Students

PICT8049 – Australia and Cyber Intelligence

2024 – Session 2, In person-scheduled-weekday, North Ryde

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff
Jeffrey Foster
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
Admission to MPICT or MCPICT or GradDipPICT or GradDipCPICT or GradCertCPICT or MPICTMIntSecSt or MCPICTMIntSecSt or MIntSecStud or GradDipIntSecStud or GradCertIntSecStud or MCyberSec or MSecStrategicStudMCyberSec or MIntellMCyberSec or MCyberSecMCTerrorism or MCyberSecMCrim or Master of Cyber Security Analysis or admission to BSecStudMCyberSecAnalysis or MInfoTechCyberSec or MInfoTechNetWork
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description

Cyberspace has become a major site for different forms of warfare and coercion, ranging from cyber disruption, through information compromise, all the way to covert information operations on a national level. In this unit students learn how robust cyber intelligence can be used to enhance the often-reactive posture of cyber security. This includes understanding the role of cyber intelligence and counterintelligence within the broad, integrated configuration of cyber-security. Students will learn fundamental intelligence collection and analysis principles and apply them to a cyber-security context.

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: Critique contemporary literature relating to the concepts of cyber intelligence
  • ULO2: Demonstrate higher order communication skills including the ability to formulatesustained, persuasive and original written and oral arguments
  • ULO3: Model academic research skills, particularly the ability to select sources appropriately tointegrate knowledge from diverse sources, to critically evaluate its significance andrelevance, synthesise material and present finding logically, rationally and lucidly
  • ULO4: Model intelligencecollection andanalysis skills,particularly theability to select andevaluate sources and producean effectiveintelligenceassessment.
  • ULO5: Evaluate how the intelligence function fits within the dynamic national and internal cybersecurity context.

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Intelligence Writeup 20% No 8 Oct, @ 6PM
Threat report 25% No 1 Nov, @ 11:59PM
Quiz 30% No Sundays @ 11:59PM Weeks 4, 9 & 12
Participation 10% No Sundays @ 11:59PM, various weeks
Intelligence Presentation 15% No In-person: Various weeks. Online: 10 Sep @ 6PM

Intelligence Writeup

Assessment Type 1: Report
Indicative Time on Task 2: 18 hours
Due: 8 Oct, @ 6PM
Weighting: 20%

 

A writeup of your chosen technique on what it does, and how to defend against it.

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Critique contemporary literature relating to the concepts of cyber intelligence
  • Demonstrate higher order communication skills including the ability to formulatesustained, persuasive and original written and oral arguments
  • Model academic research skills, particularly the ability to select sources appropriately tointegrate knowledge from diverse sources, to critically evaluate its significance andrelevance, synthesise material and present finding logically, rationally and lucidly
  • Model intelligencecollection andanalysis skills,particularly theability to select andevaluate sources and producean effectiveintelligenceassessment.

Threat report

Assessment Type 1: Report
Indicative Time on Task 2: 25 hours
Due: 1 Nov, @ 11:59PM
Weighting: 25%

 

An open-source intelligence collection on a relevant target culminating in a structured written report.

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Critique contemporary literature relating to the concepts of cyber intelligence
  • Demonstrate higher order communication skills including the ability to formulatesustained, persuasive and original written and oral arguments
  • Evaluate how the intelligence function fits within the dynamic national and internal cybersecurity context.

Quiz

Assessment Type 1: Quiz/Test
Indicative Time on Task 2: 10 hours
Due: Sundays @ 11:59PM Weeks 4, 9 & 12
Weighting: 30%

 

3 X Quiz covering the prescribed literature in the course.

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Critique contemporary literature relating to the concepts of cyber intelligence
  • Model academic research skills, particularly the ability to select sources appropriately tointegrate knowledge from diverse sources, to critically evaluate its significance andrelevance, synthesise material and present finding logically, rationally and lucidly
  • Evaluate how the intelligence function fits within the dynamic national and internal cybersecurity context.

Participation

Assessment Type 1: Participatory task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 7 hours
Due: Sundays @ 11:59PM, various weeks
Weighting: 10%

 

Participation throughout session, and during presentations

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Critique contemporary literature relating to the concepts of cyber intelligence
  • Evaluate how the intelligence function fits within the dynamic national and internal cybersecurity context.

