Module: CCO6002-20 Cyber Security

Level: 6

Credit Value: 20

Module Tutor: John Curry

Module Tutor Contact Details: j.curry@bathspa.ac.uk

1.Brief description of module

All businesses face the threat of their IT systems being compromised. The impact of a successful attack is often expensive in terms of time and money for the businesses and individuals affected. It is therefore critical that anyone wishing to work in the computing sector have an understanding of how to protect the physical and intellectual property of the company they are attached to.

This module introduces the fundamentals of cyber security. Rather than turn you into cyber security experts, it aims to equip you with key knowledge that all employers in the creative industries and computing sector more widely expect you to have. During the module, you investigate the role of IT security professionals and apply some of the internet forensic techniques that are commonplace in industry. In addition, the ethical considerations of cyber security are introduced and evaluated. This allows you to make decisions about working practices in the context of IT security that are morally informed.

2. Outline syllabus: 

Topics covered in Cyber Security include:

• The importance of cyber security

• The role of the cyber security specialists

• Identification of potential risks and application of monitoring techniques to prevent intrusion

• Fundamental computer forensics

• Implementation of an IT security policy

• Ethical working practices

• Projection of future trends in cyber security

3. Teaching and learning activities: 

Class hours

Cyber Security comprises lectures and practical classroom based activities. Activities range from playing games that reveal key learning about IT security to undertaking Internet forensics.

Independent Learning

Cyber Security is an ever-evolving topic, with new considerations and protection techniques being identified often. You are expected to track such changes by following key online resources such as cyberstreetwise.com and staysafeonline.org. Across the module, tutors point to such resources and highlight important articles that you need to read and evaluate during independent study.

Assessment Item 1:

• Assessment Type: Course Work

• Description:   Costed plan (2500 words)

• % Weighting: 50%

Assessment Item 2:

• Assessment Type: Course Work

• Description: Report (2500 words)

• % Weighting: 50%