Congratulations to Andrew Phipps who won the 2024 iCSS Cyber Security Conversion Prize (master course)!
Andrew has won the Institute of Cyber Security for Society (iCSS) prize as he achieved the highest final average mark of the MSc Computer Science (Cyber Security) – a conversion degree course designed for graduates with little or no prior knowledge of Computer Science. His final project “The nature, structure, and dynamics of ransomware groups: A case study of Conti, LockBit and BlackCat/ALPHV” under the supervision of Dr Jason Nurse.
Interview with Andrew
What was your background before the masters?
“Before I completed my masters, I had previously completed a history degree at the University of Kent. I later developed an interest in IT and completed the ISC2’s Certified in Cybersecurity certification. I enjoyed this a lot and decided that I wanted to pursue further education in Computer Science and Cyber Security, therefore I joined the conversion course MSc Computer Science (Cyber Security) at Kent.”
Could you tell us about your experiences studying at Kent?
“I had a really great time studying at Kent. There were a wide range of interesting modules available to choose from. Some of my favourites included learning about Cyber Law, Digital Forensics and programming my own Internet of Things device. I especially enjoyed conducting research on ransomware groups for my dissertation project. It was also fun to work and make friends with other people on the course and I made many fond memories spending time at the Canterbury campus.”
What are your plans for the future?
“I am looking to publish a journal article based on the research I did for my dissertation project. I am also planning to gain more experience working in IT and am looking into completing the CISSP certification in the future.“