Students

COMP6013 – Introduction to Cyber Security

2026 – 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 / Lecturer
Matthew Mansour
matthew.mansour@mq.edu.au
TBA refer to ilearn
Lecturer
Natalie Batshon
natalie.batshon@mq.edu.au
TBA refer to ilearn
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
with COMP1300
Unit description Unit description

This unit tackles cyber security as a multidisciplinary issue. It introduces information security and important technology concepts as well as cyber hygiene principles to remain safe in the digital world. It discusses cyber criminality (perpetrators and activities on the dark web), its impact on society, and prompts for us to critically think about the relationship between cyber security and privacy, from a legal standpoint. Finally, this unit provides insights into the cybersecurity risks faced by businesses and the role that risk management plays in addressing those risks in the context of corporate governance.

 

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: Demonstrate an understanding of technical concepts related to information security, computing, networking, and emerging technologies.
  • ULO2: Apply cyber hygiene principles to achieve personal security in the digital world
  • ULO3: Report on cyber criminality (in terms of activities, perpetrators and their motives) as well as its impact on society.
  • ULO4: Critically evaluate the relation between cyber security and privacy in the context of a legal and regulatory framework.
  • ULO5: Identify cybersecurity risks faced by businesses and relate the management of those risks to enterprise governance.

General Assessment Information

Assessment Task Release Dates:

Assignment: To be released no later than 1st March

Quiz:  Information to be released during the lecture of Week 7. NB. You must attend the SGTA you are registered in on e-student.

Final Take Home Essay: Specifications to be released no later than 25th May.

Late Assessment Submission Policy:

  • 5% penalty per day: If you submit your assessment late, 5% of the total possible marks will be deducted for each day (including weekends), up to 7 days.

    • Example 1 (out of 100): If you score 85/100 but submit 20 hours late, you will lose 5 marks and receive 80/100.

    • Example 2 (out of 30): If you score 27/30 but submit 1 day late, you will lose 1.5 marks and receive 25.5/30.

  • After 7 days: Submissions more than 7 days late will receive a mark of 0.

  • Extensions:

    • Automatic short extension: Some assessments are eligible for automatic short extension. You can only apply for an automatic short extension before the due date.

    • Special Consideration: If you need more time due to serious issues and for any assessments that are not eligible for Short Extension, you must apply for Special Consideration

Special Consideration

The Special Consideration Policy aims to support students who have been impacted by short-term circumstances or events that are serious, unavoidable and significantly disruptive, and which may affect their performance in assessment. If you experience circumstances or events that affect your ability to complete the assessments in this unit on time, please inform the convenor and submit a Special Consideration request through connect.mq.edu.au.

Assessments where Late Submissions will be accepted 

In this unit, late submissions will be accepted as follows: 

Assignment: YES, Standard Late Penalties apply 

QUIZ: NO, unless Special Consideration is Granted

Final Take Home Essay: YES, Standard Late Penalty applies 

Requirements to Pass this Unit

To be eligible to pass this unit, it is necessary to obtain a mark of at least 50% in the unit overall.

NB. SHORT EXTENSION option is not available in this unit.

AI in this unit:

 

AI Open

These assessments do not restrict the use of AI tools. They are designed on the assumption that you may use AI in the same way you would use other professional tools to help you think, plan, analyse, or refine your work. However, the final submission must be your own work, your own judgement, and your own voice. You are responsible for what you submit and must be able to explain and defend it if asked. NB. Quizzes are closed booked in this unit.

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due Groupwork/Individual Short Extension AI Approach
Assignment 30% No 02/04/2026 Group No Open
Quiz 30% No Week 8 in your SGTA Individual No Observed
Final Take Home Essay 40% No 04/06/2026 Individual No Open

Assignment

Assessment Type 1: Experiential task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 20 hours
Due: 02/04/2026
Weighting: 30%
Groupwork/Individual: Group
Short extension 3: No
AI Approach: Open

This assessment evaluates students’ ability to apply cybersecurity concepts in a practical setting by demonstrating technical and theory based knowledge
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Demonstrate an understanding of technical concepts related to information security, computing, networking, and emerging technologies.
  • Apply cyber hygiene principles to achieve personal security in the digital world
  • Report on cyber criminality (in terms of activities, perpetrators and their motives) as well as its impact on society.
  • Critically evaluate the relation between cyber security and privacy in the context of a legal and regulatory framework.
  • Identify cybersecurity risks faced by businesses and relate the management of those risks to enterprise governance.

Quiz

Assessment Type 1: Examination
Indicative Time on Task 2: 10 hours
Due: Week 8 in your SGTA
Weighting: 30%
Groupwork/Individual: Individual
Short extension 3: No
AI Approach: Observed

This assessment task will test students' knowledge around the concepts covered in the lectures.
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Demonstrate an understanding of technical concepts related to information security, computing, networking, and emerging technologies.
  • Apply cyber hygiene principles to achieve personal security in the digital world
  • Report on cyber criminality (in terms of activities, perpetrators and their motives) as well as its impact on society.
  • Critically evaluate the relation between cyber security and privacy in the context of a legal and regulatory framework.
  • Identify cybersecurity risks faced by businesses and relate the management of those risks to enterprise governance.

