Strathmore Uni’s Cyber Security Masters program targets CIOs

Strathmore University recently launched the first Information Security Master’s of Science (Msc.) program in the region targeted at to providing high level cyber security training targeting experienced security professionals such as Chief Information Officers.

The University said the Msc. program is targeted at Chief Information Officers, Network Security engineers, Information Security Architects, Incident Responders, Penetration Testers, Forensic Experts in Defense, Police Service, quasi government agencies and private enterprises.

According to Dr Joseph Sevilla, Director of @iLabAfrica, the two year program is product of technical collaboration with leading industry partners in the region and will be supported by leading international faculty who are experts in this field.

Classes will make extensive use of distance learning technologies to allow participation of students outside Nairobi.

“Our objective is to convert the best resources we have in the country and region into high value experts in the field of information security to better face the threats against their enterprises and governments in the region,” he said.

The University launched this program on Tuesday 17th March at the University’s main Auditorium in an event that was graced by Dr. Fred Matiang’i-the Cabinet Secretary for Information and Communications.

Speaking during the event, the Cabinet Secretary for Information and Communications, expressed his excitement at how the program would increase the availability of manpower to deal with the threat of cyber security.

“We are increasing our presence in the digital space, we are migrating government services to the digital space, and government is moving more and more to the electronic square which means government’s vulnerability is increased as we go along.” Dr Matiang’i said. “That is why what we are launching here today, a Msc. program that is going to train on security, is so important. And looking at this from a point of view of government, I am so excited about the increase in our capacity because any time opportunities arise to strengthen the capacity of our people and our environment it’s a welcome thing for the government.”

Strathmore University will leverage advanced security research labs based at its @iLabAfrica Research centre and technical partnership with Safaricom, Huawei, ICT Authority, EMC, Ericsson, Oracle, CISCO Academy, Softlock and Microsoft to avail world class research resources required for the program.

Kenya has experienced increased cyber-attacks since the going live of submarine fiber optic cables with financial institutions and government agencies suffering the brunt of it.

A recent study by Strathmore University showed a dire shortage of IT Security professionals with high-value skill sets required to tackle the increasing sophisticated threats.