Custom Courses Information Technology (IT) and Digital Skills

Cyber Security Specialist Training

SAQA US AATICD-0096 | NQF 5 | Credits 10 | Duration 5 Days
From $1,242 per delegate

Description

This course equips learners with the knowledge and skills to identify, assess, and mitigate cyber threats in a corporate environment. Participants will learn to implement security controls, respond to incidents, and promote a culture of cybersecurity awareness. The course aligns with industry best practices and South African legislative requirements.

Learning Outcomes

  • Analyse common cyber threats and vulnerabilities in a business context.
  • Implement security controls to protect networks, systems, and data.
  • Evaluate security incidents and apply appropriate incident response procedures.
  • Design security policies and procedures aligned with organisational and legal requirements.
  • Demonstrate the use of security tools for monitoring and threat detection.
  • Apply ethical and legal principles in cybersecurity practices.

Target Audience

This course is designed for IT professionals, network administrators, and individuals responsible for information security within their organisations. It is also suitable for anyone seeking a career in cybersecurity.

Prerequisites

None — open enrollment.

Course Outline

Day 1: Foundations of Cyber Security

Objectives:
• Understand the core principles of cyber security and its importance.
• Identify common cyber threats, vulnerabilities, and attack vectors.
• Explain the concepts of confidentiality, integrity, and availability (CIA triad).
• Describe basic security controls and defence-in-depth strategies.

Topics:
• Introduction to cyber security: definitions and scope
• Cyber threat landscape: malware, phishing, ransomware, social engineering
• CIA triad and risk management fundamentals
• Security policies, standards, and compliance basics
• Overview of security controls: preventive, detective, corrective

Day 2: Network Security and Perimeter Defence

Objectives:
• Describe network architecture and common security zones.
• Configure basic firewall rules and access control lists.
• Understand intrusion detection and prevention systems (IDS/IPS).
• Implement VPNs and secure remote access.

Topics:
• Network topologies and segmentation
• Firewalls: types, rule sets, and best practices
• Intrusion detection and prevention systems
• Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) and encryption protocols
• Network monitoring and logging fundamentals

Day 3: Operating System and Endpoint Security

Objectives:
• Harden operating systems against common attacks.
• Implement endpoint protection solutions.
• Manage user accounts, permissions, and authentication.
• Apply patch management and vulnerability scanning.

Topics:
• OS hardening: Windows and Linux security configurations
• Endpoint protection: antivirus, anti-malware, EDR
• Identity and access management (IAM)
• Multi-factor authentication (MFA) and password policies
• Vulnerability assessment tools and remediation

Day 4: Application Security and Data Protection

Objectives:
• Identify common web application vulnerabilities (OWASP Top 10).
• Apply secure coding practices and input validation.
• Implement data encryption at rest and in transit.
• Understand backup and disaster recovery strategies.

Topics:
• Web application security: SQL injection, XSS, CSRF
• Secure software development lifecycle (SDLC)
• Cryptography: symmetric, asymmetric, hashing
• Data classification and encryption methods
• Backup strategies and business continuity planning

Day 5: Incident Response and Security Operations

Objectives:
• Develop an incident response plan and process.
• Conduct basic digital forensics and evidence handling.
• Use security information and event management (SIEM) tools.
• Understand ethical hacking and penetration testing methodologies.

Topics:
• Incident response lifecycle: preparation, detection, containment, eradication, recovery
• Digital forensics fundamentals: chain of custody, imaging
• SIEM: log collection, correlation, alerting
• Penetration testing phases: reconnaissance, scanning, exploitation
• Security operations centre (SOC) roles and responsibilities

Practicals

16 hours of practicals To be conducted online or on-campus or in-house
Overview

Hands-on practicals are essential to reinforce theoretical concepts and build technical competence. Learners will engage in simulated lab environments to configure security tools, respond to incidents, and perform basic penetration testing.

