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Cyber Security Operations (Cisco)

Develop professional skills to manage and prevent cyberattacks and crimes.

Cyber security is rapidly evolving, and professionals must keep up-to-date with the complexities of different cyber threats, as well as the different technologies under attack.

On this microcredential, you’ll learn how cyber security professionals respond to an imminent, active or recent cyber threat. You’ll explore how to go about resolving attacks and how to complete legal investigations of any potential cybercrime.

You’ll develop skills in this exciting area using up-to-date experience from the internationally recognised Cisco certified CyberOps Associate certification.

This microcredential is endorsed by the Cisco Networking Academy.

This microcredential will equip you with the skills and knowledge required to pass the Cisco certified CyberOps Associate certification. This certification prepares candidates to begin working with associate-level cyber security analysts within security operations centres.

Course summary

Microcredential
Code: TZFM862
Credits: 15
Study level: OU – Postgraduate; SCQF – 11; FHEQ – 7
Duration: 12 weeks | 13 hours per week
Cost: £600
Next start date: 15 March 2021; 28 June 2021
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What you’ll learn How you’ll learn Entry requirements What are microcredentials?

What you’ll learn

You’ll develop advanced practical skills using the latest version of the Cisco certified CyberOps Associate certification curriculum.

The topics you’ll cover include:

network concepts
security concepts and monitoring
cryptography
host-based security analysis
attack methods
endpoint threat analysis and computer forensics
network intrusion analysis
incident response and handling
data and event analysis.

By the end of the course, you’ll have learnt how to:

explain the purpose of different cybersecurity technologies
evaluate current, commonplace threats in the context of a cyber security investigation
investigate evidence from a cyber security incursion
evaluate how different security and cryptographic techniques affect a cyber security incursion
apply legally defensible practices to a cyber security investigation.

Professional relevance

This microcredential is designed for professionals looking to enter the growing cyber security industry, as well as those with a background in the area who are looking to upskill.

Professionals who would benefit most from the microcredential include those working in network engineering, systems support, and IT. It’ll equip you with the skills and knowledge required to pass the Cisco certified CyberOps Associate certification.

Cisco certifications are highly regarded in both the networking and cybersecurity sectors, offering certification holders and their employers a commercial and technical advantage.

On completion

You’ll be awarded 15 academic credits at postgraduate level 7. You’ll also receive a Cisco Networking Academy (Cisco Associate) Certificate of Completion.

If you pass the embedded final assessment at 75% or higher on the first attempt, you’ll receive a significant discount on the optional Cisco Associate Cyber Security Operations Exam.

Regulations

As a student of The Open University, you should be aware of the content of the academic regulations, which are available on our Student Policies and Regulations website.

Studying with FutureLearn

The OU founded FutureLearn in 2012 with the objective to offer a range of online courses from leading worldwide universities and institutions to anyone and everyone. Now owned jointly with the SEEK Group, more than 10 million people across the globe are signed up to take a FutureLearn course.

OU microcredentials are designed around social learning, which you’ll do on the FutureLearn platform. You’ll use online reading materials, videos and interact with your tutors and peers in online forums. Contributing to discussions, asking questions and providing and receiving peer feedback are all ways you’ll learn throughout the course.

Your microcredential is split into 12 weeks of study. You’ll typically need to spend 13 hours per week studying the materials provided and completing tasks on the FutureLearn course website.

The weekly activities embedded in the FutureLearn platform will help consolidate all the information you learn. The quizzes at the end of each week will contribute towards your final grade. You’ll have up to three attempts on each one.

Your final assessment will be marked and graded by your course tutors. If you score 50% or more overall, you’ll have successfully completed the microcredential and can claim your certificate of completion.

Course academics

Meet your expert academic
Andrew Smith

Andrew is enthusiastic about teaching network engineering and cybersecurity for The Open University.

Entry requirements

There are no formal entry requirements to study this microcredential.

This microcredential is for anyone who wants to master the many skills required for a career in cybersecurity.

We’d recommended you have a good general understanding of computer technology. The concepts and practices covered are generic and can be applied in many alternate professional and technical contexts.

You won’t need any prior Cisco certifications to successfully complete this course.

Computing requirements

To study this microcredential you’ll need to have access to a device capable of running a virtual machine.

We’d recommend you use an up-to-date laptop or desktop to study. Any additional software will be provided or is generally freely available.

To join in the spoken conversation in our online rooms we recommend a headset with a built-in microphone.

Learning in the English language

All teaching is in English, and your proficiency in the language needs to be adequate for postgraduate study and for contributing to online discussions by text and voice. If English is not your first language, we strongly recommend that you make sure you can achieve a score of at least seven in the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). To assess your English Language skills in relation to your proposed studies, you can visit the IELTS website.

What are microcredentials?

Relevant to rapidly growing industries, microcredentials allow you to gain specialist knowledge to help advance your career. Upskilling with a microcredential can help ensure that your professional growth continues, and you keep up-to-date with relevant and emerging practices.

Each microcredential includes a formal online assessment and meets the quality standards set by the Common Microcredential Framework (CMF).

Where can I study a microcredential?

Microcredentials are designed so that you can study from almost anywhere in the world. You don’t need to have the right to study in the UK to take one.

They’re designed to fit around your life and time zone, so all study is online and you can study at any time of the day. There may be live events you can join, but if you can’t participate in them, they’ll be recorded for you to watch afterwards.

How do I register for a microcredential?

As microcredentials are offered by our partner, FutureLearn, you’ll register directly with them. You’ll first need a FutureLearn account, which you can create through their website. Once you’ve created your account, you’ll be able to register for your chosen microcredential.

Payment for microcredentials can be made by credit or debit card (Visa, Mastercard or American Express) or via PayPal.

If you change your mind about studying a microcredential, you’ll have up to 14 days from when the course starts to request a refund.

Can microcredentials be used towards university qualifications?

Microcredentials are stand-alone products, designed to meet specific learner and employer needs and offer a credential in their own right. Those awarded by The Open University have a credit value at either undergraduate or postgraduate level, and this may in the future be used towards qualifications (for example, an honours degree, diploma of higher education or postgraduate certificate) at The Open University, or potentially at another university (subject to the agreement of the receiving institution).

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Start dates

15 March 2021
28 June 2021

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Cyber Security Operations (Cisco)

Develop professional skills to manage and prevent cyberattacks and crimes.

This microcredential is endorsed by the Cisco Networking Academy.

Course summary