The study programme gives you an all-round education in all key focus areas of IT Security:

IT operations: system administration and penetration testing

The focus area IT Operation teaches the purpose and structure of common operating systems (such as Windows and Linux) as well as the basics of programming. In addition, associated security concepts and mechanisms are created. Students learn how to search the infrastructure of a company for security gaps and detect traces left by the attackers using penetration testing and IT forensics. The study programme also features its own cyber defence centre that students can use to work through “real-world scenarios” with a strong practical relevance.

Network Technology: protocols and security components

The focus area Network Technology deals with the networking of computers, with network topologies and the associated protocols. The class offers its own computer centre in which  learning exercises can be implemented and simulated as practice-oriented as possible. The acquired knowledge is relevant for the analysis of security gaps and attack potentials in the future work environment.

Security Technologies: cryptography and hardware tokens

The focus area Security Technologies provides an overview of IT Security objectives and of current threat scenarios. Essential components are cryptographic methods and tools, the identification of biometric access systems, and authentication.

Security Management and Organisation: risk management and standards

In the focus area Security Management and Organisation, students acquire knowledge about security norms and standards, legal foundations, the basics of data protection regulations and contract law. Security management and corporate management round off the focus area.

Secure Software Development

The focus area Secure Software Development includes the creation and testing of secure applications with object-oriented programming languages.

A strong practical focus

The transfer of knowledge to the practical world is an essential part of the education. Numerous projects and the so-called “crisis week” prepare you theoretically and practically for worst-case scenarios. On the basis of a case study, you analyse the technical requirements for systems, make the necessary organisational arrangements and learn to keep cool when it comes to the practical implementation in extreme situations.

Network Technology Lab

5 independent labs with state-of-the-art PC and virtualisation infrastructure are available 24/7 for conducting practice-oriented network and operating system exercises. Thanks to a VPN solution, students also gain access off campus.

Networking with Research

Through close links with the Institute of IT Security Research and the Josef Ressel Centre for Blockchain Technologies & Security Management, we ensure the connection between studies, current topics and future developments in IT security.

Cutting-Edge Topics

We place great emphasis on knowledge transfer and building close ties with the IT security industry.

• The university’s IT-SeCX conference is aimed at industry experts and features a programme of lectures and discussions.
• Security Day offers workshops for school pupils.
• The programme has an advisory board that meets regularly with a view to maintaining the ties with industry which promote ongoing quality improvements in the IT Security and Information Security programmes.

Certifications

You can obtain the following certifications during the programme:

• Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA)
• Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP)
• Barracuda Next Generation Security Engineer (NGSE)
• Check Point Certified Security Administrator (CCSA)
• Information Technology Infrastructure Library Version 3 (ITIL V3)
• AccessData Certified Examiner (ACE®)
• IPMA Level D®
• CRISAM® Foundation

Interdisciplinary Elective Module

The iLab programme allows you to participate in an interdisciplinary and intercultural project semester with the working language being English. 

Innovative Teaching

All courses with the exception of English language classes are held in blocked form, which allows for the theory lessons, practical exercises and self-learning tasks to be brought into the best possible order.

What is a block system?

Block system means that the individual modules of a semester are taught in blocked form within the course of only a few weeks. This format differs from “traditional” teaching systems in which several courses are held in parallel throughout the semester.

The block system allows the students to concentrate on one task and one topic at a time: all courses and final exams (first attempt) for a module are completed before the beginning of the next block.

This prevents you from having to complete several assignments or final exams from different modules at the same time – something that may happen in a “traditional” teaching organisation. In a block system, the workload is distributed more evenly and the course content is still fresh in your memory when you take the exam.

Effects on Learning Behaviour and Motivation

From a didactic perspective, this kind of teaching organisation model offers a number of advantages: firstly, the organisation in blocks takes away the decision of which module you have to prepare for. This reduces your opportunities to postpone your self-study tasks, also because the self-study phases are integrated into the attendance phases.

Another consequence of the integration of attendance and self-study times – in other words, of learning and practice – is that the acquired knowledge and competencies are consolidated. Finally, there is no concentrated exam phase at the end of the semester, contrary to the traditional system, because every block is completed with the respective module exam.

Apart from these implications, the reduction of stress is another important reason. If you continuously observe the self-study phases, you gain the certainty that you are well-prepared for your exams. After all, motivation and learning behaviour are the variables that essentially determine your academic success.