The Advanced Training Program – Cybersecurity and Digital Trust for Leaders is designed to develop strategic skills and prepare executives to lead securely in the digital era.

The program runs over six weeks, structured into thematic modules that combine theory and practice. It includes hybrid sessions (online and in-person), ensuring flexibility and fostering interaction among participants.

The methodology emphasizes practical application through real-world problem-solving, case studies, and simulations, enabling leaders to make informed decisions in critical scenarios. Discussion forums and collaborative activities strengthen knowledge sharing and professional networking.

Multimedia resources such as interactive labs and simulation games enrich the learning experience, while personalized support ensures knowledge consolidation and continuous improvement.

Program Benefits:

• Practical learning applied to real business contexts
• Flexible schedule and hybrid format
• Development of critical and strategic leadership skills
• Interaction and networking with peers from diverse sectors
• Innovative resources for a dynamic experience
• Continuous feedback for individual progress
• Empowerment to integrate cybersecurity into organizational strategy

This program is designed for business leaders – from founders of microenterprises and startups to executives of small, medium, and large organizations.

It is structured to benefit both senior leaders with solid IT experience and executives with limited technical training, providing everyone with a strategic and integrated view of cybersecurity.

Understand the evolution of the cyber threat landscape and its impact on the business world.

Course Program | Cybersecurity and Digital Trust for Leaders

This program runs over 6 weeks, with 2 hybrid sessions per week (2 hours each), offering an intensive and practical experience for leaders who want to master cybersecurity and digital trust.

Week 1 – Cybersecurity as a Business Imperative

• Align cybersecurity initiatives with organizational objectives
• Proactive vs. reactive strategies
• Key components of a successful cybersecurity strategy
• Socio-technical framework: structure, people, technology, and tasks
• Analyze case studies and established frameworks

Week 2 – Building the Cybersecurity Framework

• Identify vulnerabilities and develop proactive mitigation strategies
• Scenario-based decision-making exercises
• Overview of major frameworks (NIST, ISO 27001, CIS Controls)
• Mapping threats to critical assets and business processes

Week 3 – Identifying and Managing Risks

• Develop strategies for responding to cyber threats
• Make informed decisions by assessing risks and estimating probabilities and impacts
• Build resilience through business continuity planning
• Hands-on exercises (e.g., mock phishing attempts)

Week 4 – Incident Response and Recovery

• Integrate CSIRT and CISO-as-a-Service into risk management
• Enable faster recovery and build sustainable trust
• Understand new cybersecurity directives (NIS2) and their implications for sectors and supply chains

Week 5 – Fostering a Cybersecurity Culture

• Tackle behavioral challenges using insights from Daniel Kahneman, Nudge Theory, and behavioral science
• Explore Gartner’s governance structures for shared accountability
• Understand feedback loops for continuous improvement
• Collaboration between IT and HR to mitigate insider threats

Week 6 – The Sustainability of Digital Trust

• Leverage emerging technologies responsibly and securely
• Ensure sustainability through strong policy and governance
• Use Gartner’s strategic roadmap as a guide

• Integrates advanced cybersecurity and artificial intelligence practices with organizational strategy, empowering leaders to make informed decisions in complex digital contexts.
• Solid practical experience in the Cyber World Lab environment, through simulations, immersive exercises, and real-life scenarios that bring knowledge closer to real-world application.
• Compatible with professional life, allowing you to develop critical skills at a time when digital resilience is essential for any organization.
• Excellent trainers and direct connection to the cybersecurity ecosystem, ensuring technical relevance, strategic vision, and immediate applicability.
• A collaborative and multidisciplinary environment that promotes critical thinking, digital risk preparedness, and the creation of trust-oriented organizational cultures.

Program Objectives

• Understand the evolving cyber threat landscape and its impact on business.
• Develop leadership skills to foster a security-first culture.
• Integrate strategic and operational cybersecurity practices across the organization.
• Equip leaders to make informed decisions in critical scenarios.
• Ensure resilience and digital trust through strong policies and governance.

One-hour mentorship session with a senior leader from your sector.
Choose from a select group of CEOs and executives, across
industries, on the list below

John Becker Dean, College of Business Administration Professor of Management; Professor of Information Systems and Quantitative Analysis University of Nebraska Omaha, USA

Principal Cybersecurity Engineer of Critical Software

CEO and Founder of CyberS3c

Head of Division at the Operational Center for Information Security (COSI)

CSO and Board Member of Critical Software

This Advanced Training Program is delivered in a hybrid format and has a total duration of 6 weeks.

2 sessions per week | 2 hours per session

Dates:

• February 23 and 27
• March 2, 6, 9, 13, 16, 20, 23, 27, and 30
• April 6

Time:

• 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

In-person sessions:

• February 23 (NOVA IMS)
• April 6 (CyberS3C)

The remaining sessions will be held online.

Applications are open until January 8th

Start date: February 23rd 2026

Tuition fee: €2,990

Discounts available for groups of three
or more participants. Includes NOVA IMS Certificate

Registration fee

For more information about this course, please contact:

Renata Barateiro

Marketing and Admissions Coordinator for Executive Education

Marketing & Admissions Department

+351 213 828 619
executive@novaims.unl.pt