Practical Activities
  • Lab 1: Network Security Configuration — Set up a small network with a firewall, configure ACLs, and monitor traffic using Wireshark. (4h)
  • Lab 2: Endpoint Hardening and Vulnerability Scanning — Harden a Windows and Linux machine, then run vulnerability scans using OpenVAS. (4h)
  • Lab 3: Web Application Security Testing — Use a deliberately vulnerable web app (DVWA) to exploit common vulnerabilities and apply fixes. (4h)
  • Lab 4: Incident Response and Forensics — Simulate a security incident, perform containment, collect evidence, and analyse logs. (4h)

Summatives

Each delegate is assessed continuously throughout the course via daily exercises, scored practical assignments, and a final summative test at the end.

Practical Assignments — 30%

Practical assignments are observed and scored against a rubric during the practical sessions. Each delegate's practical mark is averaged into a single 100% score and contributes 30% to the final total.

Daily Exercises — 20%

Every training day ends with a multiple-choice exercise scored out of 100%. The scores from each daily exercise are averaged across the duration of the course to produce a Daily Average mark, which contributes 20% to the final total.

Final Test — 50%

On the last day a final summative test is written. It is a multiple-choice paper with multiple-answer questions: each question may have more than one correct option, and a single wrong selection on a question marks the entire question wrong — no partial credit. The final test is scored out of 100% and contributes 50% to the overall mark.

Final Total
Component Out of Weight
Practical Assignments (rubric-scored) 100% 30%
Daily Average (multiple choice) 100% 20%
Final Test (multi-answer multiple choice) 100% 50%
Final Total 100%

All marks are recorded on the AATICD LMS and visible to each learner under their account.

Certificate

Certificate of Completion

Awarded to delegates who achieve an overall mark of 50% or higher on the Final Total (Practicals 30% + Daily Average 20% + Final Test 50%).

How it works
  • Certificates are auto-generated on the AATICD LMS as soon as the marks pass the 50% threshold.
  • Each certificate is a branded PDF with the delegate's name, the course title, the unit standard ID, NQF level, credits, and the date of issue.
  • You can download or print your certificate from your LMS dashboard at any time after issue — there's no reissue fee and no expiry date.
  • If you scored under 50% you can sit the final test again at the next scheduled session at no extra cost.
Where to find it

Sign in to the LMS, open your dashboard, and your certificates appear under My Certificates. Each entry has a View / Download button and a print option.

Training Discounts

Group discounts apply automatically — the more delegates you enrol, the greater the saving. Discounts are calculated at 3% per 5 delegates, scaling up to 40% off for 100+ delegates.

Delegates Discount
5 3% off
10 6% off
15 9% off
20 12% off
25 15% off
30 18% off
50 30% off
75 35% off
100 40% off

3% discount per 5 delegates, up to 40% off for 100+ delegates. Contact us for a custom group quote.

