Qualifi Level 5 Extended Diploma in Cyber Security

Advance Your Career in Digital Security & Ethical Hacking

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Course Level

Level 5

Course Type

Ofqual Regulated

Awarding Body

Qualifi

Duration

240 GLH

Study Mode

Online

Assessment

Assignments Based

Course Overview

What is this course

The Qualifi Level 5 Extended Diploma in Cyber Security is an Ofqual-regulated, RQF-accredited vocational qualification designed to develop advanced knowledge and understanding of cyber security, information protection, digital investigations, incident management and strategic security leadership. The qualification is awarded by QUALIFI, an Ofqual-recognised awarding organisation, and carries the Qualification Accreditation Number (QAN) 610/3296/7. It is available to learners in the UK and internationally.

The qualification takes a broad approach to cyber security by combining technical security concepts with investigation, management, governance and leadership. Its learning areas include cyber security threat and risk, network security and data communications, database security and computer programming, incident response, investigations and forensics, security strategy, laws and policies, cryptography, digital investigations and forensics, communications and incident management, and strategic leadership.

As an RQF qualification, the programme sits within England’s regulated qualifications framework, with quality assurance arrangements overseen through QUALIFI’s status as an Ofqual-recognised awarding organisation. The qualification is particularly relevant for learners seeking structured development in cyber security and risk management, combining specialist knowledge with analytical, evaluative, problem-solving and decision-making capabilities applicable to organisational security environments.

Course Content

Detailed Curriculum Structure

All 11 units are mandatory to receive 240 credits.

Key Topics Covered in the Cyber Security Course:

The curriculum delivers in-depth knowledge through core modules:

Mandatory Units

Cyber Security Threat and Risk
Network Security and Data Communications
Database Security and Computer Programming
Incident Response, Investigations and Forensics
Security Strategy: Laws, Policies and Implementation
Cyber Security Threats and Risk: Banking and Finance
Cyber Wars
Cryptography
Digital Investigations and Forensics
Communications and Incident Management
Strategic Leadership

Why Choose This Cyber Security Training?

The Qualifi Level 5 Extended Diploma in Cyber Security provides a structured way to develop advanced knowledge across technical cyber security, digital investigation, incident management, risk, governance and strategic leadership. The qualification is accredited to the Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF) and has QAN 610/3296/7. QUALIFI is recognised and regulated by Ofqual as an awarding organisation in England.

Ofqual-regulated qualification: Learners study towards a qualification awarded by an Ofqual-recognised awarding organisation, with external quality assurance arrangements supporting the standards of approved delivery centres.
RQF Level 5 learning: The qualification develops knowledge and understanding appropriate to advanced vocational study in cyber security, rather than focusing only on basic digital safety concepts.
Broad cyber security coverage: Learning encompasses areas such as cyber security threats and risk, network security, data communications, database security, programming, incident response, investigations, forensics and security strategy.
Advanced specialist subjects: The programme also includes cryptography, digital investigations and forensics, communications and incident management, and strategic leadership, providing a broader understanding of technical and organisational security responsibilities.
Develops analytical and problem-solving skills: QUALIFI identifies analytical and evaluative thinking, problem solving, creativity, judgement and responsibility for decisions as important outcomes of its qualifications.
International cyber security perspective: The qualification recognises the global nature of cyber threats and the importance of understanding diverse international business environments and responsible digital practices.
Combines technical and strategic knowledge: Learners can explore cyber security not only from a technology perspective but also through risk management, incident response, governance, investigation, business continuity and leadership.
Relevant to changing digital environments: The curriculum addresses areas that organisations must consider when protecting systems, information, networks and digital assets against security threats.
Suitable for UK and international learners: The qualification combines a UK-regulated RQF framework with subject areas relevant to cyber security operations and organisational security in international business environments.
Supports structured professional development: The qualification is designed to develop transferable capabilities alongside cyber security knowledge, including communication, decision-making, investigation, incident management and strategic thinking.

Overall, this Level 5 Cyber Security qualification is valuable for learners who want a comprehensive understanding of cyber security that connects technical security, risk, investigation, incident management and strategic leadership within a regulated UK qualification framework. Contact us.

