Cyber warriors in the making
Kent Ridge Campus with its tree-lined roads may not look like training ground for battle, but that is exactly what NUS Computing is preparing its Information Security graduates for, if only for a battle in cyberspace. Since Academic Year 2015/2016, the University has been guiding students through the paces, teaching them what is needed to defend information and the systems they reside in from unauthorised access.
The rigorous programme will ensure that Bachelor of Computing in Information Security graduates have a solid grasp of information security issues and practices from both technical and organisational points of view.
“Our programme leverages existing successful programmes in NUS Computing. It provides in-depth studies into technical aspects of cybersecurity, like system and software security, and cryptography. As the field is multidisciplinary, the programme also provides broad coverage on related areas such as risk management,” explained NUS Computing Associate Professor Chang Ee Chian, Chair of the Joint Academic Committee (Information Security degree), who oversees the programme’s execution.
The students’ training regime will arm them with computing fundamentals and knowledge of a broad range of relevant topics in a bid to prepare them for future technologies. Consulting company Frost and Sullivan’s 2015 study on the global information security workforce, which surveyed some 14,000 qualified security professionals, found that broad understanding of the security field was the top attribute contributing towards the success of an information security professional.
Hands-on projects in various modules also expose students to the latest developments and techniques. They will also gain practical experience via internships or an NUS Enterprise programme such as the NUS Overseas Colleges. An undergraduate with a high enough cumulative point average may opt to write a dissertation instead of participating in Industry Experience Training.
Juliana switched over to Information Security from Computer Science as she could see there was a growing need for security professionals
After spending a year in Computer Science, Year 2 NUS Information Security undergraduate Juliana Seng decided to switch over to her current major as it enables her to zoom in on her specific area of interest.
“When NUS launched this course, it was a quick decision for me to switch over as it provides greater specialisation in information security,” said Juliana, who has a Diploma in Information Security from Nanyang Polytechnic.
Juliana decided to pursue a career in information security because the avid user of technology could see that there was a need for security professionals. She was also concerned about privacy and the security of personal information as people in Singapore are progressively spending more time online.
The Singapore government recognises the need to address the issue of cybersecurity. It has been doing so through a series of national frameworks since 2005, the latest being the National Cyber Security Masterplan 2018. The current plan highlights that the demand for security professionals far outstrips supply.
Students who emerge from the crucible of the Information Security programme are trained to always be on their toes. Juliana and her teammates, for example, were tasked to look for vulnerabilities in an Internet of Things product — an everyday object able to send and receive data — in one of the course modules.
“I like that we are constantly being challenged and encouraged to learn beyond the scope and boundaries of the classroom,” she said.
