Advanced Diploma of Cyber Security

Victorian accredited Advanced Diploma (22610VIC, accredited to 31 March 2028) for people with the Certificate IV in Cyber Security or two years of cyber security experience. Core units cover security frameworks, legal compliance, virtual computing, team leadership and a security project.

Entry requirements

Certificate IV in Cyber Security (22603VIC or the superseded 22334VIC) or equivalent
Or at least two years of cyber security work experience

What you will learn

22610VIC is a Victorian accredited course, accredited by the Victorian Registration and Qualifications Authority from 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2028. It replaced 22445VIC. The five core units are: Manage team effectiveness (BSBTWK502); Configure enterprise virtual computing environments (ICTNWK553); Interpret and utilise key security frameworks, policies and procedures for an organisation (VU23289); Plan and implement a cyber security project (VU23293); and Identify and monitor an organisation's cyber security legal compliance requirements (VU23294). Electives are grouped into streams, including general, intrusion analysis, penetration testing, security engineering and cloud security, with units such as gathering and validating digital forensic data, planning and conducting a security risk assessment, identity management and Active Directory security.

Skills you build

Applying security frameworks, policies and procedures
Monitoring legal and compliance obligations
Configuring enterprise virtual computing environments
Planning and delivering a cyber security project
Digital forensic data gathering (elective)
Security risk assessment (elective)
Identity management and Active Directory security (elective)

How the course runs

Delivery mode, length and fees are set by each provider. The accredited course document sets a total of 825 to 1,340 nominal hours, of which 280 hours are core units; the rest depends on the elective stream chosen. Check start dates, delivery mode and any Free TAFE eligibility with the provider.

How you will be assessed

Practical tasks in lab or simulated environments
Written knowledge tests per unit of competency
A cyber security project (core unit VU23293)

Workplace and placement

The course document does not require a work placement; the entry requirement of a Certificate IV or two years of experience means most students already have some security background. Pay depends on the employer, award or agreement; the careers listed below show sourced median earnings.

Typical employers

Security operations centres and managed security service providers
Government cyber security teams
Consulting firms with cyber security practices
Critical infrastructure operators

Is this the right course for you?

You probably thrive here if

You enjoy hands-on lab work and tinkering
You can self-direct learning at the pace of evolving threats
You can keep up with industry certifications (CISSP, OSCP path)
You can document findings clearly in incident reports
You can handle shift work in 24/7 SOCs

It is probably not for you if

You expect cybersecurity to be glamorous like in films
You struggle with self-directed learning
You cannot handle shift work in SOCs
You are not comfortable with constant change in threats and tools

After you finish

Graduates can move into security analyst, engineering or testing roles, depending on the stream studied, or continue to a cyber security degree. Ask universities directly about credit for this qualification. Industry certifications are often studied alongside.

Careers this leads to

Median full-time weekly earnings are for the whole occupation (all experience levels) from Your Career, not starting pay for new graduates of this course.