MTech in IT and Computing Areas with a Proposed Model in MTech in Information Assurance: Indian Context

Information is the driving force in today’s age. Each and every organizations and institutions depend on information and contents. For managing information and contents different tools and technologies are being used. The huge amount of information leads to the concepts of securing such information. Today computers are the most important tool for information related activities leading to collection, selection, organization, processing, management, and dissemination so its security is also an important concerned. Information Assurance is a field of study and practice responsible for data and information privacy including securing devices and systems holds information. The field is very close with few other domains viz. IT Security, information security, computer security, etc. Internationally many universities have started programs on Information Assurance and allied fields as a merged domain viz. Information Assurance and Cyber Security. Important to note that in India exact specialization on Information Assurance till not offered in any of the educational levels; though few universities have provided allied fields as a program of study. In India, IT and Computing Masters are available in two tracks; first as Science program viz. M.Sc. and another is MTech. In both, Information Assurance can be a new and innovative program as a super specialty or emerging field in IT. However, this paper is proposed on M.Tech. in Information Assurance and allied field with possible proposed curricula.

techno managerial solutions of information privacy [1], [5], [9] . It is dedicated to the designing, development, formulation of information security policy, guidelines, framework, etc. Moreover, the field is responsible for the practicing of IT Security solutions viz. Mobile Security, Cloud Security, Web Security, Database Security, etc. [2], [3], [22] . Information Assurance as a term also got popularized in other different countries as well. In India, few subjects are available both as Science and Technology program (i.e. MSc and MTech) and among these few popular are Bio Technology, Information Technology, Computer Science, Electronics, etc. Hence, as Information Assurance is an area of Information Technology so that it could be offered both as MSc and Degree. And still, there is no program on MSc and MTech in Information Assurance in India. Thus this work is proposed for the potentiality of the MTech in Information Assurance with proposed model and curricula.

Objective and Agenda
The present paper is theoretical and conceptual in nature and deals with a policy framework on MTech in Information Assurance; thus deals with mainly the following agenda: 1. To learn about the basics of Information Assurance including its stakeholders and areas in brief.
2. To know about the features, function and advantages of Information Assurance so that it easy to understand regarding the requirement of MTech in Information Assurance.
3. To learn about the potential areas of Information Assurance and proposed MTech in Information Assurance in brief.

4.
To learn and dig out the challenges, opportunities of Information Assurance programs especially the MTech in Information Assurance programs in India.

Information Assurance: Overview
Information Assurance is a discipline that concerns with information security and privacy management in different source and way. The field uses different tools, techniques, and strategies to protect information into its base or privacy [4],[6], [7] . Moreover, it is responsible for the development and formulation of privacy related affairs not only with the electronic system but also manual information systems [6], [17], [18] . The field, Information Assurance is growing rapidly and it is associated with management science due to its nature. The affairs of security and privacy related to the information having social, legal issues are the jurisdiction of Information  Due to this status and importance of the Information Assurance the branch may be offered as MTech program for the BTech/MSc Graduates. It is also suitable for MCA graduates interested in the security profession.

Information Assurance and Allied Education
Information Assurance as a branch established internationally and many universities have started programs on the allied and merged nomenclature also leading to Bachelor, Masters, Doctoral level leading to mainly BS, MS, and PhD Degree.

MTech in IA: Indian Context
MTech degree in India is popular for BTech students. As after 10+2 in India one can go for the BSc and BTech, so many students are pursuing BTech program in Information Technology, Computer Science and Engineering and for them, MTech in Information Assurance may be a suitable degree. In this context, the degree may be offered into two approaches-In First Approach, the program may be offered as a Specialization of MTech-IT and may be offered as MTech-IT (Information Assurance).
In the Second Approach, the program may be offered as a Full Fledged Degree as MTech-Information Assurance.
However, in first approach two styles may be adopted in one, the specialization on Information Assurance may be started from the first semester; while in second one, Information Assurance may be started from the third semester itself.
The table: 1 is depicted the proposed MTech-Information Technology (Information Assurance) model; here style one has been proposed where Information Assurance specialization has been started since first semester.  Here first two semesters are general concerning with the Information Technology field whereas rest two semesters are concerning with specialization of Information Assurance. Here each semester is proposed with 20 Credit where each course is proposed with 4 credit and 5 courses in each semester. Importantly, there is a mix of theoretical and applied courses from IT and the same approach in specialization i.e. (mix of theoretical and applied courses). As the Information Assurance is broad and interdisciplinary in nature so that for the skill based areas may be conducted as industrial training or tie-up. The dissertation can be undertaken in the area of technical security and managerial security based on the requirement of the student. However, if the university is interested to offer full-fledged degree on MTech in Information Assurance then table 3 is the for such approach. In all these proposed model on Information Assurance, almost all the important areas have been incorporated from technical security related areas viz. Cloud Security, Network Security, Web Security, Database Security, Cloud Computing, Cisco Basics routing switching and security modules, Microsoft server administration to Security related affairs, Firewall security has been also proposed with checkpoint based on the current trend. As the proposed program is not IT Security it is Information Assurance so techno managerial areas and traditional content security courses also been proposed.

Issues and Challenges
India is the largest education hub in the world having a different type of educational institutes including numerous engineering institutes, but still, there are issues to find out the proper skill and knowledge focused institute.
In the proposed models, the first two are suitable for the existing institutes offering MTech program in IT and Computing related areas. But unwillingness is a major challenge.
Information Assurance as a theoretical and skill based domain requires interdisciplinary human resources on its faculty team. be good but there are huge challenges to incorporate this due to non-interest, financial issues, collaboration, etc.
Initially, universities can start the program as there is a huge skilled expert requirement in cyber securities, information security professionals.
Information Assurance is a policy making field also in the security and privacy related domain and thus there should be proper interaction with the policy makers, policy making institutes, etc.

CONCLUSION
India holds a large amount of Higher Educational Institutes, and among these, there are good numbers of engineering colleges and institutes [29],[31], [33] . With adopting proper policies and strategies these institutes can easily start MTech in Information Assurance or MTech with Information Assurance Specialization. Moreover, the proper industrial tie-up would be good for the healthy and sophisticated knowledgeable product output. In India, huge numbers of Engineering institutes are offering MTech programs in Information Technology, Computer Science and Engineering and easily Information Assurance major can be started in this branch. UGC, AICTE models should also be followed to offer such programs.