The First Step to be a Cybersecurity Professional

Gaining knowledge is very important. Building a strong foundation in whatever field you want to be in is also important as this will help you a long way.

Today I am sharing with you regarding the courses to take and education certificates to get you a step closer to be a Cybersecurity Professional.

The Information Technology world is changing too rapidly. We would have seen from mobile phone to computers these days that every few months a new product is being roll out with better features, higher specification and better chips. This proves one thing. If you choose the IT field to be your career, do expect that learning and exploring new technologies never stops.

As Cybersecurity Professional is in demand in the market currently, there are many choices of diploma, degree and professional certifications that one can choose from compare to that of 10 years ago.

Polytechnics Offering Cybersecurity Courses in Singapore

Singapore Polytechnic
Diploma in Infocomm & Digital Media (Cyber Security)
This is a 2.5 years part-time diploma offering working adults an avenue acquire skills and knowledge which would help them seek a job in the cyber security industry or to progress in their cyber security career.

The course consists of 5 modular Certificates. Below is the Modular Certificates offered:
– Certificate in Cyber Security Fundamentals
– Certificate in Ethical Hacking & Defences
– Certificate in Digital Forensics & Cryptography
– Certificate in Secure Coding & System Administration 
– Certificate in Incident Management & Malware Analysis
The modules taught can give a very good overview of Cybersecurity and help you start your cyber security career.
Reference: https://www.sp.edu.sg/pace/courses/course-type/part-time-and-post-diplomas/diploma-in-infocomm-and-digital-media-(cyber-security)

Diploma in Information Security Management
This is a 3 years full time diploma course that offer students a competitive edge for a boost in their future studies and career. The course will be able to prepare student in career such as Malware Analyst, Incident Response and Digital Forensics. The course also offer several scholarship where student can be offer a chance for their studies to be paid by the scholarship and also a placing in company such as Singtel, CSIT and internship at DSO Lab. You will also get a chance to gain on job experience which will help you for your work in future.
Reference: https://www.sp.edu.sg/soc/courses/full-time-diplomas/infocomm-security-management

Nanyang Polytechnic
Diploma in Cybersecurity and Digital Forensics
This diploma offer a full-time 3 years studies which will teach students on key areas regarding cybersecurity and digital forensics. The diploma also have 2 tracks for students to choose from in the 3rd year of studies. They are the cybersecurity track and Cyber Forensics track. The cybersecurity track is a more general track where students who wants to venture into infrastructure security can choose to take on this track. The Cyber Forensics track is more of a specialisation track where it is suitable for students who wish to work in a operations environment. Graduating from the course will enable student to enter roles such as Cybersecurity analyst, Penetration Tester, Incident/forensics/threat investigator, Security Engineer and etc.
Reference: https://www.nyp.edu.sg/schools/sit/full-time-courses/cybersecurity-and-digital-forensics.html

Ngee Ann Polytechnic
Diploma in Cybersecurity and Digital Forensics
This diploma is very similar to the one offered by Nanyang Polytechnic. The diploma offers general IT modules in the first year and bringing student closer to their cybersecurity specialisation in the 2nd year onwards. The course also allow students to have the industry exposure during their internship similar to Singapore Polytechnic and Nanyang Polytechnic. Student taking this course will learn similar module that Nanyang Polytechnic and Singapore Polytechnic offers however the difference is the course does not separate the cybersecurity track from the digital forensics. It is more of a one-stop learn all concept.
Reference: https://www.np.edu.sg/ict/Pages/csf.aspx

Temasek Polytechnic
This course places you at the forefront of Singapore’s fight against cyber-crime and hackers. Students also be equipped with digital forensic techniques that will enable you to uncover hidden evidence when piecing together a digital trail of events behind a cyber-crime.  Similar Internship Opportunities will be given in local/overseas.
Reference: https://www.tp.edu.sg/schools/iit/cybersecurity-and-digital-forensics

Republic Polytechnic
Republic Polytechnic uses an unique way of learning also known as the Problem-Based Learning (PBL). It is important for cybersecurity analyst or other roles in cybersecurity to have a strong critical thinking and at the same time able to be independent in doing research and finding answers for themselves. RP Problem based Learning approach builds student up for the real world situation that they will be facing in the future.

Diploma in Infocomm Security Management
This 3 years full time diploma will help students to develop IT security technologies that businesses and individuals can use to protect their networks from the risk of cyberattacks. The diploma also enables students to learn to direct, manage and operate security operation centres. The diploma generally covers modules that enables student to work in a Security Operation Centre or Security Architectural Design Environment. There are flexibilities for students in this course to switch their field of work in the future.
Reference: https://www.rp.edu.sg/soi/full-time-diplomas/details/diploma-in-infocomm-security-management

I will continue to share the available degree courses in Singapore in the next post. So stay tune.

If you have any queries on choosing a course and wish to talk to someone with 10 years of experience in the cybersecurity world, feel free to drop your queries to my email address at lukephua@cybersecurity-world.com.

Disclaimer: I do not represent any of the polytechnics and information are extracted from the polytechnics sites. The above is my opinion of the various courses offered by Singapore Local Polytechnics. If you have queries regarding more information on the courses which is not in the site provided, do contact the respective polytechnics directly. Thank you.