COMP SCI 7308OL - Cybersecurity Fundamentals

Online - Online Teaching 2 - 2024

In this course, students will be introduced to real-world cybersecurity challenges that organisations face, and learn to apply knowledge and skills gained through other Computer Science courses to address them. The challenges will be examined both from the attacker's perspective (how systems are exploited) and the defender's perspectives (how to secure systems or respond to threats). Common attack and defence strategies for software, web applications, networks, operating systems, cryptographic systems and humans will be explored. The course will also introduce cybersecurity management concepts, including security operations, risk management, security engineering and security architecture, as well as provide guidance on different career paths specialising in cybersecurity. This course focuses on hands-on activities, and students are encouraged to participate in public and industry cybersecurity challenges, including capture-the-flag competitions.

Open All

Course Details

Course Code	COMP SCI 7308OL
Course	Cybersecurity Fundamentals
Coordinating Unit	Computer Science
Term	Online Teaching 2
Level	Postgraduate Coursework
Location/s	Online
Units	3
Contact	Up to 3 hours per week
Available for Study Abroad and Exchange
Prerequisites	Carousel 1 Courses: COMMGMT 7023OL, COMP SCI 7210OL or POLIS 7024OL
Assessment	Quizzes, practicals, final project

Course Staff

Course Coordinator: Nordiana Shah

Course Timetable

The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from Course Planner.

Course Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this course, you will be able to:
1	evaluate career paths in cyber security and corresponding required skills, certifications and aptitudes
2	explain security assessment, including vulnerability scanning and network/web penetration testing and formulate some of these
3	evaluate the information security in an organisation, the main components of information security management frameworks and how to effectively manage risks
4	address cyber security challenges using forensic analysis skills such as binary file analysis and reverse engineering
5	identify cyber-security-related privacy issues and ethical considerations.

University Graduate Attributes

This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:

University Graduate Attribute	Course Learning Outcome(s)
Attribute 1: Deep discipline knowledge and intellectual breadth Graduates have comprehensive knowledge and understanding of their subject area, the ability to engage with different traditions of thought, and the ability to apply their knowledge in practice including in multi-disciplinary or multi-professional contexts.	2, 4
Attribute 2: Creative and critical thinking, and problem solving Graduates are effective problems-solvers, able to apply critical, creative and evidence-based thinking to conceive innovative responses to future challenges.	2, 4
Attribute 4: Professionalism and leadership readiness Graduates engage in professional behaviour and have the potential to be entrepreneurial and take leadership roles in their chosen occupations or careers and communities.	1, 3, 4
Attribute 5: Intercultural and ethical competency Graduates are responsible and effective global citizens whose personal values and practices are consistent with their roles as responsible members of society.	1, 3

Learning Resources
Required Resources

Download software applications to your computer.
You should be able to write small programs in one of C/C++, Python, or Java.

Recommended Resources
- Lecture slides, tutorial questions and other information will be available for students on MyUni and can be downloaded or printed from there.
- Recommended course readings made available through MyUni.
Online Learning
- It is essential for students to have reliable internet access in order to participate in and complete your study.
- MyUni is the University of Adelaide's online learning environment. MyUni provides access to various features including announcements, course materials, discussion boards and assessments.
- Headphones or speakers (required to listen to lectures and other media).
- Headset, including microphone (highly recommended).
- Webcam (may be required for participation in virtual classrooms and/or presentations).
Extensive use is made of MyUni, so please check the announcements regularly. Lecture notes, tutorial questions, and other relevant material will be made available on MyUni.

There are discussion boards on MyUni. This is the preferred way for students to ask questions so that all students have the same information and any of the staff can reply, allowing for quicker response time.
Learning & Teaching Activities

Learning & Teaching Modes

100% online.

Workload

The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.

Recommended study workload is between 10-20 hours per week in addition to online lectures and tutorials.

Learning Activities Summary

Module 1 - Digital Security
Module 2 - Security Audit
Module 3 - Cyber Security Attacks
Module 4 - Security Investigation
Module 5 - Forensics and Cryptography
Module 6 - Professional Practice

Read the material presented in MyUni.
• Watch the videos that are in the course to learn about key concepts.
• Complete the exercises to further put what you have learnt into practice.
• Participate in the discussion boards.
• Attempt all the practice quizzes. These are there for learning purposes and are not graded but will help you find out where you may need to revise certain parts of the course or ask for help on the discussion boards.
• Complete the three assessment tasks and submit your work to be graded before the due dates.

The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:

Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
Assessment must maintain academic standards.

Assessment Summary

Assessment will be comprised of the following components:

Task 1
Individual weekly practical
Worth 30% of overall grade

Task 2
Individual weekly quizzes
Worth 20% of overall grade

Task 3
Individual Final Project
Worth 50% of overall grade

Assessment Detail

Task 1

In this assessment, you will be required to check your coding and analysis skills in relation to the content presented in each module.

Due: End of Week 1, 2, 3 and 5, Sunday 11:59pm
Percentage of grade: 30%
Type: Individual – Weekly practical

Task 2

In this assessment, you will be required to complete the quiz in each module before moving onto next module.

Due: End of Week 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6, Sunday 11:59pm
Percentage of grade: 20% (Week 2: 4%, Week 3: 4%, Week 4: 4%, Week 5: 4% and Week 6: 4%)
Type: Individual – Weekly quiz

Task 3

In this assessment, you will be required to demonstrate your understanding of the course content by critically analysing cyber security threats of real-world applications by proposing preventions, countermeasures and mitigation solutions to potential vulnerabilities.

Due: End of Week 6, Sunday 11:59pm
Percentage of grade: 50%
Type: Individual – Final project

Submission

All activities to be submitted online through MyUni.

Course Grading

Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:

M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme)
Grade	Mark	Description
FNS		Fail No Submission
F	1-49	Fail
P	50-64	Pass
C	65-74	Credit
D	75-84	Distinction
HD	85-100	High Distinction
CN		Continuing
NFE		No Formal Examination
RP		Result Pending

Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.

Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.

Final results for this course will be made available through Access Adelaide.

Student Feedback

The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.

SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.
Student Support
Counselling for Fully Online Postgraduate Students

Fully online students can access counselling services here:

Phone: 1800 512 155 (24/7)

SMS service: 0439 449 876 (24/7)

Email: info@assureprograms.com.au

Go to the Study Smart Hub to learn more, or speak to your Student Success Advisor (SSA) on 1300 296 648 (Monday to Thursday, 8.30am–5pm ACST/ACDT, Friday, 8.30am–4.30pm ACST/ACDT)
Policies & Guidelines
This section contains links to relevant assessment-related policies and guidelines - all university policies.
Fraud Awareness

Students are reminded that in order to maintain the academic integrity of all programs and courses, the university has a zero-tolerance approach to students offering money or significant value goods or services to any staff member who is involved in their teaching or assessment. Students offering lecturers or tutors or professional staff anything more than a small token of appreciation is totally unacceptable, in any circumstances. Staff members are obliged to report all such incidents to their supervisor/manager, who will refer them for action under the university's student’s disciplinary procedures.

The University of Adelaide is committed to regular reviews of the courses and programs it offers to students. The University of Adelaide therefore reserves the right to discontinue or vary programs and courses without notice. Please read the important information contained in the disclaimer.

Authorised by:	Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (Academic)
Maintained by:	Course Outlines Administrator