- Identify the basic components of a layered structure for network defense architecture, describe access control objectives, and auditing concepts.
- Analyze network operations risks; conduct network penetration tests; implement network countermeasures.
Program Advising
Meet with your academic advisor regularly to discuss your academic plans and make sure you are on track to graduate and/or transfer. The program advising guide outlines the certificate requirements and is meant to supplement the advising process.
- Cybersecurity for IT Professionals Certificate Program Advising Guide (PDF,
) - Find a Program Advisor
Transfer Opportunities
MC has a long history of successfully preparing students for transfer. See all transfer agreements.
Careers
For some positions listed, a bachelor's degree or higher may be required. Use the Career and Program Explorer to see a full report for this career field. See links below chart for further guidance and/or connect with a Program Advisor to discuss career goals.
Career opportunities include network analyst, network administrator, IT manager, internet security specialist, and IT compliant specialist.
- MC Student Employment Services: Speak with the Student Employment Specialist for help with resume writing, interviewing, setting up a College Central Network (CCN)new window account and other job search topics.
- Career Coach: Explore Career Coach to learn more about this career and/or discover related majors and in-demand careers based on your current interests! Take a Career Assessment and then browse careers and job opportunities in the area.
Curriculum
Related Programs and Courses
General Studies Degree
Students who major in general studies explore personal, professional, and academic areas of interest within a flexible framework supporting transfer.
Workforce Development and Continuing Education
MC offers a wide variety of noncredit classes. These courses are designed to help you upgrade your skills, pursue career training, or learn something new.