The Pearson HNC in Digital Technologies (Cyber Security & Cloud Networking) is a higher technical qualification (HTQ) that helps you develop as a professional, self-reflecting individual, able to meet the demands of employers.
You can find out more about higher technical qualifications here:
This programme as a Higher Technical Qualification is approved by the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education and developed with employers. A Higher Technical Qualification (HTQ) from Activate Learning provides an alternative high-quality route for you to gain the skills and knowledge needed to succeed in your career.
HTQs are qualifications at Level 4 or Level 5, including Higher National Certificates (HNCs), Higher National Diplomas (HNDs) and Foundation Degrees, and are approved by the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education to enable students to develop the knowledge, skills and bevaviours sought after by employers.
This Higher National Diploma (HND) provides a foundation of learning and also develops and strengthens your core and specialist skills.
You will gain a wide range of knowledge tied to practical skills gained through research, independent study, directed study and workplace scenarios. You will be involved in vocational activities that help you to develop vocational behaviours (the attitudes and approaches required for competence) and transferable skills. Transferable skills are those such as communication, teamwork, research and analysis, which are highly valued in higher education and the workplace.
The aims of this Pearson BTEC Higher Nationals in Digital Technologies are to:
- give students the skills, knowledge and understanding they need to achieve high performance in the national and international digital technologies environment.
- develop students with enquiring minds, who have the abilities and confidence to work across different digital technologies functions and to lead, manage, respond to change, and tackle a range of complex digital technologies.
- provide the core skills required for a range of careers in digital technologies, including cyber security, software development, data analytics, networking, animation, software testing, business analysis and change management.
- offer a balance between employability skills and the knowledge essential for students with entrepreneurial, employment or academic ambitions.
- develop students’ understanding of the major impact that digital technologies have on the business environment.
- provide insight into digital technology operations and the opportunities and challenges presented by a global marketplace.
- equip students with knowledge and understanding of culturally diverse organisations, cross-cultural issues, diversity and values.
- allow flexible study to meet local and specialist needs.
We understand the unique needs of students studying online; we appreciate that they may be juggling work, family, and other commitments, and at Activate Learning we are experienced in supporting people in those situations. We have a dedicated team of Higher Education Study Support Tutors who are on hand if you need additional help.
This qualification is also delivered on campus at our Reading College and University Centre and at City of Oxford College and University Centre (Technology Campus).
The HNC in Digital Technologies also offers other pathways including: Data Analytics, Digital Communications Management, Business Analytics & Change Management and Artificial Intelligence Solutions & Applications.
What you'll learn
You will study sixteen units in total:
Year 1
- Professional Practice in the Digital Economy – will provide you with a foundation for good practice in a variety of contexts and an opportunity for you to examine the evolution and impact of digital technologies on work environments.
- Innovation & Digital Transformation – will look at a number of tools and techniques that organisations use to transform and become more innovative in their approach. These include frameworks and related elements such as operational agility, culture, leadership, customer experience, and integration of digital technology.
- Cyber Security – designed to develop your knowledge and understanding in relation to cyber threats and vulnerabilities, cyber defence techniques and incident response. You will explore fundamental principles as well as leading-edge concepts, terminologies, models and hardening methods. You will assess the types of malicious activity and potential targets, and the role everyone has in maintaining cyber resilience.
- Programming – introduces you to the core concepts of programming, along with an introduction to algorithms and the characteristics of programming paradigm.
- Big Data & Visualisation – introduces you to the concepts of big data and visualisation and how this is used for decision making. Students will explore the industry software solutions available for investigating and presenting data, before assessing the role and responsibility of data specialists in the current environment.
- Networking in the Cloud – will give you a wider background knowledge of cloud networking principles, operational principles, protocols, standards, security considerations and the systems associated with a range of networking technologies. It will give you the underpinning knowledge of the principles of networks and supports a range of other units in the qualification.
- Security – will give you knowledge of security, the associated risks and how it has an impact on business continuity. You will examine security measures involving access authorisation and regulation of use
- Networking – will give you a wider background knowledge of computer networking essentials, how they operate, protocols, standards, security considerations and the prototypes associated with a range of networking technologies. You will explore a range of hardware, with related software, and will configure and install these to gain knowledge of networking systems.
