Program Overview

Cybersecurity Leadership (CYB) Program

The Cybersecurity Leadership (CYB) program is designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the critical aspects of leading cybersecurity initiatives within an organization.

Course Descriptions

• CYB 710: Foundations in Cybersecurity Leadership (3 hours) This course provides a foundational understanding of the critical aspects of leading cybersecurity initiatives within an organization. The course includes frameworks and principles for developing and assessing a cybersecurity program. Students will explore cybersecurity terms and concepts, ethical considerations, leadership theories, risk management practices, strategic planning, and effective communication techniques necessary for driving cybersecurity initiatives.
• CYB 712: Cybersecurity Law, Policy, and Privacy (3 hours) An overview of cyber risks, along with the laws and regulations that apply to the rapidly changing threat landscape of cybersecurity. We will explore the impacts of cyberattacks, data privacy challenges, cyber-criminal motives, and common strategies used to combat cyber warfare.
• CYB 714: Advanced Information Security and Cyber Controls (3 hours) This course covers fundamental security design principles and information assurance fundamentals. Students will explore a wide range of topics including cryptography, capability and access control mechanisms, authentication models, security models, operating systems security, malicious code, security policy formation and enforcement, vulnerability analysis, and the evaluation of secure systems.
• CYB 720: Incident Management and Business Continuity (3 hours) This course provides a comprehensive exploration of strategies and practices essential for responding to cybersecurity incidents and ensuring business continuity. Students will learn to plan, test, and execute incident management and disaster recovery strategies, including conducting Business Impact Analysis (BIA) to prioritize responses.
• CYB 730: Emerging Cyber Technologies (3 hours) This course is designed to keep students at the forefront of the rapidly evolving cybersecurity landscape by exposing them to the latest trends, tools, and innovations. This course covers cutting-edge technologies. Students will explore the potential impacts of these technologies on cybersecurity practices, assess their practical applications, and understand how to integrate them into existing security frameworks.
• CYB 750: Cloud Security (3 hours) This course explores advanced strategies and principles essential for securing cloud computing environments. Students will delve into the unique security challenges and considerations specific to cloud architectures, including multi-tenancy, cloud service models, data protection, and identity management.
• CYB 751: Proactive Cyber Defense (3 hours) This course delves into advanced strategies and frameworks designed to anticipate, identify, and mitigate cyber threats. Key topics include security architectures such as Zero Trust, proactive threat hunting, continuous monitoring, and the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) in cyber defense.
• CYB 799: Capstone (3 hours) This course requires students to synthesize and apply their acquired knowledge and skills through a comprehensive, project-based approach. Students will develop and present a capstone project that addresses real-world cybersecurity issues, integrating strategic, technical, and leadership aspects.

Program Overview

The Cybersecurity Leadership program at Wake Forest University is tailored to equip students with the knowledge, skills, and strategic perspectives necessary to lead cybersecurity initiatives effectively. Through a combination of theoretical foundations, practical applications, and real-world case studies, students gain a comprehensive understanding of cybersecurity leadership, including risk management, incident response, cloud security, emerging technologies, and proactive cyber defense strategies. The program culminates in a capstone project that challenges students to apply their knowledge and skills to address complex cybersecurity challenges, preparing them for leadership roles in the field.