Online cybersecurity microcredentials: beginner curriculum
Build a solid foundation in cybersecurity and launch your career
Learn the fundamentals of cybersecurity and IT and explore more specialised subjects with our beginner microcredentials.
Gain a practical introduction to the field that will help you make decisions about your cybersecurity career goals and upskill in just two to four weeks. Our curriculum is designed for everyone, so you don’t need prior experience to take these short courses.
You can bundle specified 5- and 10-credit point (CP) microcredentials for credit toward La Trobe’s Bachelor of Cybersecurity.*
View microcredentials
5 CP – Cybersecurity Fundamentals
Next start date Start any time
Fees $300
Duration 2 weeks
Hours of learning 40
Delivery mode 100% online1
Gain basic cybersecurity skills to protect data, defend against potential cyber attacks and build a solid foundation for further study in cybersecurity. With no background knowledge required, you can apply from any field.
Upon successful completion of this short course, you’ll be able to:
- Describe key emerging cybersecurity practices, regulations and standards.
- Demonstrate foundation skills in safeguarding data, systems and networks.
Course topics
Learn about the origins of cybersecurity and the principles that created the internet.
Learn about the fundamental terms and concepts that underpin the entire field of cybersecurity. Explain how these principles keep information safe.
Learn about the value of information and data and why cybercriminals target it.
Learn about malware and the process used by cybercriminals when they steal information and its impact on the victims.
Learn and describe how a typical cyberattack is executed and the process of responding to a cyberattack.
Learn the different types of malicious software and how cybercriminals use malware to attack and exploit systems and human error.
10 CP – Cyber and Data Security
Compare cyber risk management approaches including digital forensics, application security and network security.
Next start date To be confirmed
Fees $1,700
Duration 4 weeks
Hours of learning 80
Delivery mode 100% online2
Advancing on the learning outcomes, Cybersecurity Fundamentals, you’ll be able to:
- Compare approaches for cyber risk management used to address real-world problems.
- Identify approaches to digital forensics, application security and network security in the context of cyberspace.
- Show understanding of data security, web security and cryptography and possible solutions to cyber threats.
Recommended prerequisite: Cybersecurity Fundamentals.
Register now5 CP – Cyber Technologies
Next start date Start any time
Fees $99** (usually $300)
Duration 2 weeks
Hours of learning 40
Delivery mode 100% online1
Investigate the latest, most effective cybersecurity technologies that protect against cyber threats, such as firewalls, intrusion detection/protection systems and honeypots.
Upon successful completion of this short course, you’ll be able to:
- Investigate, evaluate and apply current cybersecurity technologies that protect against cyber threats.
- Describe the process of threat and vulnerability identification in cybersecurity environments.
Course topics
Learn the global cybersecurity threat landscape and how to defend information effectively.
Describe the classes and motivation of malicious cyber actors as well as understand the motivation and mechanism of a data breach.
Learn about and maintain cybersecurity frameworks and understand how organisations can apply these frameworks.
Learn how to assess threats and vulnerabilities by examining a computer network’s structure, as well as how cybercriminals exploit network protocols and services to compromise data.
Learn the differences and benefits of physical and logical networks.
Learn and understand the seven OSI layers and the differences between OSI and TCP/IP models.
Learn the purposes of firewalls and proxy servers and how to monitor the network performance of a company.
10 CP – Cyber Threats and Responses
Next start date To be confirmed
Fees $1,700
Duration 4 weeks
Hours of learning 80
Delivery mode 100% online2
Gain an insight into current industry threats and learn to coordinate cyber incident response methods using real case studies.
Advancing on the learning outcomes in Cyber Technologies, you’ll be able to:
- Formulate and coordinate basic cyber incident responses.
- Employ secure software design practices when working in teams.
Recommended prerequisite: Cyber Technologies.
Register nowCourse topics
Learn the fundamental structure of digital cryptographic methods and cryptosystems such as TLS and PKI and how these may be used to mitigate cyber threats.
Learn how to strengthen identity transactions against attacks and how common identity systems may be weakened and attacked.
Discover the cyber attack incident response and process and investigate how cybercriminals monetise their crimes.
