Studying cybersecurity in Turkey is an important specialization within "information security" that focuses on securing and protecting data and ensuring it does not fall into unauthorized hands ("hackers"). It involves networks, understanding cryptography, reverse engineering, and many related details.
In this article, we take you on a detailed tour of studying this specialization in Turkish universities, its advantages, the top universities offering it, and other relevant information.
How to Study Cybersecurity in Turkey
If you wish to study this specialization, you should begin by pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Information Systems Engineering in Turkey, which takes 4 years, and then proceed to a Master's in Cybersecurity for two years.
The study system varies by university, but they adhere to several criteria such as:
- The theoretical curriculum
- Practical applications
- The technologies covered in training
Studying a specialization of this type requires the following:
- A preparatory year studying Turkish or English depending on the language of instruction required. You can skip this step if you possess recognized certificates proving that you have completed courses in one of the languages.
- Passing the university entrance exam at the institution where you wish to enroll.
- Having all the required registration documents.
After completing your studies in "Information Systems Engineering in Turkey," you can pursue a Master's in Cybersecurity and specialize in it either at the same university or another one. Additionally, if you already hold a Bachelor's degree in this engineering field, you can have it accredited in Turkey and enroll in a Master's program at one of the Turkish universities.
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The Best Turkish Universities for Studying Cybersecurity
The best universities in Turkey where you can study the cybersecurity specialization according to the latest systems and training curricula, in an environment that greatly supports development and understanding of all details related to this field, are the following:
- Bahçeşehir
- İsküdar
- Antalya Bilim
This specialization is still confined to private universities in Turkey, as no public universities offer it except for "Al-Furat Public University," which has recently started offering it.
It is worth mentioning that the first Turkish university to introduce a Master's in Cybersecurity in Turkey was Bahçeşehir University, which is one of the most prestigious and is highly committed to preparing a competent generation trained in various scientific technologies and their applications.
This university, along with other top Turkish institutions, has demonstrated clear excellence in teaching this specialization and attending to all its details, which helps in hands-on training in information security and protection, as well as in professionally handling cryptography.
Advantages of Studying Information Security
Cyber attacks and breaches are highly advanced and complex by nature, and there is no single method that can completely prevent these intrusions. Therefore, organizations have adopted measures to mitigate breaches affecting their data and operations through a practical plan consisting of five fundamental advantages, making the protection process effective. We will outline them below:
Effective Framework
The first advantage is the initial step in any security plan—the external framework, which must be effective and appropriate. The cybersecurity framework is the cornerstone in any risk management program; it is designed to contribute to the management of safety, confidentiality, infrastructure, and data availability. Regardless of the overall framework chosen by any institution to manage its cybersecurity program, coordination and control suited to the nature and volume of its data are essential.
Comprehensive Threat Coverage
The second advantage, which is equally important, is the complete coverage of all threats and risks. For the cybersecurity program to be effective, it must be comprehensive—addressing all critical and essential elements—which is necessary to protect the organization.
Risk and Threat Assessment
After identifying the risks and threats, they must be assessed. The cybersecurity program monitors all possible scenarios and tracks any potential damages that cyber threats and attacks might cause. This assessment is key to finding appropriate solutions and counteracting threats as soon as they occur.
Pre-planning for Threat Mitigation
Previously, the focus of cybersecurity was solely on preventing cyber attacks. Nowadays, while prevention remains crucial, it is equally important to be prepared for worse and more severe incidents. Being prepared is as important as preventing breaches; therefore, it is essential to develop an integrated and comprehensive plan that anticipates threats and regularly updates its measures. This is the first step in cybersecurity: when an emergency occurs, the organization can follow the response plan it has developed to resolve the issue.
Possessing Effective Resources
The final and decisive advantage of cybersecurity is having dedicated resources sufficient for this work—especially in securing a specialized cybersecurity team. However, many organizations do not give this necessity enough attention and often neglect to appoint a dedicated team with defined roles. Most companies focus primarily on technical information teams to maintain system operations in a logical order of priorities, but it is crucial to appoint a leader for the cybersecurity team who is experienced in information security and technology.
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Cybersecurity Challenges Locally and Globally
Recently, cybersecurity has faced more challenges than ever before. Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the FBI has seen a significant increase in cybersecurity-related cases. These challenges are among the most prominent types of cybercrime, as follows:
1- Social Engineering Issues:
One-third of the cybersecurity challenges in 2020 were related to this area, with approximately 90% involving phishing and fraud operations, notably including email scams, bartering, deception, and similar schemes.
For example, cybercriminals stole about 2.3 million US dollars from a school in Texas in 2020, one of the most notorious incidents.
2- Ransomware Programs:
These programs are known for encrypting critical data, and the total ransom demands reached approximately 1.4 billion US dollars in 2020. Data is hacked and then used to demand money in many cases of this nature.
One of the most famous incidents involved the hacking of information and data related to COVID-19 research in California in 2020, in exchange for approximately 1.14 million US dollars.
3- Denial-of-Service Attacks
In the first half of 2020, 4.83 million denial-of-service attacks were recorded, during which an institution’s services were disrupted—causing damages estimated at an average of 100,000 US dollars per hour.
4- Third-Party Programs
Many e-commerce retailers rely on a third party to facilitate various operations, and 23% of these third parties have at least one vulnerability. If any product is hacked, it opens the door for other intruders to breach additional products. The cost of breaches resulting from third-party programs is approximately 4.29 million US dollars.
5- Weak Cloud Security
It is estimated that the global cloud computing market could grow by 17% in 2021, reaching a total value of up to 227.8 billion dollars. Despite the ongoing pandemic, cloud usage across various industries has increased by 50%, making it an attractive target for hackers.
In the second quarter of 2020, hackers launched 7.5 million external attacks on cloud accounts. They searched for cloud servers without passwords, exploited systems with vulnerabilities, or forcibly accessed user accounts, while others attempted to plant viruses or steal sensitive data.
Master’s in Cybersecurity in Turkey
Through this program, a student can integrate technology, business, and politics, providing a complete transformation in the ways information is collected, stored, transmitted, and protected,
as this vision is essential for anyone interested in developing an in-depth perspective, specialized knowledge, and a critical understanding of the key aspects of cybersecurity and data management,
in addition to equipping students with the necessary skills and activities for management, for analyzing the fundamentals of organizational data, and for implementing security measures in line with the principles, practices, and techniques of data governance.
Top Jobs for Information Security "Cybersecurity" Graduates
Given the importance of cybersecurity in Turkey for protecting companies’ digital systems, the demand for specialists in this field is increasing day by day, and they are rewarded with high salaries.
Global organizations have established Security Operations Centers (SOCs) and formed specialized IT security teams to monitor and handle global security incidents.
It is expected that in the near future there will be a 32% increase in demand for specialists in information security analysis and cybersecurity over the next six years, according to the official website of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. This rate is faster than the average growth forecast for any other profession, with average annual salaries around 99,730 US dollars.
According to CyberSeek, the most common jobs for cybersecurity specialists are:
- Cybersecurity Analyst.
- Cybersecurity Consultant.
- Cybersecurity Officer.
- Software Developer.
- Systems Engineer.
- Network Engineer.
- Security Architect.
- Vulnerability Analyst.
- Penetration Tester.
- Cybersecurity Specialist/Technician.
- Incident Analyst.