Indian Institute of Technology Madras and Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur have jointly launched a four-year Bachelor of Cybersecurity (B.Cyber) program in India.) program, which will start with the academic year from July 2026. The higher education courses have been started in order to meet the need for people who are well-educated in cyber security and include academic courses and additional courses.The project is designed to prepare students to safeguard India’s growing digital, technology sector and the emerging cyber ecosystem. Accreditation of the program is being done jointly with IIT Madras and IIT Kanpur. Graduates will be prepared for jobs in cyber security, security environments, penetration testing, risk assessment, digital analysis, malware analysis, cloud security, hardware security and critical security, and will also receive a foundation for higher education and research.
Cybersecurity was recognized as a national priority
As the digital revolution expands in governance, finance, healthcare, transportation, telecommunications, manufacturing and security, cybersecurity has become a global priority. Industry estimates cited by these organizations show a global shortfall of approximately 1.5 million cybersecurity professionals, highlighting the need for dedicated graduate education.The program introduces a structured approach that combines classroom learning, laboratory studies and hands-on experience with real-world cybersecurity practices and challenges throughout the degree.
The two-year deployment forms the basis of the training
The most important part of the program is the two-year Field Deployment Professional course. During the final four semesters, students will work on real-life cybersecurity projects under the guidance of experts from smart and complex organizations. The aim is to ensure that these graduates enter the workforce with the skills to support and prepare for education.Skill-based courses cover Security Practices, Vulnerability Assessment and Penetration Testing, Security Strategies, Malware Analysis, Firmware Reverse Engineering, Hardware Security, Cloud Security and Critical Infrastructure Security. Students can also choose advanced electives, including Digital Forensics, Embedded Systems Security, Secure Processor Microarchitecture and Applied Cryptography.
Focus on laboratory-based studies
The first two years will emphasize laboratory-based courses in computing, programming, Linux administration, cryptography, computer organization, operating systems, computer systems, hacking behaviors, cyber security, threat assessment and penetration testing before students move to advanced technology and field deployments.Explaining the project, the Director of IIT Madras Prof. V. Kamakoti said, “Cybersecurity has become an important part of India’s national security and technology governance. Building a sustainable cyber system requires professionals with a solid foundation and experience in protecting complex systems.”