PLEASE NOTE: For the HND year you will choose either Cyber Security or Cloud Networking.
Year 2 HND – Cyber Security
- Business Intelligence – you will be introduced to a range of tools, techniques and technologies for acquiring data and processing this into meaningful information that can be used to support business functions and processes. You will also examine the concept of business processing in terms of data capture, conversion and information output. You will be required to define the tools and technologies associated with business intelligence functionality.
- Internet of Things – will introduce you to the role, basic concepts and benefits of IoT in the design and development process of computer applications. The key aim of the unit is to enhance understanding of the methodology, terminology and benefits of IoT in the design and development of software applications.
- Emerging Technologies – you will be introduced to the role, benefits, disadvantages and potential outcomes that emerging technologies have in the development of software applications and business practices. The aim of the unit is to enhance your understanding of the current types, terminology, advantages, disadvantages, potential impact and benefits of emerging technologies.
- Applied Security in the Cloud – will give you the opportunity to implement security in a cloud-based infrastructure. You will explore common threats and how to defend a cloud system. You will design security policies, ensuring that their cloud-based system has effective security management.
- Applied Cryptography in the Cloud – introduces you to the applied principles of cryptography and looks at its practical applications and methods, many of which are fundamental to secure data in the cloud. You will be expected to analyse fundamental symmetric, asymmetric and hashing encryption methods, and investigate examples of these in practice.
- Information Security Management in the Cloud – you will be introduced to the principles of information security governance and explore key principles of ISO standards for meeting assurance, quality and performance standards. You will be expected to investigate the use of an Information Security Management System (ISMS) and how cloud service providers support solutions for protecting data in organisations. You will also be expected to analyse the challenges of using cloud-based ISMS solutions and design a Security Posture Assessment to use in a cloud environment.
- Work-based Learning in the Digital Economy – will provide you with a framework and the opportunity to reflect on and contextualise the learning you gain from working in the industry. In coordination with tutors and an employer, you will define the scope, duration, and content of your expected work-based learning experience. Throughout the period of your work-based learning experience, you will be expected to record your experience and reflect on your learning.
- Digital Sustainability – you will gain a wide range of knowledge and understanding of the issues and topics associated with sustainability and low-impact digital technology solutions. You will also explore the interdisciplinary context of sustainability and how the development of a low carbon economy is essential in the digital technology sector.
Year 2 HND – Cloud Networking
- Business Intelligence – you will be introduced to a range of tools, techniques and technologies for acquiring data and processing this into meaningful information that can be used to support business functions and processes. You will also examine the concept of business processing in terms of data capture, conversion and information output. You will be required to define the tools and technologies associated with business intelligence functionality.
- Internet of Things – will introduce you to the role, basic concepts and benefits of IoT in the design and development process of computer applications. The key aim of the unit is to enhance understanding of the methodology, terminology and benefits of IoT in the design and development of software applications.
- Emerging Technologies – you will be introduced to the role, benefits, disadvantages and potential outcomes that emerging technologies have in the development of software applications and business practices. The aim of the unit is to enhance your understanding of the current types, terminology, advantages, disadvantages, potential impact and benefits of emerging technologies.
- Applied Security in the Cloud – will give you the opportunity to implement security in a cloud-based infrastructure. You will explore common threats and how to defend a cloud system. You will design security policies, ensuring that their cloud-based system has effective security management.
- Work-based Learning in the Digital Economy – will provide you with a framework and the opportunity to reflect on and contextualise the learning you gain from working in the industry. In coordination with tutors and an employer, you will define the scope, duration, and content of your expected work-based learning experience. Throughout the period of your work-based learning experience, you will be expected to record your experience and reflect on your learning.
- Digital Sustainability – you will gain a wide range of knowledge and understanding of the issues and topics associated with sustainability and low-impact digital technology solutions. You will also explore the interdisciplinary context of sustainability and how the development of a low-carbon economy is essential in the digital technology sector.
