Cyber Security Adversarial Techniques

Cyber Security Adversarial Techniques Certificate

 

Using the foundation established through the Cybersecurity Fundamentals certificate, students enrolled in Cybersecurity Adversarial Techniques graduate certificate, will obtain a detailed understanding of and ability to function in real operational situations in which adversarial techniques are being used. An understanding of overarching principles, computer and network architectural concepts, and exemplar cases will allow students to analyze current and future malware. Students will learn how to use network traffic analysis to extract the characteristics of ongoing attacks and to identify exploitable vulnerabilities. They will learn how to decipher subtle, clandestine host-based attack mechanisms and how these mechanisms are inserted into target systems. They will learn, in detail, how attack and exploitation software mechanisms are built and deployed, including the distributed command and control techniques used to manage large-scale malware networks. Considerable programming and hands-on work with systems and networks will be required.

How It Works:

The Cybersecurity Adversarial Techniques certificate (Curriculum: 260 DL / 261 Res) is a graduate-level, non-degree program designed to enable DoD, U.S. Government and other personnel to obtain a detailed understanding of, and ability to, function in real operational situations involving cyber security.

As distance learning, the program is typically taken over a three-quarter period: one course per quarter. When students take the certificate in residence, the certificate can be completed in a single quarter.

The Cybersecurity Adversarial Techniques certificate can be combined with the Cybersecurity Fundamentals certificate to create a resident program that is a minimum of two quarters in duration.

This Cybersecurity Adversarial Techniques certificate program may be applicable toward a Master's degree in Computer Science, Curriculum 368.

This certificate provides participants with the knowledge and skills to:

  • Understand overarching principles, computer and network architectural concepts, and use exemplar cases to allow students to analyze current and future malware.
  • Use network traffic analysis to extract the characteristics of ongoing attacks and learn to identify exploitable vulnerabilities.
  • Decipher subtle, clandestine host-based attack mechanisms and learn how these mechanisms are inserted into target systems.
  • Understand how attack and exploitation software mechanisms are built and deployed, including the distributed command and control techniques used to manage large-scale malware networks.

Download the Cyber Studies: Graduate Certificates for Non-Resident Students overview for details about each of our certificate offerings. For additional questions pertaining to the Cybersecurity Adversarial Techniques graduate certificate, please email: cyberapps@nps.edu

Application Procedures:

This program is for U.S. Government civilians and military personnel.

Employees of certain Federal contractors may be eligible for the program.  Please contact the certificate program for details.

Currently the CSD certificate is offered on a cohort basis and all applicants must be members of funded cohorts. We work with cohort sponsors who determine the members of each cohort. After your sponsor has selected you for the program, you must complete the admissions process.

Apply online here: http://nps.edu/Academics/Admissions/ApplyOnline/ApplyNow.html

Courses:

The Cybersecurity Adversarial Techniques graduate certificate is obtained by successfully completing three of the following courses:

  • CS4648 - Software Reverse Engineering and Malware Analysis 
  • CS4558 - Network Traffic Analysis
  • CS4678 - Advanced Vulnerability Assessment
  • CS4679 - Advances in Cybersecurity Operations

(Note the change to selection of three courses from the list is expected to be effective in Spring 2023.) The total number of NPS graduate credits obtained for the certificate is 13.5, where laboratory credits are counted as half.

Costs:

Program costs are based upon a cohort mode.  

  • The cost for a 20 student cohort tuition is $67,000.
  • The cost for a 25 student cohort tuition is $83,750
  • A three-course cohort of 25 students is $251,250.

Tuition for DL classes is $3,350 per student per class.

If books are required they will result in additional costs.

*NPS tuition rates are subject to change.

Prerequisites:

Students entering this program are expected to have a strong foundation in cyber security and networking. In addition, entering students will be expected to understand and use the languages and techniques of operating system and network component development: the C programming language, assembly, shell scripting, use of linkers, loaders, and debuggers.