Cybersecurity is a top priority for corporations, financial institutions, government agencies, and other entities as data breaches and cyberattacks become increasingly threatening. As a result, there’s high employer demand for cybersecurity professionals who are critical to an organization’s information security.
In the Kenzie Academy Certificate in Cybersecurity program from Southern New Hampshire University, you can train to potentially enter the cybersecurity field within 9 months. Earn a cyber certificate and gain proficiency in network defense, ethical hacking, and digital forensics.
The Cybersecurity program’s curriculum was developed by the International Council of E-commerce Consultants (EC-Council):
Known as the world’s largest technical cybersecurity certification body
Creators of globally recognized Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) standards
Produces career-focused, tactical, and accredited cybersecurity certifications
Upon completing this program, you will earn a Cybersecurity Certificate from Southern New Hampshire University — as well as have the opportunity to become highly credentialed.
The program helps prepare you to take exams to earn 3 cybersecurity certifications: Network Defense Essentials, Ethical Hacking Essentials, and Digital Forensics Essentials
The EC-Council curriculum cultivates practical, hands-on experiences through a feature-rich virtual learning environment. These iLabs challenge you to manage real-world scenarios using cutting-edge tools, such as pre-configured vulnerable websites, hidden victim machines, fully networked environments, forensic cases and files with hard disks, and more.
The Certificate in Cybersecurity program includes three career-readiness and job-search training courses to help you create tech-focused career artifacts, navigate job searching, develop a self-marketing strategy, learn interview success tactics, and more to get hired. You will also apply course knowledge to career-relevant activities and assignments.
In each of the series’ courses, you will complete a scenario-based research project in which you will assume a leadership role, conduct a needs assessment of an industry-leading company, and develop a security proposal. While engaging in these projects, you will develop invaluable research, critical thinking, and problem solving skills.
Upon earning the cybersecurity certificate, you may be able to pursue jobs such as: help desk technician, cyber crime analyst, cybersecurity specialist or technician, network administrator, incident and intrusion analyst, IT security specialist, network technical specialist, cyber forensic specialist, intelligence operations specialist, cyber operations technician, and more.
Enrollment in the Cybersecurity Certificate Program is required to take the below courses:
Learners will be introduced to Virtualization and Cloud Computing, Wireless Network Security, Mobile Device Security, IoT Device Security, and Cryptography and PKI. Learners will learn through hands-on practical application by auditing Docker Host Security Using Docker-Bench-Security Tool, implementing AWS Identity and Access Management, Key Management Services, and Enterprise Mobile Security Using Miradore MDM Solution. They’ll configure Security on Wireless Router, secure IoT Device Communication Using TLS\SSL, and calculate One-way Hashes using HashCalc, MD5 Hashes using MD5 Calculator, and MD5 Hashes using HashMyFiles. Lastly, they’ll Create and Use Self-signed Certificates.
Learners will be introduced to Data Security and Network Traffic Monitoring. Learners will learn through hands-on practical application by performing Disk Encryption using VeraCrypt and File Encryption using Advanced Encryption Package, capturing Network Traffic using Wireshark, analyzing and examining Various Network Packet Headers using Wireshark and Linux using tcpdump, and applying Various Filters in Wireshark. They’ll complete file recovery using EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard and will detect Clear-Text Traffic using Wireshark.
Learners will acquire foundational skills and strategies for creating initial drafts of their career artifacts. Through both synchronous and asynchronous guided exercises and practical application of material, learners will enhance their ability to market themselves and establish an initial tech-focused resume, LinkedIn, and cover letter framework.
Learners will be introduced to the fundamentals, threats, and vulnerability of Information Security and useful countermeasure techniques. Learners will learn through hands-on practical application by footprinting to gather information about a target and extracting usernames, machine names, network resources, sharks, and more from a system or network. They’ll create malware to gain access to and infect a targeted system and will perform various functions to crack and sniff user credentials to system passwords.
Learners will be introduced to various Network, Web Application, Wireless, and Mobile Attacks and Countermeasures. Learners will learn through hands-on practical application by applying attack methods and techniques through DDoS, brute force, spoofing, and more. They’ll detect web server and application, wireless, and mobile operating system vulnerabilities by performing various attacks, cracking encryptions, and harvesting credentials.
Learners will be introduced to IoT, OT, and Cloud Computing threats, attacks, and countermeasures along with the fundamentals of penetration testing. Learners will learn through hands-on practical application by capturing and analyzing IoT device traffic.
Learners will gain skills to better navigate the landscape of job searching for technical careers, including understanding jargon and building their social capital. Through continued asynchronous and synchronous self-reflection, hands-on exercises and provided tools, learners will explore job descriptions, Career Services support systems, interview frameworks and success strategies, self-promotion techniques, and relevant resources for their job search. Throughout learners will revisit their initial career artifacts and extend these tools by considering their use in their search and developing a plan for their final career artifact, the portfolio.
Learners will be introduced to the fundamentals and investigation process of Computer Forensics, hard disks and file systems, data Acquisition and duplication, and defeating anti-forensics Techniques. Learners will learn through hands-on practical application by performing Hash or HMAC calculations and comparing the hash value files by checking their integrity. They’ll analyze multiple operating system file systems, view the contents of a forensic image file, and recover data from lost and deleted disk partitions.
Learners will be introduced to operating systems forensics for Windows, Linux, and Mac, network forensics, and the investigation of web application attacks. Learners will learn through hands-on practical application by acquiring and collecting volatile and non-volatile information, collecting system, kernel, user account, and system logs information, investigating various network attacks using Wireshark, and identifying and investigating web application attacks using Splunk.
Learners will be introduced to dark web and malware forensics and email crime. Learners will learn through practical application by analyzing RMA dump and examining TOR browser artifacts and performing status analysis and examination of suspicious files and documents, and emails.
Learners will prepare for their approaching job search by revisiting and optimizing their career artifacts and previously established job search strategies. Through segmented guidance and practical, scaled application of tools and tips, learners will begin to map their artifacts to their specific job search and add new, individualized skills to their job search approach. Learners will leverage the synchronous and asynchronous guidance, exercises, and tools to complete this module with a refined self-marketing strategy, a plan for continued optimization of their career artifacts, and an understanding of their next steps to enter their job search with Career Services supports.
Our courses are offered 100% online only to provide you with flexibility and the ability to self-pace your learning according to your schedule.
The number of hours you dedicate to the program depends on how efficiently you manage your time and how much time you need to put into your coursework. Your schedule is flexible as you can attend class live or watch on-demand recordings, as well as attend weekly kickoffs, topic sessions, study halls, and Q&A sessions that are not mandatory (although highly recommended). We recognize that many of our learners need a job and income while completing their program. Therefore, this program typically requires 18-20 hours per week of dedication to coursework.
Prospective learners must meet the following criteria:
Upcoming Start Dates:
Apply now to speak with an Admissions Counselor to determine the best time for you to start!
Sources & Citations:
¹Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, on the internet, at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/information-security-analysts.htm
(viewed November 10 2022). Cited projections may not reflect local and/or short-term economic or job conditions and do not guarantee actual job growth.
