Cyber Security Operations (Cisco CCNA) Course - The Open University

Upskill in cybersecurity operations and enhance your working knowledge of cybersecurity with Cisco and The Open University.

Develop professional skills to respond to and prevent cyberattacks and crimes

Cybersecurity 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 cybersecurity professionals respond to an imminent, active or recent cyber threat. You’ll explore how to go about resolving attacks and how to complete legal investigations of any potential cybercrime.

You’ll develop skills in this exciting area using up-to-date experience from the internationally recognised Cisco CCNA Cyber Security operations certification.

Worldwide spending on cybersecurity is forecasted to reach £102.5 billion in 2022 and projected employment for IT security analysts is predicted to grow 32% between 2018 and 2028.

Apply the skills learned in this microcredential to start your journey as a cybersecurity analyst, consultant, architect or engineer.

This microcredential meets the standards set by the Common Microcredential Framework.

When would you like to start?

We aim to run our microcredentials every few months. Join on the date that suits you or register to hear from an enrolment advisor about future runs and updates.

• 14 March 2022

What you will receive

15 UK credits at Postgraduate level from The Open University

Credits are awarded on passing the final assessment. The assessment will require you to complete four questions, two of which draw on the results from your Cisco chapter exams and final examinations. The third question focuses on a practical cybersecurity forensic investigation, and the fourth question is a short 500-word academic piece exploring current cybersecurity threats.

A Certificate of Completion from Cisco Networking Academy

Additional benefits

Passing the final assessment with 75% or higher at the first attempt grants a significant discount on the optional Cisco CCNA Cyber Security Operations Exam.

Career-focused learning by

The Open University

The Open University (OU) is the largest academic institution in the UK and a world leader in flexible distance learning, with a mission to be open to people, places, methods and ideas.

This microcredential is endorsed by Cisco Networking Academy

This microcredential uses Cisco's CCNA Cybersecurity Operations syllabus, equipping successful students with the skills and knowledge required to pass the associated CCNA Cyber Ops Certification.

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.

Is this microcredential right for you?

This microcredential is designed for professionals looking to enter the growing cybersecurity 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.

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 will you achieve?

By the end of the course, 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 cybersecurity incursion.
• Apply legally defensible practices to a cybersecurity investigation.