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CS4028: SECURITY (2020-2021)

Last modified: 05 Aug 2021 13:04


Course Overview

The course provides a solid foundation in computer and information security. It will cover topics of Information and Risk, Threats and Attacks, Cybersecurity Architecture and Operations, Secure Systems and Products, Cybersecurity Management and Trustworthy Software. 

Course Details

Study Type Undergraduate Level 4
Term First Term Credit Points 15 credits (7.5 ECTS credits)
Campus Aberdeen Sustained Study No
Co-ordinators
  • Dr Wanpeng Li

Qualification Prerequisites

  • One of Programme Level 3 or Programme Level 4 or Programme Level 5

What courses & programmes must have been taken before this course?

What other courses must be taken with this course?

None.

What courses cannot be taken with this course?

Are there a limited number of places available?

No

Course Description

The course provides a solid foundation in computer and information security. It will cover the following topics:

  • Information and Risk,
      • including models such as confidentiality, integrity and availability (CIA); concepts such as probability, consequence, harm, risk identification, assessment and mitigation; and the relationship between information and system risk;
  • Threats and Attacks,
      • including threats, how they materialise, typical attacks and how those attacks exploit vulnerabilities;    
  • Cybersecurity Architecture and Operations, 
      • including physical and process controls that can be implemented across an organisation to reduce information and systems risk, identify and mitigate vulnerability, and ensure organisational compliance;    
  • Secure Systems and Products, 
      • including the concepts of design, defensive programming and testing and their application to build robust, resilient systems that are fit for purpose;
  • Cybersecurity Management, 
      • including understanding the personal, organisational and legal/regulatory context in which information systems could be used, the risks of such use and the constraints (such as time, finance and people) that may affect how cybersecurity is implemented;    
  • Trustworthy Software, 
      • being the enhancement of the overall software and systems culture, with the objective that software should be designed, implemented and maintained in a trustworthy manner, and including the British Standards Institution PAS 754 Software trustworthiness.
  • It may cover other topics if time allows.

Contact Teaching Time

Information on contact teaching time is available from the course guide.

Teaching Breakdown

More Information about Week Numbers


Details, including assessments, may be subject to change until 30 August 2024 for 1st term courses and 20 December 2024 for 2nd term courses.

Summative Assessments

Report evaluating a piece of security technology and a short recorded presentation (50%)
exam (50%)

Alternative Resit Arrangements for students taking course in Academic Year 2020/21

Where a student fails the course overall they will be afforded the opportunity to resit those parts of the course that they failed (pass marks will be carried forward).

Formative Assessment

There are no assessments for this course.

Course Learning Outcomes

Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
FactualRememberILO’s for this course are available in the course guide.

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