- Home
- Programs
- Technology & IT
- Cybersecurity Specialist Diploma
Cybersecurity Specialist Diploma
Go deep across the full cybersecurity field — from foundations and ethical hacking to SOC operations, GRC, cloud security and forensics.
On this pageProgram overview
The program
Program overview
The Cybersecurity Specialist Diploma is our most comprehensive security program, covering the full breadth of the field across 22 areas of study and 940 instructional hours.
You will progress from foundations and threat analysis through application and network defense, penetration testing, secure development, governance/risk/compliance (GRC), Security Operations Centre (SOC) work, cloud security and digital forensics — graduating ready to specialize as a cybersecurity professional.
Is this program right for you?
The Cybersecurity Specialist Diploma is a good fit if:
- You are curious about how systems are attacked and defended
- You have some IT experience and want to specialize in security — or you want the full path from fundamentals
- You like investigation, detail and staying ahead of new threats
- You want deep, hands-on training you can complete online
What you’ll learn
- Apply core cybersecurity and information-security principles
- Secure networks, operating systems and endpoints
- Analyze malware, threats and attack techniques
- Test web applications and conduct penetration testing
- Write secure code and secure the SDLC
- Run a SOC: monitoring, detection and incident response
- Apply GRC: governance, risk management and compliance
- Secure cloud environments (AWS, Azure, GCP) and perform digital forensics
Curriculum
22 focused courses of guided online learning.
- Foundations
- Foundations of Cybersecurity
- Information Security Fundamentals
- Networking and Operating Systems Security
- Threats & Attack Techniques
- Cyber Threats and Attack Techniques
- Malware and Threat Analysis
- Social Engineering and Phishing
- Application & Network Defense
- Web Application Security
- Web Application Penetration Testing
- Secure Coding Practices
- Network Security
- Endpoint Security
- Secure Software Development
- Governance, Risk & Operations
- GRC: Governance, Risk Management & Compliance
- The GRC Analyst Role
- Risk Management and Compliance
- Security Operations Centre (SOC)
- SOC Key Functions
- Documentation & Policies
- Advanced, Cloud & Forensics
- Cloud Security (AWS, Azure, GCP)
- Advanced Cryptography
- Incident Management & Digital Forensics
- Emerging Technologies & Trends
Admission requirements
- High school diploma or equivalent (mature-student admission may be available)
- English language proficiency
- Basic computer literacy
- Reliable computer and high-speed internet for online study
How much time will it take?
Ucademy is flexible and largely self-paced. As a guide, you can study part-time at about 12–15 hours a week and finish in roughly 15 months, or go faster full-time and finish in around 8 months. You choose the pace that fits your work and family life — and you can start whenever you are ready.
Careers
Career outcomes
Graduates are prepared for specialist roles across the cybersecurity field.
- Cybersecurity Specialist
- SOC Analyst
- Penetration Tester
- GRC Analyst
- Incident Response / Forensics Analyst
- Cloud Security Analyst
Helps prepare for: CompTIA Security+, CompTIA CySA+, CompTIA PenTest+, EC-Council CEH, (ISC)2 Certified in Cybersecurity
Career outlook & salaries in Alberta
Typical roles and wage ranges for related occupations in Alberta. Source: Government of Canada Job Bank & Alberta alis labour-market data.
Cybersecurity Specialist
$35.40–$87.09/hrmedian $50.51/hr · NOC 21220Protect systems, networks and data from threats.
Information Security Analyst
$35.40–$87.09/hrmedian $50.51/hr · NOC 21220Monitor, assess and strengthen security posture.
SOC Analyst
$35.40–$87.09/hrmedian $50.51/hr · NOC 21220Detect, investigate and respond to security incidents.
Wages vary by employer, experience and location and are not guaranteed. Figures are Job Bank Alberta hourly wages (low–high and median) for related occupations, provided for general guidance. For cybersecurity specialists they are Statistics Canada model estimates for 2024; see the details below.
The numbers behind this career
Official data about the occupation at the top of this field, cybersecurity specialists, and about two nearby roles. It describes these jobs across Alberta — not what Ucademy students will earn — and it shows the less favourable figures as well as the good ones. Please read the first box before the wage figures.
View the data as a table
| cybersecurity specialists | user support technicians | all occupations | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Above bachelor’s level (master’s, doctorate) | 20% | 8% | 9% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 34% | 28% | 21% |
| College certificate or diploma | 32% | 33% | 19% |
| High school | 11% | 20% | 28% |
| Apprenticeship or trades certificate | <5% | 8% | 13% |
| No high school diploma | <5% | <5% | 10% |
More on this question: How to Break Into Cybersecurity in Canada Without a Degree.
Source: Job Bank educational attainment — NOC 21220, NOC 22221 · Alberta.
Source: Job Bank outlook and key facts — NOC 21220 · recent trends Jul 28, 2026.
Hiring figures: Alberta Wage and Salary Survey 2023 (alis) — NOC 21220 · employer survey, 2023.
The hiring figures are employers’ own reports in a 2023 survey, a snapshot in time. They do not say which qualifications employers found hard to find. Job Bank does not show a full-time share for this occupation.
