This course covers foundational topics in Cybersecurity. It will survey the cyber threat landscape, common attack types, and mitigation strategies on devices as well as at network level.  This course will also highlight security issues in emerging domains such as IoT, cloud, and AI. The course will also introduce security (penetration) testing and mitigation strategies to overcome cybersecurity vulnerabilities. Relevant scenarios might include networked systems, operating systems and end-user applications.

One two-hour lecture and one one-hour laboratory session per week.

CyberSecurity Fundamentals for MSc (M)
COMPSCI5063

Examination (60%), Coursework (40%).

Coursework will comprise a combination of weekly online quizzes, practical exercises and an essay-based reflection on material discussed in the course.

It is the default expectation that all courses will offer opportunities for reassessment or deferred assessment. Where it is not possible to offer this in some assessment components, the grade achieved at the first attempt will be counted towards the final course grade, and any exceptions for this course are described below.

[No exceptions]

This course aims to give students a strong foundation in cybersecurity, helping them understand key concepts, principles, and frameworks that will support their learning throughout the MSc Cybersecurity programme. As cyber threats continue to grow and change, it is important for cybersecurity professionals to have a clear understanding of the basic security principles that guide modern cybersecurity practices. By the end of the course, learners will be able to analyse security threats, understand how attackers 'think', apply best security practices, and develop a proactive approach to protecting conventional as well as emerging systems and associated data.

By the end of this course students will be able to:

1. Understand the core principles of information security, including confidentiality, integrity, and availability (the CIA triad).

2. Identify common cybersecurity threats, vulnerabilities, and attack vectors.

3. Understand and implement basics of cryptography and computer and network security architecture such as public key infrastructure.

4. Recognize how attackers think and practise techniques to defend against cyberattacks.

5. Explain cyber security fundamentals concepts and how cybersecurity can be enforced in conventional and emerging interconnected and intelligent systems such as IoT and AI.