Master of Information Security (MSIS)

Program Description

Master of Information Security (MS IS) program at PAF-IAST aims to provide solid knowledge and practical skills of security in information and network systems. Main focus of MS IS program is on systems and networks security, risk and data management, preventative measures, computer ethics, digital signatures, and cryptography. Students of this specialized program will learn how to identify threats, vulnerabilities and privacy issues pertaining to cyberspace. Likewise they will obtain exposure to integrate security into mobile computing platform and explore methods for holding cloud stakeholders accountable for the privacy and confidentiality of data in mobile systems. Students will also develop understanding of structured risk management process that involves identifying information and related assets, plus potential threats, vulnerabilities and impacts, evaluating the risks, and risks mitigations.

Why Study at PAF IAST?

Location and Ambience

Natural mountains nestle PAF IAST that flank its campus from all sides. The institute offers one  ravishing view of snow-capped peaks of Nathiagali and natural winding trails. Furthermore, to its north-west is Tarbela Lake, a journey of only a few kilometers from the campus. Moreover, set in the middle of the campus is a natural lake, fed by the springs of surrounding mountains. The campus is just a 3-kilometer drive from the Hazara Motorway. This results in an ideal setting equally conducive to academic activity. Most importantly, major cities like Islamabad, Abbottabad, are just an hour’s drive, while small towns like Wah, Hasanabadal, Taxila, and Swabi can be reached in just half an hour.

Technology Advancement and Foreign Partnership

This institute is an emerging center of excellences, with its own technology park. Therefore, all faculty members hold PhD degrees in appropriate disciplines. By virtue of its wide array of facilities and the facilitation for its students to learn. Furthermore, they benefit both from classroom teaching and faculty trained at premier Austrian universities/institutions. The institution is ideally cut out for imparting state-of–the-art engineering and allied education in Pakistan. Moreover, the institute enjoys close linkages with top ranking universities in Austria and China. As a result, we have already concluded with them formal agreements regarding student and faculty exchange programs, provision of dual degrees in certain areas, and the training support from foreign faculty. 

Academia-Industry Relationship

There is a strong relationship between academia and industry. As a result, this paves the way for job opportunities for students even in the midst of their studies. PAF IAST will serve as a welcome platform for the industry to share their requirements for a skilled workforce. Therefore, this will enable the institute to incorporate their valuable inputs in practical vocational training and expose the students to industrial perspectives.

On-Spot Industry Internship

Firstly, it will be a mandatory requirement for every student to do an internship every semester in an appropriate industry. Secondly, this will garner them practical experience related to their respective degree programs. To crown it all, Technology Park will afford them rare opportunities to apply themselves innovatively and become promising entrepreneurs.

Need and Merit-based Scholarships

Different types of local and foreign scholarship opportunities are available on need and merit base.

Associated Careers

With 6 billion active mobile subscriptions, and around 50% increase per year of tablet adoption, smart phones, handheld devices, and tablets are now an integral part of the mobile office. Business owners are always on the go overseeing multiple locations, servicing customers, and managing suppliers. With security management apps, we can have the ability to interact with systems from a mobile device and have the freedom to manage virtually all security controls as if we were on premises. In this Context, there is high demand of workforce who can efficiently implement the security mechanism on the advanced systems and communication technologies. The main aim of this program is to fulfill the growing national need of well-trained professionals to work in a wide range of roles to protect Information Systems in all types of organizations, including research and academia. Graduates of MS IS program are envisioned to play key role in success of organizations especially tech-companies and financial-institutions while managing access to corporate resources according to approved practices and policies and protecting the IT infrastructure against internal and external attack.

MS Information Security Course Outline

Semester 1

Code

Course Title

Credit Hours

Labs

Total

COMP-###

Advanced Analysis of Algorithms (Core Course)

3

 

COMP-###

Information Privacy and Security (Core Course)

3

 

3

COMP-###

Elective-I

3

 

3

SS-###

Research Methodology

2

 

 

 

Total Credit Hours

 

 

9

Semester 2

Code

Course Title

Credit Hours

Labs

Total

COMP-###

Cryptography (Core Course)

3

 

3

COMP-###

Elective-II

3

 

3

COMP-###

Elective-III

3

 

3

 

Total Credit Hours

10

 

9

Semester 3

Code

Course Title

Credit Hours

Labs

Total

COMP-821

Research Work

3

 

3

COMP-###

Elective-IV

3

 

3

 

Total Credit Hours

6

 

6

Semester 4

Code

Course Title

Credit Hours

Labs

 

COMP-892

Thesis

3

    

3

COMP-###

Elective-V

3

 

3

 

Total Credit Hours

6

 

6