View the data as a table
| Area | Low | Median | High | Data |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cybersecurity (21220) | $35.40/hr | $50.51/hr | $87.09/hr | Statistics Canada model estimate, 2024 |
| Network technicians (22220) | $21.00/hr | $38.67/hr | $55.00/hr | Labour Force Survey, 2023–2024 |
| User support (22221) | $20.19/hr | $30.00/hr | $57.69/hr | Labour Force Survey, 2023–2024 |
The cybersecurity row is a Statistics Canada model estimate for 2024 (marked *); the other two are Labour Force Survey results for 2023–2024, so compare them with care. Wages depend on the employer, experience and location and are not guaranteed.
Source: Job Bank wages — NOC 21220, NOC 22220, NOC 22221 · wages updated Nov 19, 2025; outlook updated Dec 10, 2025.
| Cybersecurity specialists | Computer network technicians | User support technicians | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Occupation group | NOC 21220 | NOC 22220 | NOC 22221 |
| Usual entry requirement (Job Bank) | University degree (summary page); requirements page also lists a college program in a computer-related field | College diploma, apprenticeship of 2+ years, or supervisory experience | College diploma, apprenticeship of 2+ years, or supervisory experience |
| Alberta median wage | $50.51/hr (2024 model estimate) | $38.67/hr | $30.00/hr |
| Outlook 2025–2027, Alberta | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate |
| Employed in Alberta | ~2,750 | ~4,000 | ~9,700 |
| Work full-time | not shown by Job Bank | 93% | 93% |
| Work all year | 79% | 79% | 73% |
| Largest industry | Computer systems design 37% | Computer systems design 32% | Computer systems design 39% |
| Non-wage benefits, Alberta (Canada) | 99.7% (96.2%) | 91% (87.4%) | 86.1% (92.9%) |
| Employers that hired in the last 2 years (alis 2023) | 59% | 34% | 48% |
| … of those, had trouble hiring | 62% | 16% | 15% |
Source: Job Bank outlook and key facts — NOC 21220, NOC 22220, NOC 22221 · wages updated Nov 19, 2025; outlook updated Dec 10, 2025.
Source: Alberta Wage and Salary Survey 2023 (alis) — NOC 21220, NOC 22220, NOC 22221 · employer survey, 2023.
View the data as a table
| Area | Low | Median | High | Data |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alberta | $35.40/hr | $50.51/hr | $87.09/hr | Statistics Canada model estimate, 2024 |
| Athabasca–Grande Prairie | not published | — | — | — |
| Banff–Jasper | not published | — | — | — |
| Calgary | $35.60/hr | $50.13/hr | $89.48/hr | Statistics Canada model estimate, 2024 |
| Camrose–Drumheller | not published | — | — | — |
| Edmonton | $36.88/hr | $50.48/hr | $72.06/hr | Statistics Canada model estimate, 2024 |
| Lethbridge–Medicine Hat | $36.28/hr | $49.20/hr | $71.79/hr | Statistics Canada model estimate, 2024 |
| Red Deer | not published | — | — | — |
| Wood Buffalo–Cold Lake | not published | — | — | — |
| Canada | $30.00/hr | $49.52/hr | $72.12/hr | Labour Force Survey, 2023–2024 |
Every wage figure for this occupation, including the Alberta row, is a Statistics Canada model estimate for 2024 (marked *), not a 2023–2024 survey result. Job Bank publishes regional figures for only Calgary, Edmonton and Lethbridge–Medicine Hat. The range is wide ($35.40 to $87.09 across Alberta), and these wages describe the occupation as a whole, where many workers hold a bachelor’s degree or higher (see the education chart); they are not a forecast for diploma graduates.
Source: Job Bank wages — NOC 21220 · wages updated Nov 19, 2025; outlook updated Dec 10, 2025.
| Alberta | Athabasca–Grande Prairie | Banff–Jasper | Calgary | Camrose–Drumheller | Edmonton | Lethbridge–Medicine Hat | Red Deer | Wood Buffalo–Cold Lake | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cybersecurity specialist NOC 21220 | Moderate | Undetermined | Undetermined | Moderate | Undetermined | Moderate | Undetermined | Undetermined | Undetermined |
| Computer network technician NOC 22220 | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Undetermined | Moderate | Moderate | Undetermined | Undetermined |
| User support technician NOC 22221 | Moderate | Limited | Limited | Moderate | Limited | Moderate | Limited | Moderate | Limited |
For cybersecurity specialists only Alberta, Calgary and Edmonton are rated Moderate; the other six regions are Undetermined. Job Bank expects a moderate number of new positions but not many openings from retirements. For network technicians, Job Bank says most opportunities will be in Calgary or Edmonton; user support technicians are rated Limited in five regions.