Upcoming Training Sessions
Online training — attend live sessions from anywhere via our virtual classroom.
Start End Delivery Season Price Action
Mon 07 Sep 2026 Fri 11 Sep 2026 Virtual Spring 2026 $1,242 Register
Mon 21 Sep 2026 Fri 25 Sep 2026 Virtual Spring 2026 $1,242 Register
Mon 05 Oct 2026 Fri 09 Oct 2026 Virtual Spring 2026 $1,242 Register
Mon 07 Dec 2026 Fri 11 Dec 2026 Virtual Summer 2026 $1,242 Register
Mon 04 Jan 2027 Fri 08 Jan 2027 Virtual Summer 2026 $1,242 Register
Mon 01 Feb 2027 Fri 05 Feb 2027 Virtual Summer 2026 $1,242 Register
Mon 01 Mar 2027 Fri 05 Mar 2027 Virtual Autumn 2027 $1,242 Register
Mon 07 Jun 2027 Fri 11 Jun 2027 Virtual Winter 2027 $1,242 Register
Mon 21 Jun 2027 Fri 25 Jun 2027 Virtual Winter 2027 $1,242 Register
Mon 05 Jul 2027 Fri 09 Jul 2027 Virtual Winter 2027 $1,242 Register
Mon 06 Sep 2027 Fri 10 Sep 2027 Virtual Spring 2027 $1,242 Register
Mon 20 Sep 2027 Fri 24 Sep 2027 Virtual Spring 2027 $1,242 Register
Mon 04 Oct 2027 Fri 08 Oct 2027 Virtual Spring 2027 $1,242 Register
Mon 06 Dec 2027 Fri 10 Dec 2027 Virtual Summer 2027 $1,242 Register
Mon 20 Dec 2027 Fri 24 Dec 2027 Virtual Summer 2027 $1,242 Register
Mon 03 Jan 2028 Fri 07 Jan 2028 Virtual Summer 2027 $1,242 Register
On-Campus training — face-to-face sessions at our training venues across Africa and beyond.
Showing all 432 sessions across 26 venues
Start End Venue Season Price Action
Mon 13 Jul 2026 Fri 17 Jul 2026 Dar es Salaam, Tanzania Winter 2026 $3,834 Register
Mon 13 Jul 2026 Fri 17 Jul 2026 Accra, Ghana Winter 2026 $4,482 Register
Mon 20 Jul 2026 Fri 24 Jul 2026 Johannesburg, South Africa Winter 2026 $2,592 Register
Mon 20 Jul 2026 Fri 24 Jul 2026 Lagos, Nigeria Winter 2026 $4,482 Register
Mon 27 Jul 2026 Fri 31 Jul 2026 Cape Town, South Africa Winter 2026 $3,078 Register
In-House training — we bring the trainer to your organisation, tailored to your team.
Start End Delivery Season Price Action
Mon 14 Sep 2026 Fri 18 Sep 2026 Your Premises Spring 2026 $1,615 Register
Mon 28 Sep 2026 Fri 02 Oct 2026 Your Premises Spring 2026 $1,615 Register
Mon 12 Oct 2026 Fri 16 Oct 2026 Your Premises Spring 2026 $1,615 Register
Mon 14 Dec 2026 Fri 18 Dec 2026 Your Premises Summer 2026 $1,615 Register
Mon 11 Jan 2027 Fri 15 Jan 2027 Your Premises Summer 2026 $1,615 Register
Mon 08 Feb 2027 Fri 12 Feb 2027 Your Premises Summer 2026 $1,615 Register
Mon 08 Mar 2027 Fri 12 Mar 2027 Your Premises Autumn 2027 $1,615 Register
Mon 14 Jun 2027 Fri 18 Jun 2027 Your Premises Winter 2027 $1,615 Register
Mon 28 Jun 2027 Fri 02 Jul 2027 Your Premises Winter 2027 $1,615 Register
Mon 12 Jul 2027 Fri 16 Jul 2027 Your Premises Winter 2027 $1,615 Register
Mon 13 Sep 2027 Fri 17 Sep 2027 Your Premises Spring 2027 $1,615 Register
Mon 27 Sep 2027 Fri 01 Oct 2027 Your Premises Spring 2027 $1,615 Register
Mon 11 Oct 2027 Fri 15 Oct 2027 Your Premises Spring 2027 $1,615 Register
Mon 13 Dec 2027 Fri 17 Dec 2027 Your Premises Summer 2027 $1,615 Register
Mon 27 Dec 2027 Fri 31 Dec 2027 Your Premises Summer 2027 $1,615 Register
Mon 10 Jan 2028 Fri 14 Jan 2028 Your Premises Summer 2027 $1,615 Register
Training Discounts
Delegates Discount
5 3% off
10 6% off
15 9% off
20 12% off
25 15% off
30 18% off
50 30% off
75 35% off
100 40% off

3% off per 5 delegates, up to 40% for 100+

View Sessions & Register Get A Quote Download Course Brochure
Have an account?

Sign in to track your applications and manage your cart.

Related Courses

Other Custom Courses courses at NQF level 5 learners on this page also viewed.

Browse the full Custom Courses category for custom courses training programmes.
GET A QUOTE / APPLY COURSE CATALOGUE