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Mandatory requirements

To apply for this program, you must:

  • be sponsored by your current employer
  • submit your application through Apply Alberta.

Overview

Enhance your current IT skills with training in cyber security. At the same time, you develop a broad knowledge of cyber security risk and compliance, incident response, and security operations to drive business value.

You will become a cyber security professional and play a critical role in today's tech-driven economy, helping support critical data and infrastructure from cyber threats and attacks. Taught by experienced instructors using an industry-supported curriculum, you will gain broad exposure to cybersecurity domains, best practices, and technologies. By enhancing your skills, you’ll be set for a career in cyber security.

Demand for cyber security professionals will continue as the growth of the IT sector creates more opportunities. Position yourself for a rewarding career supporting critical business operations in the dynamic and ever-evolving tech sector and have a vital role in any organization.

The opportunity to advance your education by transferring into this program or gain credit for previous postsecondary courses may be available.

There may also be opportunities to further your education by transferring to another institution once you graduate.

Learn more about program and institution transfer options.

This program has a cooperative work term course that provides the opportunity to apply your classroom learning in a practical workplace setting and gain valuable industry experience.

Upon successful completion of this program, graduates will be awarded a SAIT Cyber Security Analyst post-diploma certificate.

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Careers and opportunities

Our graduates may work in the following occupations. Some careers require additional experience and education.

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Career counselling and support

Unsure which career path is for you? SAIT offers career planning services to help you decide your future.

You can also get started by taking our online career finder quiz, which can help you narrow down your search based on your current skills and interests.

Finally, you can also head to Alberta alis for various tools and resources, including additional quizzes and labour market information to help you narrow down a career path.

Services and workshops

Courses

The Cyber Security Analyst certificate requires 30 credits (10 courses) to complete.

The program spans 18 months.

Course Credits

This course introduces you to the fundamental concepts in cyber security, including cyber risk management, host and network security, identification and access control, cryptography and organizational security. This course is mapped to the CompTIA Security+ industry certification: SY0-601, a globally recognized entry-level certification for many cyber security jobs. During lectures, activities and labs, you’ll cover attacks, threats and vulnerabilities, architecture and design, operations and incident response (IR), and implementation. The course examines governance, risk management and compliance (GRC).

Equivalents:
  • ITSC 4100
3

This course provides an overview of business operations and change management for cyber security. You’ll examine the sociological and cultural aspects of cyber security operations and the cyber security business continuity process. You’ll explore commissioning and operations for system testing and patching programs and analyze cybersecurity network architecture and operations related to network integrity and data management. You’ll also examine cyber security forensics, incident handling, and the processes involved in security operations centres (SOCs). You’ll finish the course by preparing an implementation plan for an organizational DevSecOps.

Corequsites:
  • ITSC 410 or ITSC 4100
3

This course examines the cyber security standards and frameworks essential for any organization. You will recommend components of standards and frameworks, including NIST CSF, NERC CIP and COBIT, for implementation and audit, and you’ll summarize information security governance and strategic components. You will also evaluate the functional components of an information security program, analyze existing security management models and practices, and develop robust implementation plans and procedures. You’ll examine how these standards and frameworks are generally applied in organizations and focus on specific sectors, including implementing security standards in industrial environments.

3

Students will classify security risks and threats to assess the impact on business operations. Exploration of current cyber threats will assist the students in identifying potential impacts of security breaches.

Corequsites:
  • ITSC 412
3

Students will define appropriate response and mitigation options and implement the necessary controls, monitoring, and reporting to ensure business continuity, defending and developing a response to cyber attack incidents.

Corequsites:
  • ITSC 411
3

Topics include the fundamentals of IP networking, securing routing protocols, designing intrusion detection and prevention systems, implementing modern firewalls and securing virtual and cloud networks.

Corequsites:
  • ITSC 414
3

As global cyber security evolves, industry professionals need to understand current developments. In this course, students will explore the current cybersecurity environment, security laws and ethical practices. Students will analyze cyber capabilities as the fifth domain of warfare, learn how to make an organization’s cyber assets resilient and implement incident response plans. The focus is also on communicating security-related issues to an organization’s senior management.

