Tackling cybercrime starts at UNSW

Cybercrime is costing Australians billions of dollars every year. With a degree in cyber security from UNSW, you’ll be equipped with the skills to investigate and prevent cybercrimes before they occur and design solutions that protect individuals, businesses and governments against threats.

The Australian Federal Police (AFP) defines cybercrime as “any crime directed at computers or other information communications technologies (ICTs), such as computer intrusions and denial of service attacks”. It also considers any crime where computers or ICTs are an integral part of the offence, including online fraud. 

Cybercrime is one of the most serious security threats we face in Australia. It’s likely that you or someone you know has been impacted by some kind of cyber attack – whether it’s a phishing email or a data breach containing your personal information. A recent AIC report estimates that cybercrime is costing Australians anywhere between $3.1 to $3.5 billion annually.

Tom Townsend, Senior Lecturer at UNSW School of Professional Studies reflects on the increasing prevalence of cybercrime:

“It is pretty hard nowadays to turn on the news without hearing about the next big cyber incident. The events that are big enough to break into mainstream news barely represent the very tip of the iceberg.”

Common forms of cybercrime include hacking, identity theft, cyberstalking and planting malware. What motivates cyber criminals to commit these acts differs from case to case. Often they’re driven by money – they might extort individuals or companies for ransom payments or steal their banking information to obtain funds directly from their accounts. Whatever their motivations, these crimes are extremely disruptive and can have a detrimental impact on individuals, businesses and governments. 

Cyber security is a rapidly growing sector in Australia and globally. It serves to protect internet-connected systems from cyber attacks. It’s an interdisciplinary field that spans IT, law, policy and education. Because of this, the sector calls for a wide range of roles and responsibilities. 

The typical cyber security professional works to assess risks, implement safeguards and respond to incidents. This might involve developing software to ensure systems and infrastructure are secure or working in real-time to lock a hacker out of the system.

Cyber security education roles are also vital for preventing cyber attacks, including developing compliance training courses for organisations or going into schools to teach young people about safe internet usage. There are also plenty of career opportunities in cyber security in policy development in both government and advisory roles. Or perhaps you might join a business that develops cyber security software as a sales rep, marketer, operations manager or system developer. 

“Through necessity, every organisation, regardless of the size, is sitting up and beginning to take cyber seriously,” explains Townsend. “Increased visibility of cyber security coupled with high profile cases that impact the vast majority of Australians, drive changes to our regulatory environment, again shining a light on the increasing need for organisations to manage their readiness for cyber security more proactively.”

Cyber Security professionals are in high demand with the industry requiring an estimated 16,600 additional professionals in both technical and non-technical cyber security positions. This growth industry is full of opportunity. Those with a degree in cyber security combined with hands-on experience will command competitive salaries and make a real impact in the effort to prevent cybercrime.

“There is a desperate need for more cyber professionals, and not just in technical areas. Technical expertise is extremely valuable, but so are the governance and leadership dimensions. Australia needs the full gambit of trained and competent cyber-savvy individuals both behind the keyboard and in the board room," says Townsend.

Here are some jobs and industries you might pursue with a cyber security degree.

Private sector jobs in cyber security

• Chief Information Security Officer (CISO)
• Security Architect
• Data Protection Officer
• Penetration Tester
• Sales or Marketing Executive for a software company

Government roles in cyber security

• Information Security Analyst
• Cyber Crime Investigator with the AFP
• IT Auditor
• Incident Responder
• Cybercrime Policy Advisor

Research and education jobs in cyber security

• Cyber Safety Trainer
• Cyber Security Researcher
• Malware Analyst
• Cryptographer
• Professor or Curriculum Developer

A successful career in cyber security begins with a degree in cyber security. At UNSW, there are multiple pathways to study and join the field of cyber security. We offer undergraduate and postgraduate qualifications and degrees in cyber security, ranging from short courses to master’s degrees.

UNSW is a leader in cyber security research. The UNSW Institute for Cyber Security is dedicated to conducting multidisciplinary cyber security research, education, innovation and commercialisation. Working with academia, industry and government, the 100+ member institute is committed to protecting Australian citizens and residents, as well as our collective national security and economic prosperity. Our research has led to groundbreaking discoveries in machine learning, energy trading frameworks and the Internet of Things (IoT). 

All our cyber security programs are co-designed with industry professionals. We craft each course around real-world cyber security challenges, focusing on skills and competencies that are highly valued by industry, government and defence. 

We also ensure students have access to the latest tools and technology so they can graduate with the hands-on skills to make an impact from day one. Our facilities include a digital forensics lab and virtual learning environments where our students learn how to identify and manage cyber threats. 

“Here at UNSW, we’re investing in providing a broad range of educational offerings that will meet you wherever you are at," says Townsend. We have a well-rounded and industry-informed place for you to learn if you are a school leaver looking to start your first career, looking to transition to a new career in cyber, or simply double down and round out your skills as an existing cyber professional.”