ONE YEAR ADVANCED DIPLOMA IN CYBER SECURITY & DATA PROTECTION LAWS

(Applicable from the batch admitted from the academic year 2021 – 2022)

About the Programme

Data is the new oil. Data has replaced oil to become the most valuable commodity in the 21st-century. This is evident from the fact that five of the most valuable companies in the world, namely, Amazon, Google, Apple, Microsoft, and Facebook belong to the data sector. Raw information needs to be processed and analyzed for converting it into different kinds of usable data namely, health information, Geolocation information, financial information, browsing information, professional and employment-related information etc.

Cyber security is the practice of securing networks, systems and any other digital infrastructure from malicious attacks. With cybercrime damages projected to exceed a staggering $6 trillion by 2021, banks, tech companies, hospitals, government agencies and every other sector are investing in cyber security infrastructure to protect their business practices and the millions of customers that trust them with their data. With cyber attacks occurring every 14 seconds, firewalls, antivirus software, anti-spyware software and password management tools have to work together to outwit shockingly creative cybercriminals. With so much at stake, it’s not hyperbolic to think that cyber security tools and experts act as the last line of defense between our most vital information and digital chaos. People often associate cyber security with computers, but it actually has a far broader application than just this. Modern-day Hackers have had 114 years to upgrade and improve at breaking down cyber security systems. Tool and methods for hacking have increased as the internet has grown and it is now much easier to attack a business or an individual in this way. These tools have become known as “Exploit Kits” and are designed to exploit human weakness or vulnerabilities in your PC or Servers; those who operate these tools have been dubbed as “Script Kiddies”. Effective cyber security is not necessarily about protecting a network, as most Hackers will not attempt to attack a network but instead will target a website or a server. Businesses can incur huge fines for failing to protect and handle data effectively. The PCI Security Standards Council are now urging all businesses to ensure they meet the requirements necessary to keep their data secure, especially since there will now be new charges and fines under EU Data Protection Laws. These new laws could see businesses immediately bankrupted by up to £122 Billion in fines.

The course is designed to expose the candidates to the existing legislations in the area of cyber laws, cyber crimes, Data protection laws in India and foreign jurisdictions such as US, UK, Canada, Singapore and EU, apart from other regulations developed by various bodies and departments of the Government.

Target group learners are law students, engineering students specialising in the area of computer science, law Practitioners, professionals from software industry, health industry, pharmaceutical industry etc.

Procedure for admission, duration and fee structure

Eligibility

a. Bachelor’s Degree or an equivalent Degree in any discipline from any recognized University; or

b. Candidates who complete three years of their 5-Year Integrated Degree Programme are also eligible to apply; or

c. Candidates appearing for the final year examination of Graduation / Engineering are also eligible to apply.

Admission Procedure

Direct Admission subject to fulfilment of the eligibility criteria.

Duration, Continuation and Termination

The duration of the programme is one year and the maximum period for completion of the programme is two years including the year of admission.

Every candidate admitted to the course shall pay the prescribed fees at the time of admission. If a candidate is required to continue the course beyond the academic year because of his/her non-fulfillment of the prescribed requirements for the award of the Advanced Diploma, he/she shall pay the Continuation Fee to continue their course in the subsequent year.

The marks secured in the papers already appeared by the candidate shall be carried forward during the span of the eligibility for the programme.

After completion of the maximum period, if the candidate fails to fulfill all the requirements for the award of the Advanced Diploma, the admission stands automatically cancelled. In such cases they need to enrol afresh for the programme.

Fee Structure :

Course fee : Rs. 40,000/- p.a. (5% fee concession to the candidates belonging to SC / ST / PWD Category)

• Repeat examination / Supplementary Examination fee : Rs.500/- per paper / project / lab assignment / report
• Continuation fee beyond the minimum duration of the course till the maximum period : Rs.3,000/- p.a.
• Re-evaluation Fee : Rs. 1,000/- per paper
• Boarding & Lodging charges at campus (subject to availability) during classes / exam will be extra as per the University Rules.
• Convocation fee will be charged separately as per the University Rules.

Note: Note: If a candidate fails to submit the projects / assignments / case studies / lab assignments / reports for the subjects offered in the relevant semester, then the candidate should pay the applicable repeat examination fee per subject for submission of the project / assignment / case study / lab assignment / report at a later date.

Note: The University reserves the right to revise the fee structure from time to time.

Course Structure

Conduct of the Programme

The Advanced Diploma Programme will have two semesters. Each Semester will have Personal Contact Programme (PCP) sessions by the subject experts along with the virtual lab session for the practical papers. The sessions will be followed by Online session where participants will work on the research projects / assignments / case studies /lab assignments / reports and upload them on the dedicated web platform / submit them by email. The candidates can contact / communicate through email with the subject experts for queries, if any, on the concerned subject. Relevant course material will be uploaded on the website and can be accessed through their login id. The Self Learning Materials (Reading Materials) printed copies will be sent to the enrolled candidates.

PCP sessions will be conducted for five days in a semester at Hyderabad by the subject experts. Suggested reference guidance would be provided at the contact sessions. Each subject shall consist of 15 teaching hours which will come to 45 teaching hours per semester. In case of practical papers (1.1.3., 1.2.5. & 1.2.6.), a total of 15 hours of virtual lab sessions will be conducted per paper. The recorded videos of the classes will be uploaded on the dedicated website and can be accessed by the candidates through their login ids. Attendance at the PCP is not compulsory but candidates are advised to attend the classes as they are important to understand the subject and successfully complete the course. The learners are also expected to put in at least 30 hours of study for each credit.

