Master of Science in Security by Design

SUTD is offering MSSD, a first of its kind in Singapore, to address the growing need for skilled individuals to analyze, design, and implement security solutions for a variety of systems including those found in critical infrastructure such as finance, power, water, and other sectors.

Selected candidates will be given a test to assess their programming ability in one of the following programming languages: C/C++, Java, and Python. Applicants unable to pass this test, and who exhibit a strong academic background and/or work experience, will be given an option to go through an intensive course in computer programming before being formally admitted into the MSSD programme. Passing this intensive course will be a pre-requisite to formal entry in the MSSD programme.

The MSSD Graduate Committee will screen all applications. Selected candidates will be invited for an interview with members of the committee.

Recommendations by the committee will be forwarded to the Head of the ISTD pillar who, in concert with Office of the Graduate School, will decide on a final list of applicants to be offered admission into the MSSD program.

Candidates entering the MSSD programme will have (a) bachelor’s degree in engineering, physics, chemistry or mathematics; (b) sound mathematical background, (c) computer programming skills, and. An MSSD Graduate Committee will determine if a candidate’s degree major and/or working experience meets the admission requirements of MSSD.

MSSD is aimed at engineers, computer scientists and computer engineers. Students in MSSD will acquire foundational knowledge in cyber security and the required skill-set to analyze and/or create secure systems in a diverse group of organizations.

iTrust, Center for Research in Cyber Security, is a leading center for research in cyber security. It focuses on creating design-centric solutions for enhancing the resilience of critical infrastructure through foundational and applied research. iTrust is the host of four world-class testbeds in water treatment, water distribution, smart grid, and IoT. In addition iTrust hosts four custom designed test skids built around Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs) widely used in Industrial Control Systems. The PLCs available for experimentation in the test skids are from Allen-Bradley, National Instruments, Schneider Electric, and Siemens. Students in the MSSD program will have unprecedented access to these unique test skids. In addition, iTrust will also provide students access to the testbeds.

Students in MSSD will have ready access to some of the world’s best facilities in cyber physical systems including testbeds for Secure Water Treatment (SWaT), Electric Power and Intelligent Control (EPIC), Water Distribution (WADI), and Internet of Things (IoT). In addition, a cyber security laboratory will enable the students to conduct experiments using widely available tools such as those for intrusion detection, traffic monitoring and analysis, and system modeling and analysis.

MSSD will add to the much needed quality manpower in the area of cyber security to design and manage a variety of complex systems in a Smart Nation.

The objective of MSSD is to take in science and engineering graduates and offer them quality education in the area of cyber security. Such education will enable graduates from MSSD to serve as designers and analysts in a broad range of organizations including banks, public utilities, medical facilities, and transportation.