Oxford Cyber Security for Business Leaders Programme

Secure your organisation’s cyber-resilient future

  • Start dates: 28 May 2025
  • Duration: 7 weeks (1 week orientation, 6 weeks of modules)
  • Location: Online
  • Cost: £2,200

Over the past 20 years, the rise of digital technology has transformed interactions and escalated the global challenge of securing cyberspace. The more sophisticated technology becomes, the greater the threat of a severe cyber attack.  

The Oxford Cyber Security for Business Leaders Programme prepares you to anticipate and mitigate cyber risks, build resilience in your business strategies and safeguard your organisation’s future. You will develop the expertise to analyse and respond strategically to cyber threats, communicate cyber risks, solutions and ROI confidently at board level, and embed cyber security into your organisation’s culture and operations. 

The programme blends interactive content and live sessions, cutting-edge Oxford research, real-world case studies and interactive cyber defence simulations. The insights gained can be applied immediately to your role.

 

Join the webinar

Join one of our Executive Education consultants for insights into the programme and how our online courses are delivered.

Dates: Thursday 8 May, Wednesday 14 May

Time: 18:00 BST

Register

 

Who is this programme for?

Designed for executives, managers and directors in private or public sector financial services, as well as professionals responsible for consumer data or data privacy compliance. You and your peers will be:

  • Executives, managers and directors in private or public sector financial services
  • Experienced professionals responsible for consumer data or compliance with data privacy regulations
  • Leaders responsible for shaping organisational strategy in the face of cyber security and cyber resilience

The course is purposefully designed for busy professionals to balance their professional and personal commitments.

 

What you’ll gain

  • A comprehensive understanding of the cyber threat landscape to respond proactively to new vulnerabilities
  • An overview of the emerging trends and innovations in cyber security
  • An enhanced approach to crisis preparedness, including managing and mitigating real-world cyber incidents  
  • Effective frameworks for integrating cyber security and cyber resilience into your organisation’s strategy, blending effective prevention, detection and response measures with building cyber resilient operations
  • The confidence when conveying cyber security-related issues at board level 

I had the chance to exchange insights with leaders from healthcare, finance and manufacturing. These conversations often revealed unique approaches to shared cyber security challenges.

Kalpana Chauhan

Saïd Business School elumnus

Cyber Security For Business Leaders Programme

Why choose Oxford?

Recognised as the best university in the world for nine consecutive years (Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2025) Oxford shapes business leaders who make a lasting impact.  

Saïd Business School offers a powerful combination of academic rigour and industry connections packaged into a manageable 7-week programme that is purposefully designed with busy professionals in mind. Access modules virtually from anywhere and collaborate with a diverse cohort of like-minded professionals across the globe.

Blending the University’s long-standing tradition of academic excellence with practical, experiential learning, you will join live sessions with subject matter experts, plus faculty-led sessions.  

You will gain insight and personal feedback from industry-leading tutors, many of whom are consultants to globally renowned organisations; and can chat with fellow participants via the Pronto app.

You will have the opportunity to engage in live sessions and group discussions designed to stimulate critical thinking and meaningful conversations. The programme also has a dedicated support team to ensure you receive tailored feedback and have everything you need to succeed.

 

Further information

Read more about how the programme is delivered, answers to common questions and the programme’s terms and conditions.

 

Contact

If you have any questions, please contact us at OnlineExecEd@sbs.ox.ac.uk or +44(0)1865 288805.

Outline

Orientation

This module aims to prepare you for the rest of the programme and will:

  • familiarise you with the online campus
  • provide you with an overview of the programme handbook
  • introduce you to the programme team
  • cover some introductory course material including pre-reading materials, basic definitions and a glossary

This will stand you in good stead as you embark on the rest of your programme.

Module 1

Core cyber security concepts

You will explore the foundations of cyber trust, the significance of digital identities, and the core elements of cyber risk, including assets, vulnerabilities and the factors that shape risk in cyberspace.

Module 2

The threat landscape

Examine threats and vulnerabilities, including types of threat actors, attack methods, and system weaknesses. Explore models for understanding attacks, analyse threat intelligence and delve into case studies like Stuxnet and SIM hijacking.

Module 3

The national and global context

Explore the operational context of cyber security, including national strategies, critical infrastructure and the role of businesses in their protection. Learn to benchmark cyber security capacity using the Cybersecurity Capacity Maturity Model for Nations (CMM) and examine international cooperation in the global cyber landscape.

Module 4

Operations and business resilience 

Delve into the controls essential for defending systems against cyber attacks, from access control and biometrics to cryptography. Explore preventative measures, attack detection, response strategies and recovery options to ensure robust cyber security practices.

Module 5

Opportunity and responsible innovation

Examine emerging technologies - including artificial intelligence - and explore their ethical implications. Learn to innovate responsibly while integrating security and corporate social responsibility into your approach.​

Module 6

Business risk and strategic response

Develop a robust cyber security strategy for your business, addressing risk management as well as mergers and acquisitions. Revisit cyber fitness and hygiene and define the key elements of effective cyber resilience.

