Macquarie University
Cyber Security for Managers and Leaders
Macquarie University

Cyber Security for Managers and Leaders

Matt Bushby

Instructor: Matt Bushby

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Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.
Beginner level

Recommended experience

1 week to complete
at 10 hours a week
Flexible schedule
Learn at your own pace
Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.
Beginner level

Recommended experience

1 week to complete
at 10 hours a week
Flexible schedule
Learn at your own pace

What you'll learn

  • Interpret technical reports, question assumptions, and make informed decisions that align with your organisation’s strategy and risk profile.

  • Integrate cyber priorities into broader organisational goals, ensuring that security supports resilience, growth, and operational continuity.

  • Navigate evolving legal and regulatory obligations and build governance structures that uphold ethical and industry-aligned security practices.

  • Influence change, model security behaviours, and foster an environment where staff at every level take shared responsibility for cyber resilience.

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Recently updated!

August 2025

Assessments

12 assignments

Taught in English

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There are 6 modules in this course

Cyber security can often feel complex, especially for leaders whose day-to-day responsibilities lie outside the technical sphere. This topic provides the essential foundation every manager and executive needs to begin engaging with cyber risk from a position of understanding and confidence. You’ll explore the evolving threat landscape, decode common cyber security terminology, and learn how to apply basic mitigation strategies to strengthen your organisation’s frontline defences. This is about building literacy, not technical depth, so you can ask the right questions, spot key risks, and contribute meaningfully to security conversations across your organisation. By the end of this module, you’ll have a clear grasp of the key concepts that underpin modern cyber risk—and how they relate directly to your business environment and leadership responsibilities.

What's included

2 assignments6 plugins

Cyber security isn’t just a technology issue, it’s a strategic business imperative. In this module, you’ll explore how to align cyber security efforts with your organisation’s broader goals, risk appetite, and operational priorities. You’ll learn how to define meaningful cyber security objectives, ensure those objectives are measurable and relevant, and evaluate whether your organisation’s cyber strategy is truly enabling resilience, not just compliance. This topic will help you connect the dots between security investments and business outcomes. By the end of this module, you’ll be able to critically assess cyber security plans through a strategic lens, ensuring they support sustainable growth, business continuity, and long-term value creation.

What's included

2 assignments6 plugins

Informed leadership depends on clear, actionable insights and cyber security is no exception. This module equips you with the skills to interpret key security metrics and dashboards, translating complex technical data into meaningful information for executive and board-level decision-making. You’ll explore how to analyse performance indicators, assess trends, and ask the right questions to uncover what the data is really telling you. It’s not about becoming a data analyst. it’s about becoming a more confident and capable leader who can connect security insights to business risk and strategic direction. By the end of this module, you’ll be able to engage in high-impact security discussions with clarity, challenge assumptions when necessary, and ensure cyber reporting drives accountability and progress.

What's included

2 assignments6 plugins

Strong governance is the backbone of effective cyber security and leaders play a central role in shaping it. In this module, you’ll explore the legal, regulatory, and ethical obligations that influence your organisation’s cyber posture, and how governance structures can be used to embed accountability and resilience at every level. You’ll gain clarity on key compliance requirements, understand the consequences of inaction, and learn how to champion cyber governance in a way that supports both operational integrity and strategic goals. By the end of this module, you’ll be equipped to guide conversations around governance with confidence, advocate for responsible decision-making, and help ensure your organisation meets its cyber security obligations in a fast changing risk environment.

What's included

2 assignments7 plugins

The way we communicate about cyber security matters just as much as the strategies we implement. In this module, you’ll learn how to translate technical language into clear, relevant messages that resonate with different audiences from frontline staff to executive boards. Effective communication is essential in day-to-day operations, but it becomes critical during a cyber incident. You’ll explore how to tailor messaging under pressure, deliver concise guidance, and foster trust and clarity across teams during high-stakes scenarios. By the end of this module, you’ll have the tools to lead more inclusive, impactful cyber conversations bridging the gap between security experts and business stakeholders to drive stronger alignment and faster response.

What's included

2 assignments7 plugins

Technology alone can’t protect an organisation, people and culture are just as critical. In this final module, you’ll explore how to foster a workplace culture where security is understood, prioritised, and owned by everyone, from the executive team to individual staff members. You’ll learn the principles behind lasting cultural change, the role of executive influence, and how to design training and awareness initiatives that genuinely shift behaviour. This is about moving beyond compliance to build a proactive, resilient mindset across your organisation. By the end of this module, you’ll be ready to lead by example, championing a security-first culture that empowers people, reduces risk, and strengthens your organisation from the inside out.

What's included

1 reading2 assignments6 plugins

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Instructor

Matt Bushby
Macquarie University
13 Courses3,607 learners

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