Final Take Home Essay

Assessment Type 1: Written Submission
Indicative Time on Task 2: 20 hours
Due: 04/06/2026
Weighting: 40%
Groupwork/Individual: Individual
Short extension 3: No
AI Approach: Open

A final essay is included as an assessment task for this unit. The student will have to complete the essay with scholarly references that will address a contemporary topic relating to Cyber Security.
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Demonstrate an understanding of technical concepts related to information security, computing, networking, and emerging technologies.
  • Apply cyber hygiene principles to achieve personal security in the digital world
  • Report on cyber criminality (in terms of activities, perpetrators and their motives) as well as its impact on society.
  • Critically evaluate the relation between cyber security and privacy in the context of a legal and regulatory framework.
  • Identify cybersecurity risks faced by businesses and relate the management of those risks to enterprise governance.

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
  • Academic Success 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.

3 An automatic short extension is available for some assessments. Apply through the Service Connect Portal.

Delivery and Resources

Teaching and Learning Strategy

COMP6013 is taught via Live lectures (in class) and streamed via Echo. SGTA is taught via live classes on campus. The feedback that you receive in SGTA plays also a crucial role in your learning.

Lectures are used to introduce new material, give examples of the advances in Cyber Security and technologies and put them in a wider context. The unit is an introduction which in turn will be explored further in other units at Macquarie University.

SGTA classes are small group classes which give you the opportunity to interact with your peers and with a SGTA instructor who has a sound knowledge of the subject. This also gives you a chance to practice your soft skills.

You have many opportunities to seek for and to receive feedback. During lectures, you are encouraged to ask the lecturer questions to clarify anything you might not be sure of. 

Week 1 classes

SGTA classes start in week 1 and the Lectures start in week 1. Week 1 lecture will be on Mon 23rd Feb 2026

Each week you should:

  • Participate in live lectures, take notes, ask questions
  • Participate in your SGTA classes and seek feedback from your SGTA instructor on your work
  • Read assigned reading material, add to your notes and prepare questions for your lecturer or SGTA instructor
  • Start working on any assessments immediately after they have been released.

Lecture notes are made available each week but these notes are intended as an outline of the lecture only and are not a substitute for your own notes or reading additional material. We release material usually in blocks of 2-3 weeks to not overwhelm students.

Classes

Each week you should participate in two hours of live lectures and a one hour SGTA class (on campus).

Methods of Communication

We will communicate with you via your university email and through announcements on iLearn. Queries to convenors can either be placed on the iLearn discussion board or sent to the unit convenor via the contact email on iLearn.

Textbook

Being a fast paced ever evolving unit, it was deemed that a textbook would not validate the complexity of Cyber Security.

Technology used and required

Echo

Digital recordings of lectures are available.

COMP6013 makes use of the following software in the lab:

  • Microsoft Windows 10 +
  • Microsoft Office 2016 +
  • Edge or Mozilla Firefox or Chrome or Opera

Website

The web page for this unit can be found at: http://ilearn.mq.edu.au.

Student Support Services

Macquarie University provides a range of Academic Student Support Services. Details of these services can accessed at http://www.student.mq.edu.au.

Assumed knowledge

Basic computer use skills.

Unit Schedule

 

Week 

Lecture Topics/Events 

SGTA/Assessment 

1 

When... not if… Intro to Cyber Security unit. (MM) 

SGTA Workshop Week 1 

Lectures start in week 1 

2 

Cyber Hygiene – How clean are you? (MM) 

SGTA Workshop Week 2  

3 

The Human Factor (MM) 

SGTA Workshop Week 3 

4 

Basics of Protection and Computing Basics for Cyber Security (NB) 

SGTA Workshop Week 4 

5 

Cryptography (NB) 

SGTA Workshop Week 5 

6 

Cyber Security Management and Ethics Basics (NB) 

SGTA Workshop Week 6 

Individual Assessment (Project) Due: Thursday 2nd April 2026 

 

 

                                                                                         Mid Semester Break is 3rd April – 19th April 2026

 

7 

Cybercrime / Cybercriminals (NB) 

SGTA Workshop Week 7 

8 

Societal Security (MM) 

SGTA Workshop Week 8 

Assessment (Quiz) in your SGTA you are designated on estudent. 

 

9 

Impact on Business and Cyber Governance – Who’s loses their job? (MM) 

SGTA Workshop Week 9 

10 

IoT and Emerging Tech (MM) 

SGTA Workshop Week 10 

  

11 

Industry Experts Panel (NB) 

SGTA Workshop Week 11 

12 

The Future – How is Cyber Security going to impact us (NB) 

SGTA Workshop Week 12  

13 

Discussion about the Final Report (MM/NB) 

Wrap up + Release of Final Essay Question.

SGTA Workshop Week 13 

Assessment (Individual Take Home Report) Due: Thursday 4th June 2026 

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.

Changes from Previous Offering

- Updated Quizzes

- Updated Lecture and tutorial content

- Implementation of new policy

 

Unit information based on version 2026.01R of the Handbook