5 CP – Introduction to Data Security and Information Assurance
Next start date To be confirmed
Fees $850
Duration 2 weeks
Hours of learning 40
Delivery mode 100% online2
Practice the best tools used for data protection and learn to safeguard data, systems and networks.
Upon successful completion of this short course, you’ll be able to:
- Examine and analyse access controls in computer systems.
- Apply well-developed knowledge and skills to safeguard data, systems and networks.
10 CP – Data Security and Information Controls
Next start date To be confirmed
Fees $1,700
Duration 4 weeks
Hours of learning 80
Delivery mode 100% online2
Use simulation tools to analyse data security threats and implement data privacy and cryptography controls.
Advancing on the learning outcomes in Introduction to Data Security and Information Assurance, you’ll be able to:
- Analyse data security threats using simulation tools.
- Examine data privacy and cryptography controls to protect data.
Recommended prerequisite: Introduction to Data Security and Information Assurance.
Register your interest5 CP – Introduction to Digital Forensics
Next start date To be confirmed
Fees $850
Duration 2 weeks
Hours of learning 40
Delivery mode 100% online2
Understand how digital forensics assists in the investigation of crimes and cybersecurity incidents, including data structures, evidence collection and validation.
Upon successful completion of this short course, you’ll be able to:
- Describe computer architectures and key concepts associated with data structures, evidence collection and validation.
- Demonstrate an understanding of the different forensics tools and techniques used on varying types of hardware when gathering and analysing digital evidence.
Course topics
Learn the professional expectations and the code of ethics for digital forensic professionals. Learn about the history of forensic science and explore different digital models and frameworks.
Know and understand the differences between the public and private sector digital investigation processes.
Learn how to describe and evaluate different digital investigation process models.
Learn how to use AXIOM and understand how to use it for digital investigation to acquire and analyse forensic data.
Examine the data acquisition procedures for digital investigation to better understand the different storage formats for digital evidence.
Learn about the different data acquisition types and the best practices for use in digital investigation.
Learn the different types of evidence and understand the terms and terminologies used in a warrant and procedures used for a search.
Learn the law around seizing and storing digital evidence as well as the proper procedure to document and store evidence.
10 CP – Digital Forensics and Investigation
Next start date To be confirmed
Fees $1,700
Duration 4 weeks
Hours of learning 80
Delivery mode 100% online2
Demonstrate how the latest forensic theories and practices are used in forensic discovery and analysis and lay the foundations for work as an investigator in the public or private sectors.
Advancing on the learning outcomes in Introduction to Digital Forensics, you’ll be able to:
- Apply legally compliant processes and procedures for forensically gathering and analysing digital evidence and deliver a presentation of findings.
- Demonstrate an understanding of the latest forensic theory and practice used in forensic discovery and analysis.
Recommended prerequisite: Introduction to Digital Forensics.
Register now5 CP – Computer Hardware and Software
Next start date To be confirmed
Fees $850
Duration 2 weeks
Hours of learning 40
Delivery mode 100% online2
Analyse and critically evaluate the functionality of several computer hardware and software types and guide your next steps in IT.
Upon successful completion of this short course, you’ll be able to:
- Identify and critically evaluate functions of the main hardware components of computers.
- Analyse and evaluate the requirements and functionality of different types of software.
- Critically examine simple problems and develop spreadsheets to model these problems.
10 CP – Computer Networks and Website Development
Next start date To be confirmed
Fees $1,700
Duration 4 weeks
Hours of learning 80
Delivery mode 100% online2
Become more efficient by learning to analyse the purpose of major network components and determine and fix common computer network issues. Gain in-demand technical expertise in HTML, CSS and PHP for web development.
Advancing on the learning outcomes in Computer Hardware and Software, you’ll be able to:
- Differentiate between main types of computer networks and explain the purpose of major network components including any advantages and disadvantages of different data communication media.
- Design and construct basic web pages using HTML and style sheets based on specific requirements.
- Develop and interpret simple database tables, queries and reports based on specific requirements.
Recommended prerequisite: Computer Hardware and Software.
Register your interest5 CP – Programming Fundamentals
Next start date To be confirmed
Fees $850
Duration 2 weeks
Hours of learning 40
Delivery mode 100% online2
Gain familiarity with the most commonly used programming languages, and apply basic programming constructs.
