Cyber Security and Forensic Information Technology MSc

University of Portsmouth

Overview

Prevent and prosecute digital crime, by shaping your IT skills for a connected business world that craves your expertise.

You'll study twin, linked disciplines on this Master's: cyber security – protecting data and systems from cyber attack, and forensic information technology – detecting and collecting digital evidence of criminal activity. You'll explore methods used by hackers, and how to prevent or combat them. You'll also learn the procedures to follow after an attack, and how to present this information to investigators or court officials.

In our computer labs and forensic facilities, you'll infect a virtual machine with a virus of your own, overcome anti-forensic tools that try to hide evidence of crime, and make a mock arrest of a cybercriminal. You'll dig into cryptography, hacking and formal computer languages, such as Linux.

When you graduate, you'll be set to enter a sector with a massive need for trained cyber security and forensic information technology professionals. UK government figures from 2022 show 50% of businesses acknowledge having a skills gap in cyber security and forensics, which you'll be ideally placed to fill.

What you'll experience

On this course, you'll:

• Master parallel disciplines in digital security and forensic investigation, and expand your career options in a connected world that needs cyber skills more than ever
• Use our specialist facilities, including multi-platform network suites, pervasive computing lab for high performance computing, usability lab with eye-tracking equipment, forensics lab and crime scene simulations
• Investigate real-life case studies, identify digital trails, compile evidence and engage with ethical hacking, using current forensic tools and systems such as AccessData, Cellebrite and Tryhackme
• Explore contemporary cybersecurity issues: blockchain and cryptocurrency, money laundering, the Internet of Things, drones, and anti-forensic techniques
• Design and deliver your own forensic IT engineering or study project, shaping this Master's to your interests
• Learn formal logic, Linux and symbolic notation used in digital forensics and cyber security

Accreditation

This course is accredited by the British Computer Society (The Chartered Institute for IT), partially meeting the educational requirement for CITP and CEng.

Careers and opportunities

You'll graduate from this Master's with skills that are in heavy demand. The UK Government's £2.6 billion National Cyber Strategy aims to "ensure the UK continues to be a leading responsible and democratic cyber power", and shows how businesses in the private and public sectors need to fill a large cyber skills gap to meet that aim.

You'll have studied twin disciplines within that skills gap, so you'll be qualified for roles in preventing digital crime, or investigating and prosecuting those who commit it.

What can you do with a Cyber Security and Forensic Information Technology degree?

When you graduate, you'll be qualified to work in fields including:

• Law enforcement
• IT auditing
• Information security
• High-tech crime units
• Commercial investigation
• National security bodies
• Systems administration
• Security analysis

You could also go on to further research study at PhD level.

We'll provide you with as much support as possible in finding employment through close industrial contacts, careers events, recruitment fairs and individual advice.