Indian Institute of Technology Madras and Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur have jointly launched India’s first practice-oriented four-year Cyber Security Degree (B.Cyber.), which will commence with the academic year commencing in July 2026. The degree course has been introduced to meet the growing demand for trained professionals in cyber security and combines academic learning with extended practical training.The program is designed to prepare students to secure India’s expanding digital infrastructure, strategic sectors and emerging cyber ecosystem. Admissions to the program are conducted jointly by IIT Madras and IIT Kanpur. Graduates will be equipped for careers in cyber defense, security operations centers, penetration testing, vulnerability assessment, digital forensics, malware analysis, cloud security, hardware security and critical infrastructure protection, while receiving a foundation for further study and research.
Cybersecurity identified as a national priority
As digital transformation expands across governance, finance, healthcare, transportation, telecommunications, manufacturing and defense, cybersecurity has become a strategic national priority. Industry estimates cited by the institutes indicate a national shortage of nearly 1.5 million cybersecurity professionals, highlighting the need for dedicated undergraduate training in the field.The program introduces a practice-oriented model that combines classroom instruction, laboratory training, and professional engagement with real-world cybersecurity systems and challenges throughout the degree.
The two-year field deployment forms the core of the curriculum
A key feature of the program is the two-year professional field deployment project. During the final four semesters, students will work on live cybersecurity projects under the guidance of professionals from strategic and critical organizations. The aim is to ensure that graduates enter the workforce with substantial practical experience alongside academic preparation.The competency-based curriculum covers security operations, vulnerability assessment and penetration testing, secure systems, malware analysis, firmware reverse engineering, hardware security, cloud security, and critical infrastructure security. Students can also choose advanced electives such as Digital Forensics, Embedded Systems Security, Secure Processor Microarchitecture and Applied Cryptography.
Focus on lab-based learning
The first two years will emphasize laboratory-oriented learning in computer systems, programming, Linux systems administration, cryptography, computer organization, operating systems, computer networks, ethical hacking, web security, vulnerability assessment, and penetration testing before students move on to advanced specialization and field deployment.Highlighting the initiative, IIT Madras Director Professor V. Kamakoti said, “Cyber security has become critical to India’s technological sovereignty and national security. Building a resilient cyber ecosystem requires professionals who not only possess strong theoretical foundations but also extensive practical experience in defending complex systems.”