Becoming a Cybersecurity Consultant
The COURSE and the CERTIFICATE
A Cybersecurity Consultant should perform a varied number of tasks within an organization, no matter the industry they are performing in. Within CONCORDIA, based on a desk research followed by a market validation, we have identified a set of Knowledge and Skills a Cybersecurity Consultant should have [link]. The most important ones are depicted below.
To support people in preparing for a career as Cybersecurity Consultant we have developed a COURSE and a CERTIFICATION scheme.
The COURSE aims to help individuals acquire the knowledge and skills illustrated below. The Course is suitable also for individuals planning to follow a career in cybersecurity, including middle managers and executives.
After successfully passing the exam (consisting of two parts), the Certificate would stand as a proof an individual acquired a specific set of knowledge and developed specific skills.
Check the summary for the second semester of year 2022 Course and Certification HERE
The course is a joint effort of the following CONCORDIA partners:
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The Course “Becoming a Cybersecurity Consultant” is structured in two parts (online and face-to-face) and is organized around 3 main learning objectives:
- Threats – Get updated on the existing and emerging cybersecurity threats, the assets possible to be impacted, and the latest models of attacks.
- Technology – Become knowledgeable about specific technological threats, learn how to anticipate and prevent them, while developing proactive management skills.
- Economics – Get an understanding of the economics behind cybersecurity activities within your organization. Learn about risk management and information security to protect the corporate reputation and preserve customer loyalty.
The online part of the course is designed to cover theoretical concepts a Cybersecurity Consultant (low-to-medium level) should know. It is structured in 4 modules (Cybersecurity Principles; Offensive Methods, Defensive Methods; Risk Management) and is proposed to be completed in about 3-4 weeks-time while allocating about 2-3 hours a week.
| Module | Lesson Code | Lesson title | Lecturer(s) affiliation | Learning Objective |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Intro | A0 | The Cybersecurity Consultant Role Profile | TUVA (AT) | – |
| A-CYBERSECURITY PRINCIPLES | A1 | CIA Triad and Security Principles | University of Insubria (IT), Industrial Systems Institute (GR) | LO1, LO2 |
| A2 | Privacy Principles to Manage Risks Related to Data | University of Insubria (IT) | LO1 | |
| A3 | Risk Management | TUV Trust IT (AT) | LO3 | |
| B-OFFENSIVE METHODS | B1 | Attacks Capabilities and Attacks Stages | Industrial Systems Institute (GR) | LO1 |
| B2 | Emerging Security Issues and Evolving Attacks | University of Milan (IT) | LO1 | |
| B3 | Networks Attacks | University of Lorraine (FR) | LO2 | |
| B4 | Internet Technologies: Definition, Principles and Top Threats | University of Lorraine (FR) | LO2, LO3 | |
| C-DEFENSIVE METHODS | C1 | The Security by Design Principle Approaches and Paradigms | Industrial Systems Institute (GR) | LO1 |
| C2 | Vulnerability Management Methods | University of Lorraine (FR) | LO2, LO3 | |
| C3 | Network Protections Methods | University of Lorraine (FR) | LO2, LO3 | |
| C4 | OS/Application Protections Methods | BITDEFENDER (RO) | LO2, LO3 | |
| C5 | Data Protection and Security | University of Zurich (CH) | LO3 | |
| D-RISK MANAGEMENT | D2 | Risk Management with an Economic Bias | University of Zurich (CH) | LO3 |
Structure of the online module as of August 2022
⇒ Access to the Course – online part on Coursera platform [link not available yet] – May 2021 session closed; October 2021 session closed; May 2022 session closed – October 2022 session open for registration
⇒ Access to the presentations used in the online part [link] – restricted to the learners who followed the course and to those registered to the C3 by CONCORDIA Certification exam
The Face-to-Face/webinar part of the course is designed to build on the theoretical concepts covered in the online part by bringing into the discussion of the group different case studies while also involving the participants in hands-on exercises. The agenda of the 3 days module will be announced in due time.
⇒ Access to the presentations of the Face-to-Face/webinar part [link] – restricted to the learners who followed the course and to those registered to the C3 by CONCORDIA Certification exam
The report on the pilot course could be consulted via [link]
The next Course will start in October 2022. Link to the Registration form.
The C3 by CONCORDIA certification is addressed mainly to European cybersecurity professionals, cybersecurity middle managers and freelancers looking into having specific knowledge and skills validated via a certificate. For an overview of the knowledge and skills we consider a Cybersecurity Consultant should have, we invite you to check the specific page [link].
The Certification exam consists of two parts: a theoretical exam hosted on the ISOGRAD platform (proctored) for testing the top knowledge identified for the profile, and a practical exam hosted on the KYPO platform for testing some of the skills needed for the profile.
⇒ Access to the theoretical exam [link] – restricted to the learners registered to the C3 by CONCORDIA Certification exam
⇒ The Certification Proctor Manual for the theoretical exam [link]
⇒ Access to the practical exam [link] – restricted to the learners registered to the C3 by CONCORDIA Certification exam
The applicants to the C3 by CONCORDIA Certificate are strongly encouraged to adhere to the following Declaration of Honor [link].
The candidates to enter the C3 by CONCORDIA Certification are strongly recommended to follow first the dedicated course “Becoming a Cybersecurity Consultant”. An overview of the Course and Certificate including the specific steps, prerequisites and timeline for the session scheduled in the second half of 2022 could be consulted at https://www.concordia-h2020.eu/blog-post/would-you-like-to-be-certified-as-a-cybersecurity-consultant/
The exam is running under the CONCORDIA EU funded project and it is offered for free in year 2022. Due to the limited number of available places for the exams, the eligible applications will be treated on a first-come-first-served principle basis. Please note that, in order to offer this opportunity to as many European individuals as possible, this examination period will not be open to previous iterations candidates. Those interested in sitting the C3 by CONCORDIA Certification exam should register via the form: https://ec.europa.eu/eusurvey/runner/C3byCONCORDIAcertification
The C3 by CONCORDIA Certificate and the relevant assessment processes are implemented based on the C3 by CONCORDIA Certification Scheme (link).
CONCORDIA course
“Becoming a Cybersecurity Consultant”
Registration for the session
October-November 2022 is closed
C3 by CONCORDIA Certification Exam Registration Form
The application form is addressed to European individuals interested to participate in the examination of the certification scheme C3 by CONCORDIA for the Cybersecurity Consultant profile, medium level. The Certification is addressed mainly to European cybersecurity professionals, cybersecurity middle managers and freelancers looking into having specific knowledge and skills validated via a certificate.
The candidates to enter the C3 by CONCORDIA Certification are strongly encouraged to follow first the dedicated course “Becoming a Cybersecurity Consultant”. An overview of the 2022 offer on Certification and preparatory course, including the prerequisites linked to each of the phases of these activities could be consulted at https://www.concordia-h2020.eu/blog-post/would-you-like-to-be-certified-as-a-cybersecurity-consultant/
NOTE: The exam is running under the CONCORDIA EU funded project and it is offered for free in year 2022. Due to the limited number of available places for the exams, the eligible applications will be treated on a first-come-first-served principle basis. Please note that, in order to offer this opportunity to as many European individuals as possible, this examination period will not be open to previous iterations candidates.
Before starting your registration form, please check and acknowledge the timeline for the specific dates linked to the two exams part of the next session.
Link to the Registration form https://ec.europa.eu/eusurvey/runner/C3byCONCORDIAcertification