commissum is proud to again be the sponsor of the prize for the Open University Post Graduate module for Information Security Management; the M886 module. This is the second year that commissum has sponsored this prize.

The winner of the prize this year is Canadian student Sara Maharaj, from Ontario. Sara took the Information Security Management module as a standalone course for her professional development. The Information Security Management module is very focused on taking a practice-based approach; this encourages the student to base what they do upon an organisation that they are familiar with.

The course provides the foundation knowledge, understanding, analysis and synthesis needed to develop a practical information security management system (ISMS), to the standard set by the ISO/IEC 27001:2005 and BS ISO/IEC 17799:2005. It also targets helping the students acquire the personal development skills that they need to keep abreast of important developments in the rapidly changing field of Information Security.

Sara, having successfully undertaken the course as the top student, said:

“The course provides valuable insights into how to strategically manage information security within the organization. The practical exercises force you to think through a methodical implementation of the ISO 27001 standard, which facilitates excellent learning.”

Managing Director at commissum, Martin Finch, is a keen advocate of this practical approach to learning. He said:

“When students are given the opportunity to apply what they learn during the course of the module, it not only reinforces the lesson and benefits them and their respective organisations, but also instils a sense of great satisfaction”.

Last year’s joint winners were Ian Knight and Sally Anderson. Ian Knight who graduated with a BA/BSc Open Degree took the Information Security Management course as the last step in his degree journey. Ian works for a major Telecoms provider, with responsibility for Information Assurance on large client contracts. He said:

“The course materials were some of the best that I have encountered in the OU and in other study; I found the course to be of immediate practical use in my work almost from the start of the first unit”.

Sally Anderson, who is Head of Web and IT in a leading University, also commented on the practical nature of the course, saying “I have directly applied the new knowledge and skills to my work already and have the confidence now to advise and manage information security on behalf of my organisation”.

Via EPR Network
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