Corequsites:
  • ITSC 410 or ITSC 4100
  • ITSC 412
3

This course introduces you to the fundamental concepts in cyber security, including cyber risk management, host and network security, identification and access control, cryptography and organizational security. This course is mapped to the CompTIA Security+ industry certification: SY0-601, a globally recognized entry-level certification for many cyber security jobs. During lectures, activities and labs, you’ll cover attacks, threats and vulnerabilities, architecture and design, operations and incident response (IR), and implementation. The course examines governance, risk management and compliance (GRC).

Corequsites:
  • ITSC 416
3

This course will allow you to explore the various areas of cyber security as a career and to develop personal career goals for career growth and certification preparation.

3

This cooperative work term course provides the opportunity to apply your classroom learning in a practical workplace setting and gain valuable industry experience.

3

Progression

Students must attain a PGPA and/or a CGPA of 2.0 or better in each semester and pass the necessary prerequisite courses to progress through the program. To qualify for graduation, students must pass all courses, attain a CGPA of 2.0 or better and complete course requirements within the prescribed timelines.

Review our grading and progression procedure >

Admission requirements

Applicants educated in Canada

Applicants must demonstrate English language proficiency and meet the following requirements or equivalents:

  • your current employer must sponsor you
  • you have completed a post-secondary degree or diploma from a recognized university, institute or college
  • a combination of education and experience may be considered and is subject to approval by the Academic Chair.

All applicants who were educated outside of Canada must demonstrate English Language proficiency and provide proof they meet the program admission requirements with an international document assessment. Find out what educational documents are accepted and assessment options.

SAIT may also accept courses completed at certain international post-secondary institutions.

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Academic Upgrading

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English language proficiency

All applicants must demonstrate English language proficiency prior to admission, including students educated in Canada.

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Available intakes

This program is currently not offered for the upcoming academic year.

Costs

2023/24 tuition and fees

The following costs are effective as of July 1, 2023. They are an estimate of tuition and fees based on the recommended course load per year.

Domestic students

Length of program Tuition fees Additional fees Total
54 weeks (spread over 18 months) $12,000 $2,559.60 $14,559.60
Total cost:
$14,559.60

Books and supplies are approximately $2,3000 per full-time year.

This is a bring-your-own-device program with a custom hardware and software requirement. The recommended hardware and software requirements are:

  • Processor: i7
  • RAM: 16 GB or greater
  • Storage: 512 GB SSD or greater
  • Video card: onboard integrated
  • Screen size: 15" or greater
  • Screen resolution: 1920 x 1080 or greater
  • OS version: Windows 10 Pro 64-bit with antivirus/malware protection
  • Approximate price (CAD): $1,800

Find your booklist on the SAIT Bookstore's website. The booklist will be available closer to the program start date.

Can’t find your program or course? The bookstore didn't receive a textbook list. Contact your program directly to determine if they’re still refining course details or if you're in luck; no textbook purchase is required this term.

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Financial aid

Paying for your education may feel overwhelming, but we have resources and programs that can help, including information about payment options, student loans, grants and scholarships.

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Application process

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Ready to apply?

Follow our step-by-step guide to submitting a successful application.

Learn how to apply

Communication during admission

Email is the primary source of communication during the selection process. Ensure your personal email account is managed appropriately to receive our emails, files and communications. We recommend you add the sadt.advising@sait.ca domain to your safe senders' list or you risk missing critical email messages.

Information sessions

Prepare for a strong start in your chosen program or get the details you need to decide your future path.

Our expert staff and faculty are ready to answer your questions and provide information about the following:

  • What sets SAIT apart
  • An introduction to the program and area of study
  • Admission requirements
  • Future career paths
  • Information on the earning potential and graduate employment rates.

Contact us

Prepare for a strong start and get the details you need to make a decision about your future. Our expert staff and faculty are ready to answer your questions, and provide information about:

School for Advanced Digital Technology

Phone
403.284.8543
Email
sadt.advising@sait.ca