Source: Job Bank outlooks · updated Dec 10, 2025.
| Starting | Overall | Top | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cybersecurity specialists (21220) | $40.28 | $46.94 | $51.30 |
| Computer network technicians (22220) | $34.28 | $40.59 | $47.84 |
| User support technicians (22221) | $31.39 | $38.75 | $42.36 |
“Starting” is the average pay employers report for entry-level positions with that job title — not what any program’s graduates earn. This is a separate survey from Job Bank, so the numbers differ. For cybersecurity specialists and network technicians the “Starting” figures reflect employers’ hires into those job titles, who are often degree-holders or experienced workers, so they should not be read as expected pay for a new certificate or diploma graduate.
Source: Alberta Wage and Salary Survey 2023 (alis) — NOC 21220, NOC 22220, NOC 22221 · employer survey, 2023.
- Computer systems design services 37%
- Information and cultural industries 7%
- Central bank, securities and related financial activities 7%
- Provincial and territorial public administration 6%
- Management and administrative services 5%
- All other sectors 38%
Source: Job Bank, workers by industry (NOC 21220) · Alberta.
Data checked October 19, 2026: Job Bank wages updated Nov 19, 2025, outlooks Dec 10, 2025, recent employment trends Jul 28, 2026; Alberta Wage and Salary Survey 2023. All cybersecurity specialist wages, including Alberta, are Statistics Canada model estimates for 2024. Occupation data, not a program outcome. Ucademy has no graduates yet.
Where graduates work in Alberta
Security teams exist in Alberta's energy and utilities sector (including operational technology), banks and credit unions, insurers, healthcare, government and municipalities, and at managed security service providers (MSSPs) that run security operations centres for many clients.
| Role | Occupation group (NOC 2021) | Learn more |
|---|---|---|
| Cybersecurity specialist / analyst | NOC21220Cybersecurity specialists | What Does a Cybersecurity Analyst Do? Role, Skills & Salary in Alberta |
| SOC analyst | NOC21220Cybersecurity specialists | Cybersecurity Jobs in Alberta: Career Paths, Salaries and How to Break In |
| Penetration tester (junior) | NOC21220Cybersecurity specialists | How to Break Into Cybersecurity in Canada Without a Degree |
| GRC or compliance analyst | NOC21222Information systems specialists | Cybersecurity Certifications Explained: Where to Start in Alberta |
| Network security technician | NOC22220Computer network and web technicians | Network Administrator Careers in Canada: Skills, Certifications, and Pathways |
NOC is the National Occupational Classification used by Job Bank and alis. You can look up wages and outlooks for each group in our Alberta salary calculator or on alis. Job titles and hiring vary by employer; Ucademy does not guarantee employment.
Working conditions
What the work is usually like day to day. It varies by employer, so ask about it in interviews.
- Hours. Security operations centres run around the clock, so shift work and on-call duty are common, especially in entry-level roles.
- The work itself. Monitoring alerts, investigating incidents under pressure and writing clear reports; a real incident can mean long days.
- Background checks. Security roles commonly require a police information check, and some government or critical-infrastructure roles need a security clearance.
Where this career can lead
Security careers often start in a SOC or IT role and grow into senior analyst, incident responder, penetration tester, security engineer or GRC specialist positions. With experience and advanced certifications, some professionals move into security architecture or leadership roles.
Studying
A typical study week
Ucademy is self-paced, so you decide when you study. Studying part-time at the recommended pace, a week usually looks like this:
- Study a security domain — for example network defence, threat analysis or digital forensics
- Practise in browser-based labs: analyse server logs and script security checks in Python
- Write up findings the way security teams report them
- Review practice questions aligned with certifications such as CompTIA Security+
You can slow down during busy weeks and speed up when you have more time. Learner success staff check in if you fall behind.
Skills, tools and industry certifications
What you will practise and use throughout the program:
- Network security, firewalls and secure configuration
- Security monitoring, SIEM and incident response
- Ethical hacking and vulnerability assessment
- Digital forensics fundamentals
- Cloud security and governance, risk and compliance (GRC)
Certifications
Course content supports preparation for recognized certifications such as CompTIA Security+ and CompTIA CySA+, and gives you a foundation for more advanced credentials later. Certification exams are registered and paid separately.
How you will study
Recorded lectures are combined with browser-based labs where you practise security analysis hands-on. The diploma covers 22 areas of study at your own pace, with instructors available for help.
Cost & next steps
What else to budget for besides tuition
- A computer, webcam and headset that meet the technology requirements, and reliable high-speed internet.
- Textbooks, e-books and software. Your enrolment contract will list exactly what is included in tuition and what is not.
- Industry certification exams such as CompTIA Security+ are optional and paid to the exam provider, unless your enrolment contract says otherwise.
Tuition and any fees will be published before enrolment opens, and no tuition is collected before then. The funding finder shows which ways to pay may fit you.
Paying for your program
Most students combine more than one source of funding. Options to explore:
Your next steps
- Read the syllabus.Download the full program outline from the panel at the top of this page.Download syllabus
- Check the fit.Take the 1-minute program quiz or compare programs side by side.
- Talk to an advisor.Book a free info session — no cost, no commitment.Book an Info Session
- Stay informed.Request information and we will tell you as soon as intakes open.Request Information
Related programs
See all online technology and IT programs or browse career paths.