TAFE NSW is helping to produce the cybercrime-fighting heroes of tomorrow with the highly acclaimed, industry-recognised Bachelor of Information Technology (Network Security).

Heroes like Fariha Uddin, who has just landed her dream job with information security firm Shearwater Solutions and is ready to defend Australian companies from cyber threats.

Originally from Bangladesh, Fariha completed her HSC and was looking to study as an international student in Australia. She decided to take the leap into a lucrative career in cyber security and enrol in the Bachelor of Information Technology (Network Security).

The cyber security sector is booming, with an unprecedented demand for professionals who can secure and monitor IT systems and protect personal and organisational privacy in cyber space.

Fariha said, “When I looked at all my options for study I could see that the course structure at TAFE NSW was highly practical and I would have the opportunity to immediately dive into the coursework.

“I was a little bit nervous but as soon as I started I knew I was in the perfect environment to learn the skills I needed for a job in Information Technology. The teachers were all so helpful and supportive.”

“The small course size was one of the best parts. Whilst my friends were all learning in huge lectures halls full of people, I was getting the benefit of one on one attention and support from my teachers.”

As part of a capstone project for her final year of study, Shearwater Solutions set Fariha a unique project. She was tasked with creating a monitoring system, which would enhance a company’s ability to protect its email systems from cyberattack.

Fariha quickly developed skills in data manipulation, statistical computing, and visualisation and developed a proof of concept solution that animated email transactions across an organisation and over time.

When Fariha finished her degree, Shearwater Solutions employed her fulltime in their managed services department where the skills she developed during her degree and her project work will be applied daily to customer’s systems.

Fariha said, “The Bachelor of Information Technology (Network Security) allowed me to develop my skills in communication, problem solving and critical thinking.

“All of my TAFE NSW teachers had worked in the industry and had so much industry knowledge to share, they could tell me exactly what to do in real-life scenarios.”

Fariha said she was amazed at how much she was able to learn and how much of the practical skills she learnt help her in her day-to-day role.

“I just really want other students to know how great the degree at TAFE NSW was for me – I couldn’t recommend it more highly for those wanting to get into the rapidly expanding Cyber Security industry.”

To find out more about studying a degree in Information Technology (Cyber Security) at TAFE NSW in 2020, visit www.tafensw.edu.au or phone 131 601.

Media contact: Emma Cawley, TAFE NSW Media Officer, mobile 0412 478 415.