Overview
As the Internet becomes more pervasive, so do the threats to the security of our computer systems and communications. This unit provides students with grounding in security technology. Topics include network security fundamentals, access control and authentication, firewalls, wireless network security, intrusion detection systems and cryptographic techniques and their applications. The unit provides the knowledge requirements to sit the CompTIA Security and industry standard certification exam should students choose to once they have gained the required industry experience.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
Prerequisite: COIT12206 OR COIT13147
Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).
Offerings For Term 2 - 2017
Attendance Requirements
All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes – in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).
Recommended Student Time Commitment
Each 6-credit Undergraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.
Class Timetable
Assessment Overview
Assessment Grading
This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of ‘pass’ in order to pass the unit. If any ‘pass/fail’ tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully (‘pass’ grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the ‘assessment task’ section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%). Consult the University’s Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final grades.
All University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
You may wish to view these policies:
- Grades and Results Policy
- Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework)
- Review of Grade Procedure
- Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure – Domestic Students
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure – International Students
- Student Refund and Credit Balance Policy and Procedure
- Student Feedback – Compliments and Complaints Policy and Procedure
- Information and Communications Technology Acceptable Use Policy and Procedure
This list is not an exhaustive list of all University policies. The full list of University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
Feedback, Recommendations and Responses
Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.
Feedback from Student Feedback
More supporting software need to be installed in lab computers to perform tutorial.
Effective communication will be conducted with TaSAC to seek more support with needed software installation.
Feedback from Student Feedback
An open book exam
More flexible examination methods will be provided.
Feedback from Self-reflection
Lab activities
Hands-on projects will be designed based on different operating systems to enhance understanding on the knowledge of network security.
- Discuss general security concepts and define basic terminology
- Explain the role of network security technologies such as firewalls, intrusion detection systems and authentication
- Assess wireless security infrastructure and recognise threats and weaknesses
- Explain cryptographic mechanisms used to provide security
- Describe methods and technologies used to achieve operational and organisational security
- Apply the knowledge gained in the unit in practical exercises using common hardware and software
Australian Computer Society (ACS) recognises the Skills Framework for the Information Age (SFIA). SFIA is in use in over 100 countries and provides a widely used and consistent definition of ICT skills. SFIA is increasingly being used when developing job descriptions and role profiles.
ACS members can use the tool MySFIA to build a skills profile at https://www.acs.org.au/professionalrecognition/mysfia-b2c.html
This unit contributes to the following workplace skills as defined by SFIA. The SFIA code is included:
- Network Support (NTAS)
- Problem Management (PBMG)
- Data Analysis (DTAN)
- System Design (DESN)
- Service Desk and Incident Management (USUP)
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
| Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | |
| 1 - Written Assessment - 25% | ||||||
| 2 - Written Assessment - 25% | ||||||
| 3 - Examination - 50% | ||||||
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
| Graduate Attributes | Learning Outcomes | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | |
| 1 - Communication | ||||||
| 2 - Problem Solving | ||||||
| 3 - Critical Thinking | ||||||
| 4 - Information Literacy | ||||||
| 5 - Team Work | ||||||
| 6 - Information Technology Competence | ||||||
| 7 - Cross Cultural Competence | ||||||
| 8 - Ethical practice | ||||||
| 9 - Social Innovation | ||||||
| 10 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures | ||||||
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Graduate Attributes
| Assessment Tasks | Graduate Attributes | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | |
| 1 - Written Assessment - 25% | ||||||||||
| 2 - Written Assessment - 25% | ||||||||||
| 3 - Examination - 50% | ||||||||||
Textbooks
CompTIA security+ guide to network security fundamentals
Edition: 5th (2015)
Authors: Ciampa, M
Cengage
Boston Boston , USA
ISBN: 978-1-305-09394-2 / 978-1-305-09391-1
Binding: Hardcover
IT Resources
- CQUniversity Student Email
- Internet
- Unit Website (Moodle)
- Bluestacks Android Emulator - An Android OS Emulator
- HashTab - a GUI hash Generator
- KeePass - A Free Open Source Password Manager
- keylogger - A Type of Surveillance Software
- SMAC 2.0 - MAC Address Changer
- Snort - Network Intrusion Prevention And Detection System (NIPS - NIDS)
- VirtualBox - A Virtualization Software Package
- Wireshark - Network Protocol Analyser
All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: Harvard (author-date)
For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.