Case study analysis / projects / assignments will be part of the concerned subjects and will be discussed in onsite / online sessions. There will be one project / assignment / case study for each course. In case of 1.1.3., 1.2.5. and 1.2.6. the candidates will be required to do a lab assignment / submit a report. In total, a candidate must complete three projects /assignments / case studies by the end of the programme in addition to three lab assignments / reports.

The website will be the main delivery system in terms of updating information on the subject. The access to the website will be deactivated after the completion of the minimum duration and will be revived on the payment of the continuation fee.

Academic Calendar (TENTATIVE)

Admission Process From February to June every year

SEMESTER I

SEMESTER II

Note : The PCP Sessions (classes) will be conducted in blended mode (online / physical) at NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad. However, the examinations will be conducted physically at Hyderabad only.

Evaluation Scheme & Award of Advanced Diploma

Each paper shall carry 100 marks. The distribution of marks shall be as follows:

For the practical papers (1.1.3., 1.2.5. & 1.2.6.), the distribution of marks shall be as follows:

Award of Grades

The performance of all the candidates in all subjects shall be evaluated on a 10 point scale with corresponding grade values as mentioned below:

The result will be declared as ‘W-withheld’ for all the candidates who appear for the examination and fail to submit the projects / assignments / case studies / lab assignment / report. Even if a candidate secures the minimum required marks, i.e, 50 in the end semester examination and fails to submit projects/assignments/case studies/lab assignment/report, the result will be declared as ‘W-withheld’. In both the cases, the candidates are required to register for the repeat examination and pay the requisite fee for submission of the projects / assignments / case studies / lab assignment / report.

Calculation of CGPA

Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) is arrived at by dividing the sum of the products of Grade Values and the Credits in each subject by the total number of credits in all the subjects.

A candidate to be successful should obtain a minimum of 50% marks or the equivalent grade, i.e., B in every subject. A candidate who secures the minimum required 50% marks will not be declared passed until he/she submits the assignments/projects/case studies / lab assignment / report as prescribed. However, the candidate who fails to obtain the minimum grade (i.e., B) shall be given chance(s) to re-appear for the examination whenever the same is conducted till the completion of the maximum period, i.e., two years from the date of admission on payment of repeat / supplementary examination fee and the continuation fee as prescribed. No candidate who has cleared the subject by securing 50 marks or above is allowed to re-appear in the examination for improving the marks / grade.

Rounding off and Award of Grace Marks

In case a candidate obtains fractional marks, the fraction will be rounded off to the nearest whole number.

The Course Coordinator with the approval of the Director, DDE may add FIVE grace marks in total for all the subjects in a semester to enable a candidate to pass the examination. The said provision will not be applicable in case of re-evaluation and/or for improvement of grade.

Provided that under no circumstances, a candidate shall be granted more than five grace marks in a semester to be distributed in all subjects.

Award of the Advanced Diploma Certificate

A candidate to be eligible for the award of the Advanced Diploma in Cyber Security & Data Protection Laws should submit all the assignments / projects / case studies / lab assignments / report and should secure 50% marks or ‘B’ grade in all the subjects obtaining atleast CGPA of 5.50 out of 10.00.

A candidate admitted to the program has to complete all the prescribed requirements within a maximum period of two years from and including the year of admission in order to be eligible for the award of the Advanced Diploma.

Procedure for Re-counting / Re-evaluation

The candidates desiring of re-evaluation have to apply in writing along with the re-evaluation fee within 15 days from the date of declaration of results. On the receipt of the request for re-evaluation, the paper would be sent to subject expert other than the evaluator and the results of the same will be communicated within 45 days. A change in the original score shall be made only when, upon re-evaluation, the change is FIVE marks or more. The Re-evaluation result is final and there will be no further appeal to the same.

No candidate who has cleared the subject by securing 50 marks or above is allowed to re-appear in the examination or apply for re-evaluation for improving marks / grade.

The recounting of the paper would be done without collecting any fee but on the written request to the Director, DDE by the candidate. The change, if any, shall be incorporated accordingly.

Misconduct Rules

The Vice-Chancellor on the report and recommendation of the Course Co-ordinator can cancel the registration of a candidate and also debar them from examinations and further enrolment if he or she is found to be indulging in abusive, unruly behavior with the faculty or staff of the University. Such behavior will also include abusive mails, phone calls or defamatory tweets / posts / blogs etc.

The NALSAR University Academic Mis-Conduct Regulations, as approved by the Executive Council of the University will apply suitably for the candidates enrolled for this programme.

Refund of Fee in case of withdrawal of admission

a) In case of withdrawal within 15 days from the closure of the admission, 10% of the course fee paid shall be retained by the University towards administrative charges;

b) In respect of candidates who withdraw their candidature after 15 days from the closure of admission, total course fee paid by the candidates shall be retained by the University.

c) All other fee other than course fee, once paid is non-refundable.

Note: The University reserves the right to modify the admission process, fee structure, course structure, course content, the evaluation scheme and other Rules from time to time.