- Digital Technology as a Catalyst for Change – you will explore the impact of both the current and emerging digital technologies across different industries and investigate how organisations and businesses use digital technologies to meet their needs. You will also look at how an organisation’s strategy and leadership decision-making is impacted by digital technology implementation. You will plan a solution for a specific organisation to use a new or emerging technology.
- Network Management – introduces you to simple network planning, configurations, setup, and management, including LAN, WAN, NAT, PAN, MAN, using a variety of tools and methods for managing networks, including network monitoring, network security such as Snort, firewalls and IPS, network protocols and standards such as Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP), the Network Configuration Protocol (NETCONF), IEEE, MIBII, Remote Network Monitoring (RMON), MDIB & ANS.1, as well as industry’s best practices.
The HND will also assist you in further developing your academic writing and research skills providing you with the opportunity develop transferable skills such as communication, teamwork and problem solving.
Further details about this course are available in the course specification which can be found here
How you'll learn and be assessed
Teaching and Assessment
This course is delivered online and will consist of ‘live’ (synchronous) workshops and seminars along with learning materials which you will be guided through and able to complete at a time convenient to you. You will learn through research, independent study, directed study and workplace scenarios. By participating in vocational activities, you will develop key behaviours and transferable skills such as communication, teamwork, research, and analysis. Plus, you’ll be supported by a friendly, committed, and qualified team of lecturers who have both professional and teaching experience.
You will be assessed through a mixture of written assignments, group assessment, peer assessment, portfolio assessment and practice-related coursework. You will also be supported with a wide range of learning resources made available via Activate Learning’s Online Learning Environment (ALO), including access to textbooks, articles, and multimedia content.
Support
You will have a range of support made available to you, including academic and pastoral support, learning support and access to additional support funds (if eligible). Please see our Support Pages for further information.
Additional study support
Whether you have a recognised disability, specific learning difficulty, or not, you will be eligible to access additional learning support in all the following areas:
- assistive software training
- IT upskilling
- essay planning and structure
- proofreading and editing written work
- bibliographies and referencing
- time management and personal organisation
- revision and exam tips
- presentation techniques
Progression
On successful completion of this HNC course, you can progress to: HND Digital Technologies – Cloud Networking (Online) or HND Digital Technologies – Cyber Security (Online). You could then progress to the BSc (Hons) Top-up degree (subject to meeting entry requirements).
Career opportunities could include becoming a Cyber Security Technologist or a Network Engineer.
Entry requirements
Applicants will be expected to possess one of the following:
- A minimum of 64 UCAS points, or
- Relevant Access to Higher Education Diploma, or
- Level 3 in Computing or Business or other related subject, or
- T Level at Pass in a related subject
Along with a GCSE grade 4 or above in maths and also in English. Other L2 qualifications in English and maths may be accepted. Those who do not have a GCSE in maths and/or English will be required to undertake a pre-entry assessment to ensure suitability for the programme.
We are committed to creating educational opportunities for people from a variety of backgrounds and situations. If you have been out of formal education for some time, and/or you do not have the qualifications stated, we might still be able to consider your application and offer you a range of support. We are here to help. Please get in touch to find out more.
Applicants whose first language is not English must also demonstrate that their level of English is acceptable by achieving a score in a recognised test such as:
- Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) level B2
- PTE Academic 51, or
- IELTS 5.5 (reading and writing must be at 5.5)
Additional information
Tuition Fees
Fees for September 2024 entry are £6,500 per year for UK students.
Please note: Tuition fees are published for the first year of entry only and may increase in subsequent years for new students in line with an inflationary amount determined by the Office for Students.
There are a variety of funding options available to help finance your studies. If you are a UK (Home) student, you don’t have to pay your tuition fees upfront; the government provides loans to cover your full tuition fee. You may also be eligible for a maintenance loan to help cover living costs. Alternatively, your fees may be paid by your employer, or we could arrange a payment schedule if you are paying your own fees.
Additional costs
Students are advised that they will need access to a laptop or PC. We recommend that you budget c£100 a year additional costs such as for stationary to undertake your studies. You can borrow textbooks and access journals from the recommended reading lists from our Learning Resource Centres either physically on campus or in the majority of cases online. If you choose to purchase textbooks, they may cost up to c£60 each.
How to apply
Applicants should apply online through the Activate Learning website.