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Academic Handbook BSc (Hons) Applied Digital and Technology Solutions (online)

NCHNAL595 Cybersecurity Course Descriptor

Course Title Cybersecurity Faculty EDGE Innovation Unit London
Course code NCHNAL595 Teaching Period This course will typically be delivered over a 6-week period
Credit points 15 Date approved March 2021
FHEQ level 5
Compulsory/
Optional 
Compulsory
Pre-requisites None
Co-requisites None

Course Summary

This course explores questions such as: Are your IT systems built, used and managed according to organisational policies? Are they in compliance with international, national, and local legal requirements? What are the potential risks and legal liabilities associated with your IT systems and procedures? Seeks to develop frameworks for assessing gaps between what your organisation is doing and should be doing to protect the organisation and its stakeholders. Students will have the opportunity to apply their knowledge of cybersecurity using industry-standard cloud-based technology e.g. using ServiceNow training.

Course Aims

  • For students to understand how cybersecurity affects computer systems, such as operating systems, embedded systems and distributed applications.
  • Train students in the legal and ethical responsibilities regarding data protection and security.
  • To allow students to explore the impact of user trust in designing computer systems and solutions.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:

Knowledge and Understanding

K1b Have knowledge and critical understanding of how computer systems are built and their vulnerabilities to cyber-attacks and security breaches. 
K2b Have critical knowledge of how cybersecurity measures can be designed and built into modern computer systems, including embedded and distributed systems.
K3b Have critical knowledge of modern IT security regulations and ethical considerations and how they affect computer systems and users.

Subject Specific Skills

S1b Conceptually design secure computer systems.
S2b Advise organisations and/or users on data protection regulations and ethics.

Transferable and Professional Skills

T1bi Obtain and use robust information from a variety of sources as part of self-directed learning.
T1bii Demonstrate a sound technical proficiency in written English and skill in selecting vocabulary so as to communicate effectively to specialist and non-specialist audiences.
T2b Develop logical analysis and conceptual thinking.
T3b Critically evaluate different approaches to problem solving within this field of study.

Teaching and Learning

This is an e-learning course, taught throughout the year.

This course can be offered as a standalone short course.

Teaching and learning strategies for this course will include: 

  • Online learning
  • Online discussion groups
  • Online assessment

Course information and supplementary materials will be available on the University’s Virtual Learning Environment (VLE).

Students are required to attend and participate in all the formal and timetabled sessions for this course. Students are also expected to manage their self-directed learning and independent study in support of the course.

The course learning and teaching hours will be structured as follows:

  • Learning and teaching (6 days x 8 hours) = 48 hours 
  • Independent study = 102 hours 

Indicative total learning hours for this course: 150 hours                

Assignments (see below) will be completed as part of private study.

Assessment

Formative

Students will be formatively assessed during the course by means of set assignments. These will not count towards the final degree but will provide students with developmental feedback. 

Summative

AE   Assessment Type Weighting Online submission Duration Length
1 Written assignment 50% Yes 2,000 words +/- 10%,   excluding data tables
2 Report  50% Yes 2,000 words +/- 10%,  excluding data tables

All summative assessments will be assessed in accordance with the assessment aims set out in the Programme Specification.

Feedback

Students will receive formal feedback in a variety of ways: written (via email or VLE correspondence) and indirectly through online discussion groups. Students will also attend a formal meeting with their Mentor. These reviews will monitor and evaluate the student’s progress.

Indicative Reading

Note: Comprehensive and current reading lists for courses are produced annually in the Course Syllabus or other documentation provided to students; the indicative reading list provided below is used as part of the approval/modification process only.

Books

Cranor, L.F. and Garfinkel, S., (2005), Security and Usability: Designing Secure Systems that People Can Use, Beijing: Farnham: O’Reilly

Pfleeger, C.P., (2007), Security in Computing, Harlow: Prentice Hall

Summers, R.C., (1997), Secure Computing: Threats and Safeguards, New York; London : McGraw-Hill

Journals

Students are encouraged to consult relevant journals on cybersecurity. 

Electronic Resources

Students are encouraged to consult relevant electronic resources on cybersecurity, such as the British Computing Society Code of Conduct: www.bcs.org.uk.

Indicative Topics

  • Computer systems and threats
  • Embedded and distributed systems
  • Legal and ethical data protection regulations
Title: NCHNAL595 Cybersecurity

Approved by: Academic Board

Location: Academic Handbook/Programme specifications and Handbooks/ Undergraduate Online Programmes/Applied BSc (Hons) Digital & Technology Solutions/Course Descriptors

Version number Date approved Date published  Owner Proposed next review date Modification (As per AQF4) & category number
3.0 December 2022 January 2023 Dr Yu-Chun Pan June 2026 Category 3: Change to Teaching and Learning Strategy; Change to English Proficiency Learning Outcome

Category 1: Corrections/clarifications to documents which do not change approved content or learning outcomes

2.1 August 2022 August 2022 Scott Wildman June 2026 Category 1: Corrections/clarifications to documents which do not change approved content or learning outcomes
2.0 January 2022 April 2022 Scott Wildman June 2026 Category 3: Changes to Learning Outcomes
1.0 March 2021 Scott Wildman March 2026
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