Intelligence Presentation

Assessment Type 1: Presentation
Indicative Time on Task 2: 16 hours
Due: In-person: Various weeks. Online: 10 Sep @ 6PM
Weighting: 15%

 

A group presentation on a specific tactic, and sub-techniques, used by APTs following the Mitre ATT&CK framework

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Demonstrate higher order communication skills including the ability to formulatesustained, persuasive and original written and oral arguments
  • Model intelligencecollection andanalysis skills,particularly theability to select andevaluate sources and producean effectiveintelligenceassessment.

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

Lectures will be live for in-person students on Tuesdays from 6pm-8pm. Lectures will be recorded and made available via Echo360 immediately after the lecture for online students.

All readings and resources will be made available via iLearn.

 

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  

 

LATE SUBMISSION OF ASSESSMENT TASKS  

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 non-timed sensitive assessment (incl essays, reports, posters, portfolios, journals, recordings etc). Late submission of time sensitive tasks (such as tests/exams, performance assessments/presentations, scheduled practical assessments/labs etc) will only be addressed by the unit convenor in a Special consideration application. Special Consideration outcome may result in a new question or topic

 

WORD LIMITS FOR ASSESSMENT TASKS  

Stated word limits include footnotes and footnoted references, but not bibliography, or title page.  

Word limits can generally deviate by 10% either over or under the stated figure.  

If the number of words deviates from the limit by more than 10%, then penalties will apply. These penalties are 5% of the awarded mark for every 100 words deviation from the word limit. If a paper is 300 words over, for instance, it will lose 3 x 5% = 15% of the total mark awarded for the assignment. This percentage is taken off the total mark, i.e. if a paper was graded at a credit (65%) and was 300 words over, it would be reduced by 15 marks to a pass (50%).  

The application of this penalty is at the discretion of the course convener.  

 

REASSESSMENT OF ASSIGNMENTS DURING THE SEMESTER  

Macquarie University operates a Final Grade Appeal procedure as part of the Assessment policy in cases where students feel their work was graded inappropriately: https://policies.mq.edu.au/document/view.php?id=277

In accordance with the Grade Appeal procedure, individual works are not subject to regrading. 

  

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. 

Unit Schedule

*Note: class schedule may change at any time with prior notice from UC.

 

Module

Date

Topic

Assessments

Primary Reading

1

23 Jul 2024

Intro & Overview

 

 

2

30 Jul 2024

Cyber Killchain/MITRE ATT&CK/Using AI in assignments

 

Att&ck Design and Philosophy

3

6 Aug 2024

Models of Cyber Security/Pyramid of Pain/Maturity

 

Preface – Overview of the NIST Framework (Cybersecurity Risk Management)

ISO27001 in a Windows® Environment: The best practice handbook for a Microsoft® Windows® environment, Second Edition (Chapter 3)

https://www.cyber.gov.au/resources-business-and-government/essential-cyber-security/essential-eight/essential-eight-explained

https://www.cyber.gov.au/resources-business-and-government/essential-cyber-security/essential-eight/essential-eight-maturity-model

4

13 Aug 2024

Introduction to OPSEC and the Dark web

Quiz 1

BOOK CHAPTER

 

Understanding Reactive, Proactive, and Operational Security

Ozkaya, Erdal

United Kingdom: Packt Publishing

Cybersecurity - The Beginner's Guide, 2019, p.1-2

 

5

20 Aug 2024

Cyber Policy in Australia and beyond

Pres. Week 1

https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/cyber-security-subsite/files/2023-cyber-security-strategy.pdf

 

https://resourcehub.bakermckenzie.com/en/resources/global-data-privacy-and-cybersecurity-handbook/asia-pacific/australia/topics/key-data-privacy-and-cybersecurity-laws

6

27 Aug 2024

Cyber Security Metrics

Pres. Week 2

Ch. 3 Cyber Security Objectives in Cyber security Policy Guidebook

7

3 Sep 2024

The Rise of AI

Pres. Week 3

TBD

8

10 Sep 2024

TBD

Pres. Week 4/All online presentations

TBD

InterSession Break

17 Sep 2024

 

 

 

InterSession Break

24 Sep 2024

 

 

 

9

1 Oct 2024

Cyber Intelligence I

Pres. Week 5/Quiz 2

TBD

10

8 Oct 2024

Cyber Intelligence II

Pres. Week 6/Writeup Due (20%)

TBD

11

15 Oct 2024

Cyber Intelligence III

Pres. Week 7

TBD

12

22 Oct 2024

Cyber Intelligence IV

Pres. Group 8/Quiz 3

TBD

13

29 Oct 2024

Wrap-Up/Final Questions

Threat Report Due (25%)

Wrap-Up/Final Questions

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 connect.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 the Service Connect Portal, 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.


Unit information based on version 2024.02 of the Handbook