Students

PICT3011 – Cyber Security in Practice

2022 – Session 2, Online-flexible

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff
Ed Moore
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
50cp at 2000 level or above
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description

Computer systems and networks, and the applications that they support, are essential to information flows, economic transactions and critical infrastructure in the twenty-first century. This unit will present an overview of modern cyber security with reference to both public and private sector organisations. The unit will look at the motives and perpetrators of cybercrime. It will explore how individuals and organisations face specific threats from their use of technology and identify challenges in maintaining cyber and information security. It further examines the protective security measures required to protect physical and digital access to information through people, infrastructure and computer systems.

Important Academic Dates

Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

  • ULO1: Integrate and analyse relevant theoretical and case-based literature to present a sustained, coherent and logical consideration to cybercrime and cyber security
  • ULO2: Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the key procedures and practices relevant to the management of cyber security risks and countermeasures.
  • ULO3: Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of threats to computer networks and physical infrastructure.
  • ULO4: Critique and evaluate key security vulnerabilities of data storage infrastructure.
  • ULO5: Apply advanced cyber hygiene practices to improve both personal and professional security

General Assessment Information

Late Assessment Submission Penalty 

Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, a 5% penalty (of the total possible mark) will be applied each day a written assessment is not submitted, up until the 7th day (including weekends). After the 7th day, a mark of ‘0’ (zero) will be awarded even if the assessment is submitted. Submission time for all written assessments is set at 11.55pm. A 1-hour grace period is provided to students who experience a technical issue.   

This late penalty will apply to written reports and recordings only. Late submission of time sensitive tasks (such as tests/exams, performance assessments/presentations, scheduled practical assessments/labs) will be addressed by the unit convenor in a Special consideration application.

 

Word and Time Limits for Assessment Tasks

  • Word limits (and where applicable time limits) typically deviate by 10% either over or under the stated figure.
    • A 5% penalty will be applied for every 100 words (or part thereof) under or over any stated deviations.
  • The application of this penalty is at the discretion of the course convener.

Reassessment of Assignments During Semester

  • Macquarie University operates a Grade Appeal Policy in cases where students feel their work was graded inappropriately: http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/gradeappeal/policy.html
  • In accordance with the Grade Appeal Policy, individual works are not subject to regrading.

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Tutorial Participation 10% No Ongoing
Weekly Quizzes 20% No Weeks 1-12
Seminal Article Critique 20% No Week 7
Research Essay 50% No Week 12

Tutorial Participation

Assessment Type 1: Participatory task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 13 hours
Due: Ongoing
Weighting: 10%

 

Student engagement within tutorial exercises (or weekly forums for external students).

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the key procedures and practices relevant to the management of cyber security risks and countermeasures.
  • Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of threats to computer networks and physical infrastructure.
  • Critique and evaluate key security vulnerabilities of data storage infrastructure.
  • Apply advanced cyber hygiene practices to improve both personal and professional security

Weekly Quizzes

Assessment Type 1: Quiz/Test
Indicative Time on Task 2: 20 hours
Due: Weeks 1-12
Weighting: 20%

 

Online weekly quizzes based on the content from the previous week to be completed by all students.

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the key procedures and practices relevant to the management of cyber security risks and countermeasures.
  • Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of threats to computer networks and physical infrastructure.
  • Critique and evaluate key security vulnerabilities of data storage infrastructure.
  • Apply advanced cyber hygiene practices to improve both personal and professional security

Seminal Article Critique

Assessment Type 1: Essay
Indicative Time on Task 2: 20 hours
Due: Week 7
Weighting: 20%

 

Seminal article critique based on an article of student's choice relevant to a topic from the course to be completed by all students.

