This one-year graduate certificate program is designed to provide students with a holistic approach to information systems security as it applies to business. The program will provide a broad understanding of security concepts and concentrate on industry best practices for information security. Students will gain the knowledge required to manage both the strategic and operational aspects of information security. The focus will be on addressing the following questions: What business assets need protection? What are the vulnerabilities and threats to the business and the assets? What safeguards need to be implemented to protect the business? Did the protection measures or safeguards work? The students will develop the skills to identify vulnerabilities to business and implement effective safeguards to minimize risks to acceptable levels. They will learn detailed practical aspects of security such as risk analysis, vulnerability testing, writing security policies, implementing access controls, and performing security audits. An emphasis will be placed on interpersonal, organizational, technical, communication and problem solving skills applied to enhance the effective implementation of security in a business environment.

This program will prepare graduates to take advantage of the growing opportunities in the information security field. Graduates will be an asset to any information technology support department or specifically as part of a security team, in virtually all sectors of business. Subsequently, with the right experience base, graduates can expect to find opportunities as security analysts and consultants, or in security management roles. They would obtain positions such as security analysts, information security auditor, network security analyst, IT technical security specialist, and threat-risk/vulnerability security specialist.