Computer Networks and Security module information

Year one

Block 1: Foundation of Computing and Cyber Security

This module introduces you to the professional context of computer science, software engineering, cyber security, and digital forensics. It introduces mathematical structures that provide a basis for computer science and cyber security to prepare students with the necessary skills in this domain. Students gain skills to learn the concepts of computer science cyber security. In this module the students will learn the mathematical foundation of computing such as logic and Boolean algebra, set theory, probability and statistics, relations, functions, and modular arithmetic.

Lecture: 24 hours
Seminar: 48 hours
Self-directed study: 156 hours
Consolidation: 40 hours
Revision: 30 hours
Assessment: 2 hours
Total: 300 hours

Block 2: Endpoint Security

Designed to provide a foundation in computer ethics, computer architecture and operating systems with a specific emphasis on their security. It will introduce the ethical theories affecting information systems, information security, software engineering, computer science and digital forensics. It requires students to develop critical analytical skills in applying ethical theories to technological outcomes regarding information systems, information security, software engineering, computer science and digital forensics.

Lecture: 36 hours
Practical: 48 hours
Workshop: 10 hours
Self-directed study: 100 hours
Consolidation: 36 hours
Revision: 30 hours
Assessment: 40 hours
Total: 300 hours

Block 3: Secure Coding

This module covers introduction to secure and object-oriented programming using C++. The programming concepts covered in this module are fundamental in almost any other programming language. Students initially learn about the fundamental problem-solving skills using algorithms and basic programming concepts that enable them to create, edit, compile, execute and test computer programs, then about applying key syntax rules for variables, expressions, statements, arrays, and functions in C++.

This module also covers developing/building trusted and reliable software to meet user's requirements including, e.g., naming conventions, initialisation of variables, variable scope and lifetime, validation of input, bound checking, string manipulation and reliability. Students learn about the latest security standards to understand the best practises for writing a software.

Practical: 48 hours
Lecture / Large group: 24 hours
Reading - suggested reading is part of seminar work: 50 hours
Reflection: 50 hours
Revision: 40 hours
Consolidation: 88 hours
Total: 300 hours

Block 4: Computer Networks

The module introduces the architectures, models, protocols, and networking elements that connect users, devices, applications and data through the Internet and across modern computer networks - including IP addressing and Ethernet fundamentals. It also includes switching technologies and router operations that support small-to-medium business networks and includes wireless local area networks (WLAN) and security concepts. By the end of the course, students can build simple local area networks (LAN) that integrate IP addressing schemes, foundational network security, and perform basic configurations for routers and switches. They can also perform troubleshooting, identify and mitigate LAN security threats, and configure and secure a basic WLAN.

Lecture: 48 hours
Practical: 48 hours
Self-directed study: 140 hours
Consolidation: 32 hours
Revision: 30 hours
Assessment: 02 hours

Additional: Expert Briefings in Cyber Security

Year two

Block 1: Secure Scripting and Business Applications

This module covers the fundamentals of database design and implementation as well as the ethical and legal responsibilities associated with storing data. The module also considers how secure scripting techniques can address unauthorised access to stored data through poor business application design and implementation.

Practical: 60 hours
Lecture / Large Group: 40 hours
Self-directed Study (including coursework report): 99 hours
Reflection: 60 hours
Revision: 40 hours
Assessment: 1 hour
Total: 300 hours

Block 2: Enterprise Networking

This module describes the architectures and considerations related to designing, securing, operating, and troubleshooting enterprise networks – including wide area network (WAN) technologies, quality of service (QoS) mechanisms for secure remote access, along with software-defined networking, virtualization, & automation concepts supporting network digitization.

It also covers on IP telephony technologies to prepare students with the necessary skills in this domain in line with the convergence of voice, video, data and mobile applications.

Students gain skills to configure and troubleshoot enterprise networks, and learn to identify/ protect against cybersecurity threats and are introduced to network management tools and key concepts of software-defined networking, including controller-based architectures and how application programming interfaces (APIs) enable network automation.

Lecture: 36 hours
Practical: 48 hours
Self-directed study: 140 hours
Consolidation: 35 hours
Revision: 20 hours
Assessment: 21 hours

Block 3: Penetration Testing

This module shows students how to think like a hacker, how to probe systems for exploitable vulnerabilities and to report findings for implementing mitigation strategies. From social engineering and physical attacks to client-side and server-side attacks, students will replicate the same Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures (TTPs) that a malicious hacker would use, whilst being compliant with current ethics, law and regulations. In this module students will learn how to perform reconnaissance on a target, how to identify possible victims and how to enumerate their services, how to gain access, how to escalate an individual’s privileges and how to create a final penetration test report.

Lecture: 20 hours
Practical: 60 hours
Self-directed reflection: 20 hours
Self-directed reading: 20 hours
Self-directed online learning: 80 hours
Self-directed revision: 40 hours
Assessment 60 hours

Block 4: Industrial Cryptography

Cryptography constitutes today a fundamental and ingrained part of the security of all modern communication. Everything from web browsing, email, and telephony, to messaging apps, data storage and video conferencing, is today secured by cryptographic techniques.