y.lin@cqu.edu.au
Module/Topic
Introduction to Security
Chapter
Introduction to Security (Ciampa, M. Chapter 1)
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Theats
Chapter
Malware (Ciampa, M. Chapter 2); and Application and Network Attacks (Ciampa, M. Chapter 3)
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Application, Data, and Host Security
Chapter
Host, Application, and Data Security (Ciampa, M. Chapter 4)
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Cryptography: Basic
Chapter
Basic Cryptography (Ciampa, M. Chapter 5)
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Cryptography: Advanced
Chapter
Advanced Cryptography (Ciampa, M. Chapter 6)
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Network Security I
Chapter
Network Security (Ciampa, M. Chapter 7)
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Network Security II
Chapter
Administering a Secure Network (Ciampa, M. Chapter 8)
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Access Control
Chapter
Access Control Fundamentals (Ciampa, M. Chapter 11)
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Identity Management
Chapter
Authentication and Account Management (Ciampa, M. Chapter 12);
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Mobile Security I
Chapter
Wireless Network Security (Ciampa, M. Chapter 9)
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Mobile Security II
Chapter
Mobile Device Security (Ciampa, M. Chapter 10)
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Compliance and Operational Security
Chapter
Business Continuity (Ciampa, M. Chapter 13); and Risk Mitigation (Ciampa, M. Chapter 14)
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
1 Written Assessment
Assignment 1 is designed to test your understanding of information security including the background of information security, threats, application, data and host security, basic and advanced cryptography. This task contains two parts, quiz questions (10%) and a series of short-answer questions (15%) relating to the contents in weeks 1-5. Further details and what you are required to submit will be available on the Moodle website in Week 2.
Week 6 Friday (25 Aug 2017) 11:45 pm AEST
Friday 25-Aug-2017 11:45 PM AEST (Australian Eastern Standard Time)
Week 8 Friday (8 Sept 2017)
Friday 08-Sep-2017
The quiz is automatically graded by the system based on the selection of correct or incorrect answers. For short-answer questions, a template with a detailed tabular marking criteria will be provided and the answers will be assessed in regards to accuracy, clarity and detail.
- Discuss general security concepts and define basic terminology
- Explain the role of network security technologies such as firewalls, intrusion detection systems and authentication
- Explain cryptographic mechanisms used to provide security
- Apply the knowledge gained in the unit in practical exercises using common hardware and software
- Communication
- Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Information Technology Competence
- Ethical practice
2 Written Assessment
Assignment 2 is designed to test your understanding of network security, including network security, mobile security, access control and Identity Management. This task contains two parts, quiz questions (10%) and a series of short-answer questions (15%) relating to the contents in weeks 6-10. Further details and what you are required to submit will be available on the Moodle website.
Week 10 Friday (22 Sept 2017) 11:45 pm AEST
Friday 22-Sep-2017 11:45 PM AEST (Australian Eastern Standard Time)
Week 12 Friday (6 Oct 2017)
Friday 13-Oct-2017
The quiz is automatically graded. Short-answer questions will be assessed against the criteria of accuracy, clarity and detail.
- Discuss general security concepts and define basic terminology
- Explain the role of network security technologies such as firewalls, intrusion detection systems and authentication
- Assess wireless security infrastructure and recognise threats and weaknesses
- Apply the knowledge gained in the unit in practical exercises using common hardware and software
- Communication
- Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Information Technology Competence
- Ethical practice
Examination
Dictionary - non-electronic, concise, direct translation only (dictionary must not contain any notes or comments).
As a CQUniversity student you are expected to act honestly in all aspects of your academic work.
Any assessable work undertaken or submitted for review or assessment must be your own work. Assessable work is any type of work you do to meet the assessment requirements in the unit, including draft work submitted for review and feedback and final work to be assessed.
When you use the ideas, words or data of others in your assessment, you must thoroughly and clearly acknowledge the source of this information by using the correct referencing style for your unit. Using others’ work without proper acknowledgement may be considered a form of intellectual dishonesty.
Participating honestly, respectfully, responsibly, and fairly in your university study ensures the CQUniversity qualification you earn will be valued as a true indication of your individual academic achievement and will continue to receive the respect and recognition it deserves.
As a student, you are responsible for reading and following CQUniversity’s policies, including the Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure. This policy sets out CQUniversity’s expectations of you to act with integrity, examples of academic integrity breaches to avoid, the processes used to address alleged breaches of academic integrity, and potential penalties.
What is a breach of academic integrity?
A breach of academic integrity includes but is not limited to plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, cheating, contract cheating, and academic misconduct. The Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure defines what these terms mean and gives examples.
Why is academic integrity important?
A breach of academic integrity may result in one or more penalties, including suspension or even expulsion from the University. It can also have negative implications for student visas and future enrolment at CQUniversity or elsewhere. Students who engage in contract cheating also risk being blackmailed by contract cheating services.
Where can I get assistance?
For academic advice and guidance, the Academic Learning Centre (ALC) can support you in becoming confident in completing assessments with integrity and of high standard.
What can you do to act with integrity?