Faculty

The programme is led by Sadie Creese, Professor of Cyber Security, and the founding Director of the Global Cyber Security Capacity Centre at Oxford University. 

You will be guided throughout the programme by University of Oxford faculty, who will share their personal experiences and cutting-edge research to support your learning. You will also learn from expert contributors from diverse sectors, including financial services, fintech, consulting, startups, cybersecurity, technology, academia, research and the public sector, ensuring you gain the latest industry insights to apply directly to your role.

Industry expert contributors

In each module, you will access the latest thinking and real-world application from global experts in cyber security.

  • Koral Anderson - Head of Transformation and Site Lead for Barclays in Scotland, Barclays
  • Henri Arslanian - Co-Founder and Managing Partner, Nine Blocks Capital Management
  • Alison August Treppel - Executive Secretary, Inter-American Committee against Terrorism, Secretariat for Multidimensional Security, Organization of American States
  • Maria Bada - Lecturer in Cyberpsychology, Queen Mary University of London
  • Ajay Bhalla - President of Cyber and Intelligence Solutions, Mastercard
  • Kerry-Ann Barrett - Chief of the Cybersecurity Section, CICTE, Organization of American States
  • Rohit Chauhan - EVP Artificial Intelligence at Mastercard
  • Lodrina Cherne - Fellow, Aspen Tech Policy Hub; SANS Certified Instructor, Chair, Secure Resilient Future Foundation
  • David Fergusson - Executive Managing Director and M&A & Technology Practice Leader, Generational Equity
  • Luciano Floridi - Professor of Philosophy and Ethics of Information, University of Oxford
  • Johan Gerber - Executive Vice President of Security and Cyber Innovation, Mastercard
  • Ron Green - Mastercard Fellow
  • Patty Hatter - President and CO, Opsera
  • Manuel Hepfer - Research Affiliate, Saïd Business School
  • Jeremy Hitchcock - Co-founder and Managing Partner, New North Ventures
  • Simon Hunt - Chief Product Officer, Reveald; Former EVP of Cybersecurity Product Innovation, Mastercard
  • Ciaran Martin -  Professor of Practice, Blavatnik School of Government
  • Alex Pentland - Senior Research Fellow, Stanford Institute for Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence (HAI); Former Directo, MIT’s Human Dynamics Laboratory
  • Chris Reid - Formerly at Mastercard
  • David Rich - Chair, SCORE Mentors; Former EVP Cyber & Intelligence, Mastercard
  • Daniel Trueman - Chief Underwriting Officer, CFC
  • Rigo Van den Broeck - EVP of Cyber Security, Mastercard

The thinking behind the programme 

This programme is a practical way to access active research, and uses evidence-based insights, case studies, and real-world application to help you understand how to drive cyber security practises as part of your organisational strategy.

Research from Oxford Saïd faculty forms a platform to the programme's teaching, combined with cutting edge thought leadership from across the University of Oxford. 

Benefits

  • Immediately apply your learnings to your role and prepare effectively for the evolving challenges of the cyber future  
  • Gain practical frameworks to integrate cyber security and cyber resilience into your strategy and operations
  • Study anywhere while balancing your professional and personal commitments
  • Learn from the world’s leading university, thought leaders and industry experts
  • Join a global cohort and broaden your perspective on the current cyber landscape 

 

Your certificate 

On successful completion of this programme you will be awarded an official digital certificate of attendance in your legal name from Saïd Business School, University of Oxford. In order to be issued with a digital certificate, you’ll need to meet the requirements outlined in the course orientation module. 

Elumni

Participants who complete an Oxford Saïd Executive Education online programme are automatically part of the Oxford Saïd Business School elumni community.

The Elumni Community

Our thriving community comprises more than 37,000 ambitious professionals hailing from 177 countries and representing diverse sectors like finance, law, marketing, healthcare, and energy. A significant number of these individuals proceed to undertake additional online or on-campus programmes, including short courses, executive diplomas, or MBAs.

Oxford Saïd Elumni Network

The Oxford Saїd Elumni Network is a virtual hub specially crafted for elumni. Acknowledging that the journey of professional growth doesn't cease with programme completion; the platform is devised to motivate, encourage, and provide support to elumni as they pursue their career ambitions. It offers elumni an avenue to engage with Saïd Business School faculty, gaining access to expert opinions, research insights, and thought leadership. Furthermore, the network facilitates purposeful global networking, enabling collaborative endeavours for sharing ideas, expertise, and tackling challenges collectively.

You will also gain access to the official Oxford Executive Education Elumni group on LinkedIn. 

Participant experiences

Past participants share their experiences of attending Oxford Cyber Security for Business Leaders Programme and how it's impacted their career.

Download the Oxford Cyber Security for Business Leaders Programme brochure

Download the brochure

I’d like to receive information and invitations via:

By consenting to receive communications you agree to the data storage, communication and tracking of your data as described in our privacy statement.

Saïd Business School also includes Oxford Saïd Business School Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of the University of Oxford.
Hidden fields