IIT-Kanpur Introduces 3 New Courses in Cybersecurity, Commencing from August 2021

India’s premier Institution, the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur has introduced three new master’s programs in cybersecurity that will commence from August 2021. This is in addition to a dedicated centre for cybersecurity to address this need and to meet the shortfall in trained and skilled cybersecurity personnel in the country.

The Department of Computer Science and Engineering (CSE) will offer the three new master’s programs – M Tech, MS by Research and BT-MT Dual Degree with a limited number of seats. IIT Kanpur plans to gradually scale this up in size and scope.

At present, there are 25 seats for the M Tech programme – 15 students will be admitted through GATE score /industry sponsorship, and 10 students from Defence and other strategic government bodies.

The MS by Research in Cybersecurity programme will have 15 seats on offer- 10 students through GATE score /industry sponsorship, and 5 students from Defence and other strategic government bodies.

The BT-MT dual programme is only open to the institute students. The application process will commence between April to May.

The M Tech programme in Cyber Security will equip students with skills necessary to be successful in roles such as VAPT (Vulnerability Assessment and Penetration Testing) engineers, security center analysts, CERT (Computer Emergency Response Team) engineers, cybersecurity tool developers and other roles.

The MS by Research programme is designed to train cybersecurity researchers, technology developers, cybersecurity strategists, and top-level cybersecurity policy designers. An option for BT-MT dual degree students is proposed that will enable them to specialise in cybersecurity, the institute informed.

Prof Abhay Krandikar, Director IIT Kanpur, said, “In the world of digital nomads (especially after Covid19) and gig economy, there has been a significant shift to the cloud as almost everyone who is involved in a productive activity has had to go online and use digital devices. This shift means there are millions of new netizens and organisations that are potentially vulnerable to sophisticated cybercrime.”

The successful candidates can take up responsibilities at CERT (Computer Emergency Response Team), WESEE (Weapons and Electronics Engineering Centre, Indian Navy), Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA), Defence Cyber Agency (DCyA), other cybersecurity roles.

Recently, IIT Kanpur announced the launch of its new department of Cognitive Science to devise futuristic technology by understanding, mirroring and adapting the complexity of the perception and processes of the human mind.

Source: DNA