Upon successful completion of this short course, you’ll be able to:
- Analyse a simple data processing problem to correctly identify both the data and high-level processing involved.
- Apply the basic programming constructs of sequence, selection, and iteration to develop code that solves simple data processing problems.
10 CP – Intermediate Python Programming
Next start date To be confirmed
Fees $1,700
Duration 4 weeks
Hours of learning 80
Delivery mode 100% online2
Learn how to design and develop Python programs for complex cybersecurity problems such as malware analysis, spam scanning, and penetration testing tasks.
Advancing on the learning outcomes in Programming Fundamentals, you’ll be able to:
- Use basic data structures such as lists and dictionaries to solve more complex data processing problems.
- Organise code into functions and understand basic functional programming concepts.
Recommended prerequisite: Programming Fundamentals.
Register your interest5 CP – Introduction to Digital Networks
Next start date To be confirmed
Fees $850
Duration 2 weeks
Hours of learning 40
Delivery mode 100% online2
Understand how networks work so that you can identify defence mechanisms for your network. Configure and test state-of-the-art industry networking devices.
Upon successful completion of this short course, you’ll be able to:
- Describe the fundamentals of networking and apply this knowledge to solve networking problems.
- Analyse the Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) model and TCP/IP models and compare the operation and performance of various layers in each.
- Configure and test state-of-the-art industry networking devices that meet network requirements and achieve optimal performance.
10 CP – Building Scalable Digital Networks
Next start date To be confirmed
Fees $1,700
Duration 4 weeks
Hours of learning 80
Delivery mode 100% online2
Develop skills in building small home networks to larger-scale networking, how to choose the correct network technology to address performance bottlenecks and how to secure a network using firewalls.
Advancing on the learning outcomes in Introduction to Digital Networks, you’ll be able to:
- Design appropriate addressing schemes to solve problems across different network sizes using different approaches.
- Analyse and compare the operation and performance of various network protocols.
- Employ professional skills to debug and troubleshoot errors in different LAN sizes using varied methodologies.
Recommended prerequisite: Introduction to Digitial Networks.
Register your interest5 CP – Introduction to Database Design
Next start date To be confirmed
Fees $850
Duration 2 weeks
Hours of learning 40
Delivery mode 100% online2
Learn how to fundamentally manage data and design a relational database using EER diagram, transformation and normalisation to ensure your data is organised in a way that is easily understood by a range of audiences.
Upon successful completion of this short course, you’ll be able to:
- Design a relational database using an ER or EER diagram and use a transformation process to map the ER or EER diagram to a relational database design.
- Evaluate database design in terms of data anomalies and redundancies by applying the appropriate normalisation techniques.
- Evaluate the possible risks and ethical and social considerations relevant to designed systems.
10 CP – Database Design and SQL
Next start date To be confirmed
Fees $1,700
Duration 4 weeks
Hours of learning 80
Delivery mode 100% online2
Learn how to use SQL queries to efficiently retrieve data and understand and evaluate the possible cyber risks and ethical and social considerations relevant to designed systems.
Advancing on the learning outcomes in Introduction to Database Design, you’ll be able to:
- Implement database systems using SQL and advanced PL/SQL including stored procedures and triggers.
- Explain the underlying model of relational database operations using relational algebra.
Recommended prerequisite: Introduction to Database Design.
Register your interestRequest more information
Disclaimers
*Students must meet the entry requirements for the award course.
**The $99 promotion is only available to participants who register and pay for one of the following short courses during the month of October (1/10/23 – 31/10/23 inclusive): Cybersecurity Fundamentals; Cyber Technologies; Cyber Risk Management Fundamentals; Cybersecurity Program Development; Cybersecurity Incident Management Fundamentals. This offer is limited to one short course per participant and is not to be used in conjunction with any other offer. Participants will have access to the course for 12 months from registration. Participants will need to achieve a mark of 80% or above in the assessment quiz to successfully complete the course; they may attempt the quiz as many times as required to achieve the pass rate until course access ceases.
- 100% online, self-paced learning. Access the course content and assessment tasks when it suits you, for up to 12 months.
2. 100% online learning. Attend optional live learning sessions and interact with peers and instructors through discussion forums and drop-in sessions.