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Integrate and analyse relevant theoretical and case-based literature to present a sustained, coherent and logical consideration to cybercrime and cyber security
  • Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the key procedures and practices relevant to the management of cyber security risks and countermeasures.
  • Critique and evaluate key security vulnerabilities of data storage infrastructure.
  • Apply advanced cyber hygiene practices to improve both personal and professional security

Research Essay

Assessment Type 1: Essay
Indicative Time on Task 2: 40 hours
Due: Week 12
Weighting: 50%

 

Research essay to be completed by all students on the given question.

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Integrate and analyse relevant theoretical and case-based literature to present a sustained, coherent and logical consideration to cybercrime and cyber security
  • Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the key procedures and practices relevant to the management of cyber security risks and countermeasures.
  • Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of threats to computer networks and physical infrastructure.
  • Critique and evaluate key security vulnerabilities of data storage infrastructure.
  • Apply advanced cyber hygiene practices to improve both personal and professional security

1 If you need help with your assignment, please contact:

  • the academic teaching staff in your unit for guidance in understanding or completing this type of assessment
  • the Writing Centre for academic skills support.

2 Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation

Delivery and Resources

Unit Requirements and Expectations

  • You should spend an average of 12 hours per week on this unit. This includes listening to lectures prior to seminar or tutorial, reading weekly required materials as detailed in iLearn, participating in Ilearn discussion forums and preparing assessments.
  • Internal students are expected to attend all seminar or tutorial sessions, and external students are expected to make significant contributions to on-line activities.
  • In most cases students are required to attempt and submit all major assessment tasks in order to pass the unit.

Required Readings

  • The citations for all the required readings for this unit are available to enrolled students through the unit iLearn site, and at Macquarie University's library site.  Electronic copies of required readings may be accessed through the library or will be made available by other means.

Technology Used and Required

  • Computer and internet access are essential for this unit. Basic computer skills and skills in word processing are also a requirement.
  • This unit has an online presence. Login is via: https://ilearn.mq.edu.au/
  • Students are required to have regular access to a computer and the internet. Mobile devices alone are not sufficient.
  • Information about IT used at Macquarie University is available at  http://students.mq.edu.au/it_services/

Submitting Assessment Tasks

  • All text-based assessment tasks are to be submitted, marked and returned electronically.  This will only happen through the unit iLearn site. 
  • Assessment tasks must be submitted as a MS word document by the due date.
  • Most assessment tasks will be subject to a 'TurnitIn' review as an automatic part of the submission process.
  • The granting of extensions is subject to the university’s Special Consideration Policy. Extensions will not be granted by unit conveners or tutors, but must be lodged through Special Consideration: https://students.mq.edu.au/study/my-study-program/special-consideration

Staff Availability

  • Department staff will endeavour to answer student enquiries in a timely manner. However, emails or iLearn messages will not usually be answered over the weekend or public holiday period.
  • Students are encouraged to read the Unit Guide and look at instructions posted on the iLearn site before sending email requests to staff.

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Students seeking more policy resources can visit Student Policies (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/policies). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.

To find other policies relating to Teaching and Learning, visit Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au) and use the search tool.

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/admin/other-resources/student-conduct

Results

Results published on platform other than eStudent, (eg. iLearn, Coursera etc.) or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit ask.mq.edu.au or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

Academic Integrity

At Macquarie, we believe academic integrity – honesty, respect, trust, responsibility, fairness and courage – is at the core of learning, teaching and research. We recognise that meeting the expectations required to complete your assessments can be challenging. So, we offer you a range of resources and services to help you reach your potential, including free online writing and maths support, academic skills development and wellbeing consultations.

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

The Writing Centre

The Writing Centre provides resources to develop your English language proficiency, academic writing, and communication skills.

The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources. 

Student Services and Support

Macquarie University offers a range of Student Support Services including:

Student Enquiries

Got a question? Ask us via AskMQ, or contact Service Connect.

IT Help

For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/

When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.

Changes from Previous Offering

  • Unit topics changed
  • Late penalty changed from 10% to 5%

Unit information based on version 2022.02 of the Handbook