Want to become a cybersecurity expert? Check out this BCIT course

Canada is one of the world’s worst countries for succumbing to cyber-attacks. Not only is it the nation with the third-most cyber incidents in the world, it also ranks ninth globally for the most exposed records.

Good news, however, is not on the horizon. As services are increasingly digitized and individuals put more information online, experts suggest that the number of cyber-attacks will continue to multiply, with hackers developing new malicious software and selling personal data on the dark web.

Data breaches can be incredibly costly to rectify for both individuals and companies, and the best defense against bad actors is making sure that safeguards are in place before a system is attacked. Despite that, cyber security experts remain in high demand, with the need for professionals far outstripping supply.

To counter the imbalance, BCIT has launched Canada’s first full-time, two-year diploma program in cyber defense. Named the Industrial Network Cybersecurity program, the course will open its doors to its first cohort in September 2019.

“The BCIT Industrial Network Cybersecurity program is the first of its kind in Canada and fills a significant skills-gap in the cybersecurity industry,” says Dr. Forrest Tittle, dean of the BCIT School of Energy. “In a time where cybersecurity is a growing problem for Canadians, the students that graduate from this program will be key in combating cybersecurity threats in plant operations.”

The program will focus specifically on keeping industrial organizations safe, such as power plants or automated manufacturing warehouses. The program creators argue that a cyber-attack on locations such as these can be costly, irreversible, or potentially life-threatening.

Students are slated to learn about the technology currently used in industrial plant operations, including hardware, operating systems, and Ethernet-based networking interfaces (the system that connects a number of computer systems into a local area network). Understanding the way that these elements interact requires skilled professionals, and the course aims to make sure students are job-ready with practical experience in attacking and defending network systems through interactive scenarios.

BCIT has now opened applications for the first September 2019 cohort, and more information can be found here.

Kate Wilson is the Technology Editor at the Georgia Straight. Follow her on Twitter @KateWilsonSays