Todd Kennedy

IT Advisor
KPMG Risk Advisory Services

I am not a Computer Scientist and was sceptical that the Computer Security and forensics (CS&F) post graduate diploma would force me to be one. This was not the case.

Prior to completing the CS&F program I had completed an undergraduate degree in commerce with majors in Management and Electronic Commerce. As a Commerce student I felt ill prepared to enter the Computer Scientist's domain but soon after the course began I realised that it was not just a program for coders but anyone for a passion for this new and emerging area.

The year was a challenge but through it I learnt more than I had throughout all my undergraduate years. The courses provided me with a solid base on which to build a career and established contacts that continue to be beneficial. The principal courses that are of most use in my current career are Information Security Management and Risk Management but content from all papers feature heavily in the work I perform. During the CS&F program I never realised that the information being taught was all leading edge and continues to relate to issues our clients are experiencing.

This course is not just about the lectures, the workshops provide a physical component which reinforces what you have learnt and places it within real world scenarios.

The project work within the CS&F program led to my current role within KPMG's Risk and Advisory Team specialising in computer and information security, Internet risk management and information technology assurance. Recently I passed the CISSP (Certified Information System Security Professional) qualification and was surprised to find that most sections were introduced during the CS&F program.