Learning Outcomes of Qualifi Level 5 Extended Diploma in Cyber Security:

Upon successful completion of the Qualifi Level 5 Extended Diploma in Cyber Security, learners will be able to:

Cyber Security Threat and Risk

Understand complex business cyber security threats and risks
Understand recent mega breaches and explain malware and ransomware attacks
Understand how threats and malicious hackers are advancing and developing customised intrusion tools

Network Security and Data Communications

Understand how computers and digital devices communicate with one another over a network
Understand, at a strategic level, how computer networking, web applications and software can be exploited
Understand methods of security prevention and systems hardening
Understand key network security and systems resilience tools, terminology and models

Database Security and Computer Programming

Understand the broad range of information security controls to protect databases
Understand types of database categories of control
Understand the underpinning concepts and models of cloud-based storage solutions
Understand the relationship between computer programming and computer hacking
Understand the ‘interpreted’ general-purpose programming language, Python

Incident Response, Investigations and Forensics

Understand the role and composite parts of Incident Response as a business function and how CERTS operate
Understand aligned task/task forces for Business Continuity, Disaster Recovery and Crisis Management
Understand how major computer incidents are formally investigated
Understand laws and guidance in relation to the conduct of planned and structured major incident investigations

Security Strategy: Laws, Policies and Implementation

Understand the concept of strategy, strategic management, planning and buy-in in relation to cyber security
Understand how legislation, formal industry standards, training and accreditations support cyber security
Understand how to implement Plan, Do, Check and Act security and risk management policies
Understand the future legal and technical environment and the impact on cyber security planning and digital risk management
Understand how to plan and design a security audit for a cyber network

Cyber Security Threats and Risks: Banking and Finance

Understand the threats and risks facing traditional and emerging financial services
Understand the architectural structures of traditional and emerging financial markets
Understand how payments systems connect to underpinning financial services architecture
Understand how cryptocurrencies connect to underpinning financial services architecture

Cyber Wars

Understand how nation states are potentially engaged in cyber defence and offensive capability strategy
Understand the motivations and causes behind nationstate-linked cyber-attacks and breaches
Understand how private sector industry has been targeted by potentially statesanctioned cyber-crime groups and/or armies
Understand how CNI has been targeted by statebacked cyber-crime groups and/or armies

Cryptography

Understand key cryptographic principles and modes
Understand the standards, regulations and laws that apply to business and government organisations in relation to encryption
Design an encryption plan and courses of action for a given organization

Digital Investigations and Forensics

Understand the core principles of digital investigations
Apply the types of tool that support professional digital investigations at a strategic level
Plan for an investigations and forensics teams
Understand the importance of safeguarding evidential integrity in digital investigations

Communications and Incident Management

Understand the physical and human resources required to manage a major suspected cyber security incident
Apply Business Continuity Management to major incident planning and response
Understand how Disaster Recovery and Crisis Management are integrated into a suspected major cyber-enabled incident
Evaluate the potential impact of NOT planning crisis communications and incident response

Strategic Leadership

Understand the role senior leaders and strategic leadership
Evaluate the management streams and performance monitoring mechanisms that relate to information security
Understand how threat and risk identification and management is integrated into C-Suite considerations and governance
Understand how data protection legislation impacts considerations of strategy-setting and strategic leadership

Who Should Attend

Target Audience and Participants

The Qualifi Level 5 Extended Diploma in Cyber Security is particularly suitable for learners seeking advanced knowledge of cyber security, information security, digital risk, incident management and organisational resilience. The qualification combines the Level 4 and Level 5 Cyber Security Diplomas and is designed for learners developing technical, analytical, management and leadership capabilities within cyber security environments.

Cyber security professionals: Suitable for learners already working in cyber security who want to strengthen knowledge across security threats, network security, investigations, forensics and incident management.
IT and digital professionals: Appropriate for IT, digital, data and technology professionals who need a broader understanding of cyber security risks and organisational protection.
Information security and risk professionals: Relevant to learners involved in information security, risk management, business resilience or the protection of organisational data and systems.
Aspiring cyber security managers: A strong option for learners preparing to take greater responsibility for cyber security operations, security projects, incident response or organisational risk.
Security team leaders and managers: The qualification is designed to support the development of management and leadership capabilities alongside technical cyber security knowledge.
Organisational executives and leaders: Suitable for professionals responsible for information security, business resilience, technological change, risk management, physical risk or secure innovation.
Professionals working with sensitive information: Relevant to learners responsible for protecting customer, employee or organisational data across complex or internationally distributed environments.
Public-sector and government professionals: Suitable for professionals working in organisations where information security, digital risk, resilience and incident management are important responsibilities.
Professionals in multinational organisations: The qualification is particularly relevant to learners working across international business, IT and telecommunications environments where cyber security risks can cross organisational and geographical boundaries.
Learners progressing from cyber security qualifications: Appropriate for learners with relevant prior cyber security knowledge who want to develop their understanding at Level 5 and progress towards more advanced academic or professional pathways.
Career changers entering cyber security: Suitable for learners seeking a structured route into cyber and information security, provided they have the appropriate foundational knowledge for the programme.

Best Suited For

The qualification is best suited to learners who want to connect cyber security technology with risk management, investigation, incident response, business resilience, management and strategic leadership rather than focusing exclusively on technical security skills.

For learners without prior technical understanding of areas such as networking, programming, network security or security risk management, the QUALIFI specification recommends progressing through the relevant lower-level cyber security qualifications before undertaking Level 5 study.

