This article will guide prospective individuals who wish to become cybersecurity professionals on the best cybersecurity schools in Alberta so they can make a more informed decision.
Alberta has emerged as a technological powerhouse, fostering an environment that thrives on innovation and cutting-edge advancements.
The province’s strong economy and vibrant tech industry make it an ideal destination for pursuing a cybersecurity education. In this blog series, we will provide an overview of each institution, including its program offerings.
Why Study Cybersecurity in Alberta?
Alberta’s cybersecurity programs benefit from collaborations with industry leaders, access to state-of-the-art resources, and opportunities for hands-on learning. Studying cybersecurity here will help you gain valuable insights and experiences that will prepare you for a successful career.
In 2021, Alberta Enterprise Corporation reported that the province has become home to over 3,000 technology companies, experiencing about a 233% boost since 2012.
While this technology growth in Alberta is important, it also means that cyber attackers have become smarter with cybercrime. The Albertan Government in response to this issue releases different cybersecurity strategies to combat these challenges.
There is, therefore, a high demand for individuals interested in exploring various cybersecurity career options in the province.
Top Cybersecurity Schools in Alberta
[N/B: The schools listed here are arranged alphabetically and not by their rankings.]1. Alison College
First on our list of schools that offer post-secondary cybersecurity education in Alberta is Alison College located in Calgary.
The school offers a diploma program in Information Technology and Cyber Security, this program is designed to give prospective students a foundation to become cybersecurity specialists.
Students will learn to identify, analyze, and mitigate threats to internal IT systems and/or networks.
2. Athabasca University
Founded in 1970, Athabasca University is one of the schools in Alberta offering a high-quality Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Information Security (PBC-IS).
This certificate program is mainly for students who already possess an undergraduate degree or working professionals who are already in the IT sector or seeking work in the information security sector.
Graduates of this program will be competent to use complex cybersecurity software, they can also advance to become computer security specialists, IT specialists, security analysts, and system analysts.
3. Bow Valley College
Bow Valley College is a public, board-governed college operating as a comprehensive community institution under the Post-Secondary Learning Act of Alberta. They are also one of the schools offering the best cybersecurity courses in Calgary leading to a certificate program focusing on operating systems.
The students will learn the basics and fundamentals of computer forensics and network protocols, they’ll learn how to design and implement secure computation solutions.
Graduates can pursue a career in penetration testing, application security, malware analysis, etc.
4. CDI College
CDI College offers a 74-week cybersecurity specialist diploma program in Alberta, they have campuses in Calgary and Edmonton.
This cybersecurity course program is designed to give students essential cybersecurity skills and they will learn how to manage networks and computers, cybersecurity techniques, digital forensics, and more.
CDI College’s cybersecurity program will also prepare the student to write industry certification exams such as; Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA) A+, Net+, Security+, CySA+, PenTest+; and Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA).
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5. Concordia University of Edmonton (CUE)
The Concordia University of Edmonton is a publicly funded independent academic institution and also one of the most talked-about cybersecurity schools in Edmonton, offering;
- A Graduate Diploma in Information Assurance
- A Graduate in Information Security Systems
- A Master of Information System Assurance Management
- A Master of Information Systems Security Management
6. Mount Royal University
Mount Royal University is a public university and one of the cybersecurity post-secondary schools in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
Mount Royal University offers a cybersecurity foundational certificate program for students to strengthen their IT skills after which they can apply for the advanced certificate program.
These programs will help to prepare students to earn the Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) designation from the International Information Systems Security Certification Consortium (ISC)².
7. Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT)
Northern Alberta Institute of Technology is a very prestigious school in Edmonton, Alberta and the school offers three cybersecurity certificate course programs which include;
- Core Security +
- Enterprise Security Certificate
- System Security
The core security plus certificate is mainly for junior or intermediate network support workers who wish to increase their skill set.
The Enterprise Security certificate program is mainly for students who wish to explore the business aspect of cybersecurity, the students will learn risk management, business continuity, how to become a cybersecurity sales engineer, and disaster control.
The Security Certificate is designed for students who wish to become cybersecurity system administrators and be responsible for controlling various security technologies.
8. Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT)
If you are interested in enrolling in a cybersecurity program in Calgary, SAIT is one of the most recommended schools to get into.
Established in 1916, Southern Alberta Institute of Technology is a very respected polytechnic institute offering more than 110 career programs in technology, trades, and business.
The school offers cybersecurity certificate programs that give you the choice to venture into any, they include;
- Cybersecurity for control systems
- Information security analysis
- Information Systems Security
- IT Security certificate of achievement
Graduates of these programs can pursue careers in becoming threat and incident managers, malware analysts, penetration testers, CISOs, database administrators, etc.
9. University of Alberta
Founded in 1908, the University of Alberta is a public research university located in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. The school offers a certificate program in cybersecurity with a concentration on Information Access and Protection of Privacy.
Understanding the legislation around access and privacy of information will let you explore cybersecurity organizations and guide decisions about private and public sensitive information.
The program is designed with the best theories and practices involved in administrating access and privacy legislation to both the public and private sectors.
Related: 6 University of Alberta Scholarships For International Students
10. University of Calgary
The University of Calgary offers a bachelor’s degree in computer science for undergraduate students with a major in security and two graduate certificate programs in network security and software security.
The undergraduate program teaches students foundational cybersecurity subjects such as; cryptography, computer viruses, and network security.
The graduate certificate program in network security grooms students with the skills required in securing networks, ethical hacking, and identifying potential vulnerabilities.
The software certificate program teaches students how to create secured gateway systems, and how to use sophisticated cybersecurity software, just to mention a few.
Related: Best IT & Cybersecurity Schools in Nova Scotia & Programs
Frequently Asked Questions
Which degree is best for cyber security?
Some of the best degrees for a career in cybersecurity include a computer science degree, computer programming, a degree in database management, network administration, and Information Technology Management.
Is Cybersecurity hard?
Because of the way cybersecurity is portrayed, a lot of people often consider it a very hard program, but it isn’t actually.
There is no denying that it involves difficult and technical concepts, however, you don’t need to have a very techy background to excel in it, as long as you are a person who enjoys solving problems, you can do well in it.
Why should you study cybersecurity in Canada?
Canada is a very nice place to get your education, there are various opportunities to explore, and most of the provinces have high ICT employment.
The provinces with the highest number of cybersecurity jobs include Ontario with 403,067, Québec is second with 222,133 IT professionals employed, followed by British Columbia (111,033) and Alberta (75,467).
Who regulates cybersecurity in Canada?
The Communication Securities Establishment is responsible for regulating cybersecurity operations in Canada.
Conclusion
To fill the demand for cybersecurity opportunities in Alberta and explore other opportunities in Canada and beyond, you need to get the required cybersecurity education.
These schools listed here offer the best cybersecurity courses in the city, you can also check out other top-ranking cybersecurity schools in other locations.
