In this initial module, you will meet your learning community.
Make cyber security a keystone of your strategy
From protecting personal information and intellectual property, to safeguarding systems and critical infrastructure against cyber attacks, the need to be cyber aware has become increasingly important in our technology-driven world.
Cyber security professionals stand on the front-line, but they are not the only ones who hold responsibility for looking after our data and technology. If you are in a leadership or decision-making position – whether it is within the public sector, in a private company providing public services or beyond – keeping your organisation and your customers safe from cyber criminals is now a vital aspect of your role.
This non-technical online short course from the Blavatnik School of Government will teach you how to consider a cyber security as an integral part of your operations, policies and planning, and build resilience into your organisation as well as the wider digital economy and society.
Cyber Security for Public Leadership is certified by CPD UK’s (Continuing Professional Development) Certification Service.
Find out how the skills built on this course can be combined with those gained on our other courses for maximum impact in government and public policy. Discover our multi-course pathway and discounts.
8 weeks (3-5 hours of study per week recommended)
May, August, October 2024
4 May 2024 (deadline 1pm (GMT) on 3 May)
£1740 (inclusive of VAT)*
*Discounts are available to alumni, those working in the public sector and certain geographical regions. Register your interest to learn more.
Online
Certificate of completion
If you are in a non-technical leadership role and need to understand cyber security in an operational and strategic context yet have a gap in your knowledge, this course is designed for you.
You should consider this online distance learning course if:
There are no specific entry requirements. However, please be aware this course will take a certain level of commitment. Learners are expected to dedicate 3–5 hours a week to their studies, with all activities and tasks taking place online.
Organisations are ever more dependent on technology to carry out their work, with systems and databases at risk of cyber attacks.
This eight-week course aims to help you build the skills you need to plan for and respond to potential threats – including phishing, malicious software, distributed denial of service (DDOS) and security breaches – in a more strategic way.
Through a mixture of activities, including simulation exercises and the analysis of real-world case studies, you will explore how and why cyber attacks happen, common types of malicious practice, who may be responsible for them and the sorts of harm they can cause. You will also examine cyber security as an operational risk and how to manage it, covering both technical and human-related factors.
Watch the short video (under 2 minutes) below for an overview of the course.
“I’ve found this course to be incredibly useful in helping me learn how to better safeguard my own data and the data of others.”
Sami Almaddan, Senior strategist and advisor
After taking this course, you will be better equipped to integrate cyber security strategy into your operations, policies and planning, helping to keep your organisation and your customers safe from cyber criminals. You will also receive a certificate to support your career progression.
This programme is also certified by CPD UK. Learners will be able to request their CPD certificate after successfully finishing the course, using their certificate of completion as proof of eligibility. The course has an estimated 40 hours of learning, equating to 40 CPD points.
Note, the onus is on students to request these CPD certificates at the end of their studies. The University and its partners accept no responsibility, and cannot be held responsible, for the claiming or validation of hours or points.
Upon completion of the course, you will receive a certificate that will support your career progression and enhance your resume. You will have developed practical skills and solutions that you can take into your workplace, where they will have an immediate impact on your organisation. This programme is also certified by CPD UK.
You will study eight modules over the course of eight weeks. It is a collaborative learning process, week-by-week, so you will have ample opportunity to discuss key policy topics with your peers and a course Facilitator.
Activities will include set readings, reflection exercises, multiple-choice questions and discussion forums. Your Facilitator will guide you through these activities and provide feedback at each stage. These activities are not formally graded but you will need to participate in each to successfully complete the course and qualify for your certificate.
The final assessment, completed in module eight, will be your main summative assignment. It will be marked by your Facilitator and will be worth 50% of your final grade.
Dr Noran Fouad’s research is focused on cybersecurity governance. She completed her PhD in international relations at the University of Sussex, in which she examined the socio-political construction of cyber security discourses and practices in the USA (2003-16) through an analysis of the peculiarities and agency of digital information. Her previous research has spanned across topics such as cyber security, internet governance, digital activism, and Middle East politics.
Noran was also an Assistant Lecturer of Political Science at Cairo University, Egypt, as well as an Academic Assistant and Executive Editor of two academic journals published by the university’s Faculty of Economics and Political Science.
Ciaran Martin is Professor of Practice in the Management of Public Organisations. Before joining the Blavatnik School of Government, Ciaran was the founding Chief Executive of the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), part of GCHQ. He has had a 23-year career in the UK civil service, during which he held senior roles within the Cabinet Office, including Constitutional Director (2011–2014) and Director of Security and Intelligence at the Cabinet Office (2008–2011).
Ciaran led a fundamental change in the UK’s approach to cyber security, successfully advocating for a wholesale change of path towards a more interventionist posture. This approach was adopted by the UK government in the 2015 National Security Strategy, leading to the creation of the NCSC in 2016. For the British public, this approach gave them clear and prompt advice on responding to cyber incidents, and it provided companies with the ability to defend themselves from cyber attacks more effectively. The NCSC model has since been studied widely and adopted in countries like Canada and Australia.
Ciaran’s work led him to be appointed CB in the 2020 New Year’s Honour’s list.