Cyber Security Operations (Cisco)
Upskill in cyber security operations and enhance your working knowledge of cyber security with Cisco and The Open University.
Duration
12 weeksCost
$874
Develop professional skills to respond to 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 legally defensible investigations of any potential cybercrime.
Prepare for the Cisco CyberOps Associate Certification exam
You’ll develop skills and knowledge in this exciting area using up-to-date experience from the internationally recognised Cisco CyberOps Associate Certification.
You’ll learn about different cybersecurity technologies, how to evaluate current, commonplace threats, how to investigate evidence from a cyber security incursion, and how different security and cryptographic techniques can affect a cyber security incursion. You will also discover how to apply legally defensible practices within an investigation.
Learn with the largest Cisco Academy in the UK
This microcredential is endorsed by Cisco Networking Academy and designed by leading experts and practitioners from The Open University’s multi award-winning Cisco ‘NetAcad’ academy.
You’ll access your learning via FutureLearn and by setting up a free account on Cisco’s NetAcad platform. Throughout the course, you’ll take part in weekly activities to support and consolidate your learning. At the end of the course, you’ll submit an assessment which is marked and graded by subject matter experts.
The assessment will require you to complete four questions, two of which draw on the results from your Cisco weekly module exams and final examinations. The third question focuses on a practical cyber security forensic investigation, and the fourth is a 1,000-word essay exploring current cyber security threats.
Launch your career in cyber security operations
Apply the skills learned in this microcredential to start your journey as a cyber security analyst, consultant, architect or engineer, or enhance your current technical role with an additional cyber security skillset.
Industry statistics
UK job openings/month
3,000Job satisfaction
4.0/5
What skills will you learn?
- Network concepts
- Security concepts
- Cryptography
- Host-based security analysis
- Security monitoring
- Attack methods
- Endpoint threat analysis and computer forensics
- Network intrusion analysis
- Incident response
- Data and event analysis
- Incident handling
What you will achieve
By the end of the microcredential, you’ll be able to...
- Explain the purpose of different cybersecurity technologies
- Evaluate current, commonplace threats in the context of a cybersecurity investigation
- Evaluate how different security and cryptographic techniques affect a cybersecurity incursion
- Investigate evidence from a cyber security incursion
- Apply legally defensible practices to a cyber security investigation
Are you eligible for this microcredential?
This microcredential is for anyone wanting to master the skills required for a career in cyber security.
All required skills and foundational knowledge are covered within this microcredential; however, it’s recommended you have a good understanding of computer technology and technical experience from a computing, IT or industry qualification.
It is essential that you’re able to access a device capable of running a virtual machine - please check this before enrolling.
Please note: From November 2021, half of the course content is duplicated with the OU module Network Security.
Is this microcredential right for you?
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.
Completing this microcredential will not require you to be Cisco focussed as the concepts and practices covered can be applied in many alternate professional and technical contexts.
The course has a global focus and delivers transferable skills for diverse sectors and organisations.
Syllabus
What happens before, during, and after your microcredential
Before learning
You’ll have access to our online welcome area where you’ll be able to read any information relating to your microcredential.
Course
From 14 Oct 2024
Cyber Security Operations (Cisco)
Develop skills, knowledge and understanding focused on how cyber security professionals respond to a cyberattack.
12 weeks
13 hours per week
After learning
Your submitted assessment will be marked and graded by subject matter experts.
What you will receive
15 UK credits at Postgraduate level from The Open University and a Certificate
Academic credits are awarded on passing the final academic assessment. These will be at postgraduate level 7 of the Framework for Higher Education (England, Wales and Northern Ireland) / level 11 of the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework.
Find out how credits work and where you can use them in our FAQs.
A Certificate of Completion and Digital Badge from Cisco Networking Academy
Subject to passing the full course with 70% or higher at first attempt.
Additional benefits
Passing the Cisco final course-based exam with 70% or higher at the first attempt grants a significant discount on the optional Cisco CyberOps Associate Exam (to be redeemed within 30 days).
What is a microcredential?
Microcredentials are designed to upskill you for work in rapidly-growing industries, without the time and cost commitment of a full degree. Your microcredential can stand alone as an independent credential, and some also offer academic credit to use towards a degree.
Complete online courses led by experts over multiple weeks with a dedicated group of professionals.
Test your understanding with online tutor-marked assessments and exercises.
Finish your learning and pass your assessments to gain an accredited credential.
Use your microcredential as evidence of your specialised skills and progress further in your industry.
Career-focused learning by The Open University
As the UK’s largest university, The Open University (OU) supports thousands of students to achieve their goals and ambitions via supported distance learning, helping to fit learning around professional and personal life commitments.
Established
1969Location
Milton Keynes, UKWorld ranking
Top 510Source: Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2020
Delivered by experts
Enthusiastic about teaching digital, network engineering & cybersecurity - been doing it for a very long time. Also: iconoclast, herder of geeks, nerds & enthusiasts.
Dr Amel Bennaceur is an engineer, researcher, and educator in Computing. She is an Associate Professor at The Open University. She published 30+ papers in top journals and conferences.
Learning on FutureLearn
Your learning, your rules
- Courses are split into weeks, activities, and steps to help you keep track of your learning
- Learn through a mix of bite-sized videos, long- and short-form articles, audio, and practical activities
- Stay motivated by using the Progress page to keep track of your step completion and assessment scores
Join a global classroom
- Experience the power of social learning, and get inspired by an international network of learners
- Share ideas with your peers and course educators on every step of the course
- Join the conversation by reading, @ing, liking, bookmarking, and replying to comments from others
Map your progress
- As you work through the course, use notifications and the Progress page to guide your learning
- Whenever you’re ready, mark each step as complete, you’re in control
- Complete 90% of course steps and all of the assessments to earn your certificate
Want to know more about learning on FutureLearn? Using FutureLearn
What are our learners saying?
When would you like to start?
Enrolment for this microcredential is closed. We aim to run our microcredentials every few months. Register to find out more about this microcredential and future start dates.
Find out more
Not sure if microcredentials are right for you? Fill in your details below and we will send you more information to help you make a decision.
FAQ
We can accept payments made by card (Visa, Mastercard and American Express) or PayPal via our online system.
You will have 14 days from the day the course starts to apply for a refund. If this Microcredential has any non-refundable costs they will be stated in the ‘Overview’ section above. You can find more information in our cancellation and refund policy.
Microcredentials are designed to fit around your life and timezone.
There may be live events as part of your studies, but these will be recorded and can be watched afterwards if you aren’t online for the live broadcast.
No, microcredentials are designed to be taken anywhere in the world. You won’t need the right to study in the country where the university offering the microcredential is based.
Microcredentials are stand-alone courses designed to meet specific learner and employer needs. Those awarded by The Open University have academic credit value at either undergraduate or postgraduate level, and, if appropriate, this may be used towards selected Open University qualifications. For more details, including eligible qualifications, visit The Open University’s Counting microcredentials towards OU qualifications page.
The credit awarded may potentially be used at another university, subject to the agreement of the receiving institution.
Want to know more? Read the microcredential FAQs, or contact us.