Students

ACCG3060 – Cyber Security Governance and Ethics

2025 – Session 1, In person-scheduled-weekday, North Ryde

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit Convenor
Ali Amrollahi
ali.amrollahi@mq.edu.au
Unit Moderator
Mauricio Marrone
mauricio.marrone@mq.edu.au
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
ACCG2050 or PICT2001 or (130cp at 1000 level or above including BUSA2020)
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description

Every person in an organisation is responsible for safe guarding customer data in this era of increasing cyber threats. This unit is designed for students to gain an understanding of the regulatory environment, governance (including cyber governance) and ethical issues relating to cyber security. The objective of the unit is for students to understand the governance and ethical issues in the constantly evolving cyber security environment created by new digital technologies.

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: Explain the governance principles and ethical frameworks relevant to cyber security in a business context. 
  • ULO2: Demonstrate well-reasoned judgement when critically analysing cyber security governance and ethical challenges. 
  • ULO3: Evaluate how trade-offs between cyber security, cost/resources and business opportunities/competitive advantage intersect with risk tolerance, good corporate governance, and business ethics. 
  • ULO4: Apply governance principles and ethical frameworks to develop solutions to a variety of governance and ethical challenges relating to cyber security in a range of business contexts. 

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Professional practice: Cyber Security Briefing 40% No 04/04/2025
Skills development: Cyber challenges 20% No 02/05/2025
Professional practice: Disrupting your business 40% No 06/06/2025

Professional practice: Cyber Security Briefing

Assessment Type 1: Report
Indicative Time on Task 2: 35 hours
Due: 04/04/2025
Weighting: 40%

 

The purpose of this assessment is for you to deliver a Cyber Security briefing to a Senior Executive team.   You will analyse a collection of internal documents to determine long-term security objectives.   Skills in focus: - Digital skills - Communication skills   Deliverable: Written report Individual assessment

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Explain the governance principles and ethical frameworks relevant to cyber security in a business context. 
  • Demonstrate well-reasoned judgement when critically analysing cyber security governance and ethical challenges. 
  • Evaluate how trade-offs between cyber security, cost/resources and business opportunities/competitive advantage intersect with risk tolerance, good corporate governance, and business ethics. 
  • Apply governance principles and ethical frameworks to develop solutions to a variety of governance and ethical challenges relating to cyber security in a range of business contexts. 

Skills development: Cyber challenges

Assessment Type 1: Debate
Indicative Time on Task 2: 20 hours
Due: 02/05/2025
Weighting: 20%

 

The purpose of this assessment is for you to hone your skills in analyising and evaluating cyber security business challenges.   You will debate ethical, financial and legal arguments.   Skills in focus: - Critical thinking - Communication skills   Deliverable: Video recordings Individual assessment

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Demonstrate well-reasoned judgement when critically analysing cyber security governance and ethical challenges. 
  • Evaluate how trade-offs between cyber security, cost/resources and business opportunities/competitive advantage intersect with risk tolerance, good corporate governance, and business ethics. 
  • Apply governance principles and ethical frameworks to develop solutions to a variety of governance and ethical challenges relating to cyber security in a range of business contexts. 

Professional practice: Disrupting your business

Assessment Type 1: Report
Indicative Time on Task 2: 35 hours
Due: 06/06/2025
Weighting: 40%

 

The purpose of this assessment is for you to gain experience in introducing disruptive technologies into a business.   You will critically assess a real-world case study.   Skills in focus: - Ethical awareness - Assess disruptive technologies for security   Deliverable: Written report Individual assessment

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Explain the governance principles and ethical frameworks relevant to cyber security in a business context. 
  • Evaluate how trade-offs between cyber security, cost/resources and business opportunities/competitive advantage intersect with risk tolerance, good corporate governance, and business ethics. 
  • Apply governance principles and ethical frameworks to develop solutions to a variety of governance and ethical challenges relating to cyber security in a range of business contexts. 

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

Please refer to iLearn

Unit Schedule

Week 1

Introduction

Week 2

Governance Frameworks and Standards (1)  

Week 3

Governance Frameworks and Standards (2) 

Week 4

Culture and People

Week 5

Information security policy

Week 6

Security program

Week 7

Analysing Cyber Risks

Week 8

Treating Cyber Risks

Week 9

Legal and Compliance

Week 10

Cybersecurity Ethics

Week 11

Security maintenance and technologies

Week 12

Current Issues and future trends in Cybersecurity

Week 13

Review and Conclusion

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/

Academic Success

Academic Success 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 2025.03 of the Handbook