This module will introduce the central principles, methods, and definitions of cryptography, as well as presenting some of the most important applications and implementations. Modern cryptography is concerned with an enormous variety of scenarios where the involved parties do not fully trust each other such as internet banking, electronic voting, integrity of data, security of computer networks, and many more.

Lecture : 24 hours
Seminar : 48 hours
Self-directed study : 137 hours
Consolidation : 40 hours
Revision : 30 hours
Assessment : 21 hours

Additional: Expert Briefings in Cyber Security

Year three

Block 1: Network Security

This module discusses the architectures, protocols, and networking elements to secure your network and respond to incidents. It helps to meet the growing demand for network security professionals to maintain the integrity, confidentiality, and availability of data and devices. The curriculum introduces the security concepts and skills needed to monitor, detect, analyse and respond to cybercrime, cyberespionage, insider threats, advanced persistent threats, regulatory requirements, and other cybersecurity issues facing organizations.

Emphasizing the practical application of the skills needed to maintain and ensure security operational readiness of secure networked systems, it prepares the students for a career as a network security engineer or in the rapidly growing area of cybersecurity operations working in or with a security operations centre (SOC) in roles such as: Security SOC Analyst and Incident Responder.

Lecture: 48 hours
Practical: 48 hours
Self-directed study: 150 hours
Consolidation: 27 hours
Revision: 25 hours
Assessment: 02 hours

Block 2: Network Development

In this module we will discuss the methodologies and tools of modern software development, applied to the IT and Network operations. It covers a 360 view of the domain including microservices, testing, containers and DevOps, as well as securely automating infrastructures with Application Programming Interfaces (APIs).

Students will gain hands-on lab experience on using GIT, common data formats (JSON, XML and YAML), deploying applications as containers, using Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment (CI/CD) pipelines and automating infrastructure using code. In addition, students will critically appraise Software Defined Network (SDN), Network Function Virtualization (NFV) and address the issue of code quality and reliability assurance via DevSecOps.

Lecture: 48 hours
Practical: 48 hours
Self-directed study: 143 hours
Revision: 20 hours
Consolidation: 20 hours
Assessment: 21 hours

Block 3 / 4: Final Project

The project provides students with the opportunity to carry out a significant piece of work that reflects the aims and outcomes of their specific programme. It provides students with the opportunity to demonstrate practical and analytical skills present in their programme of study; to work innovatively and creatively; to synthesise information, ideas, and practices to provide a quality solution, together with an evaluation of that solution. The project should meet some real need in a wider context.

Lecture: 6
Supervisor meetings: 5
Self-study: 289

Optional Modules (choose one):

Block 3 / 4: Emerging Technologies in Computer Networks and Security

After completing several networking and programming modules, students will get the chance to really put these skills together while practicing the latest network technologies, e.g., Software Defined Network (SDN) and Network Function Virtualisation (NFV). Students will also get introduced to the cloud environments and have hands-on experience on cloud network and security management. Moreover, security and privacy issues that are related to IoT, mobile networks, and modern autonomous systems will be discussed and analysed.

Lecture: 20 hours
Practical: 40 hours
Self-directed study: 160 hours
Consolidation: 40 hours
Assessment: 40 hours

Block 3 / 4: Artificial Intelligence for Cyber Security

The application of AI algorithms to the domain of cyber security has gained a lot of momentum in the last few years, especially with the proliferation of Deep Neural Network architectures and applications. In this module, the application of AI to cyber security will be examined in detail. Students will be trained on how to collect, pre-process, and analyse cyber security datasets. Students will gain fundamental knowledge about AI algorithms, including statistical machine learning algorithms and deep neural networks, and how such algorithms are applied to cyber security applications. State-of-the-art tools and software libraries will be used to apply taught concepts to train and evaluate different AI models to develop cyber security solutions.

Lecture: 24 hours
Practical/Lab: 56 hours
Assessment: 60 hours
Reading: 100 hours
Reflection: 60 hours

Block 3 / 4: Digital Forensics and Cyber Crime Investigation

This module will guide students through the Digital Forensics Incident Response (DFIR) life cycle in traditional and/or enterprise crime scenes involving digital devices such as computers/laptops/mobile devices/networks and the associated legal and ethical considerations and requirements.

Students will use a combination of proprietary and open-source forensic tools to collect and analyse digital evidence in a forensically sound manner whilst completing the appropriate and necessary paperwork, prior to presenting their findings for a given audience.

Lectures: 24 hours
Staffed Labs: 48 hours
Unstaffed Labs: 24 hours
Self-directed study: 140 hours
Collaboration: 24 hours
Assessment: 40 hours

Note: All modules are subject to change in order to keep content current.

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