Career & Learning Benefits

Career Progression and Benefits

The Qualifi Level 5 Extended Diploma in Cyber Security develops advanced knowledge across cyber security threats, network security, risk, incident response, digital forensics, cryptography, security strategy and strategic leadership. As an RQF qualification awarded by QUALIFI, an Ofqual-recognised awarding organisation, it provides a structured framework for developing specialist and transferable capabilities relevant to cyber security environments in the UK and internationally.

Career Benefits

Broader cyber security knowledge: Develop understanding across technical, investigative, operational and strategic areas of cyber security rather than concentrating on a single specialist topic.
Preparation for security-focused roles: The knowledge developed can support progression towards roles involving cyber security, information security, security operations, incident management, risk and digital investigations, subject to employer requirements.
Understanding of cyber security risk: Develop the ability to examine cyber threats, assess security risks and understand how organisations can respond to changing digital threats.
Incident response knowledge: Gain structured knowledge of incident response and management, helping learners understand how security incidents can be investigated, managed and communicated.
Digital investigation and forensic knowledge: Explore digital investigations and forensics, including their role in examining security incidents and digital evidence.
Technical security understanding: Study network security, data communications, database security, computer programming and cryptography to build a wider technical foundation.
Strategic security awareness: Develop knowledge of security strategy, laws, policies and implementation, connecting technical cyber security with organisational requirements.
Leadership development: Strategic leadership content helps learners understand how leadership, communication, decision-making and organisational responsibilities relate to cyber security.

Learning Benefits

Develop analytical thinking: The qualification encourages learners to analyse cyber security threats, security challenges and organisational requirements.
Strengthen problem-solving skills: Learners develop approaches for examining security problems and considering appropriate responses within organisational contexts.
Build investigative capability: Study of investigations and forensics provides knowledge relevant to analysing digital incidents and security-related evidence.
Understand governance and compliance: Explore the relationship between cyber security strategy, laws, policies and organisational implementation.
Connect technology with business needs: Learners develop a broader perspective by examining cyber security alongside risk, communications, incident management and strategic leadership.
Develop decision-making capability: The programme supports the development of judgement and decision-making in situations involving cyber security risks and organisational responsibilities.
Gain internationally relevant knowledge: Cyber threats and digital risks cross geographical boundaries, making knowledge of security principles relevant to organisations operating in different countries and business environments.
Support further progression: The qualification can provide a foundation for learners seeking further academic or professional development in cyber security and related disciplines, subject to the requirements of the receiving institution or organisation.

Professional Value

A key benefit of the Qualifi Level 5 Extended Diploma in Cyber Security is its combination of technical cyber security, risk management, digital investigation, incident response, governance and leadership. This multidisciplinary approach helps learners understand cyber security as both a technical and organisational responsibility.

The qualification therefore suits learners who want to develop a comprehensive knowledge base for modern cyber security environments while building analytical, investigative, strategic and leadership capabilities.

Need More Information?

Frequently Asked Questions Explained

The Qualifi Level 5 Extended Diploma in Cyber Security is a UK-regulated qualification designed to develop advanced knowledge and practical skills in cyber security, information protection, and network security. The course helps learners understand modern cyber threats, ethical hacking, cyber risk management, and digital investigation. It is suitable for learners who want to progress into higher education or build a professional career in the cyber security and IT industry.

After completing the Qualifi Level 5 Extended Diploma in Cyber Security, learners can progress into careers such as Cyber Security Analyst, Information Security Officer, Network Security Specialist, IT Security Technician, or Cyber Risk Assistant. The qualification also supports progression to higher education and advanced professional certifications in cyber security, information technology, and digital security management.

Yes, the Qualifi Level 5 Extended Diploma in Cyber Security is a UK-regulated qualification recognised for academic and professional progression. The qualification is regulated by Ofqual and follows UK education and quality standards. It is valued by employers and educational institutions for developing practical cyber security and information technology skills.

Learners will develop practical and technical skills related to network security, cyber threat prevention, ethical hacking, digital investigation, and cyber risk management. The course also improves analytical thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making abilities needed in modern IT and cyber security environments. These skills help learners work confidently in professional digital security roles.

Cyber security professionals are needed in many industries including banking, healthcare, education, government services, telecommunications, retail, and technology companies. As digital systems continue to grow, organisations increasingly require skilled professionals to protect their networks, systems, and confidential information from cyber threats and security risks.

Enrollment Criteria

Entry Requirements for Qualifi Level 5 Extended Diploma in Cyber Security:

Minimum age: 18 years
Good understanding of English (reading, writing, and communication)
Level 4 qualification or equivalent (relevant field preferred)
Work experience in Prior IT or cyber security knowledge is beneficial (but not mandatory).
Basic knowledge of IT and computer systems