Students

COMP8350 – Cyber Security Analysis and Design

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 Convenor
Gaurav Gupta
gaurav.gupta@mq.edu.au
Contact via Email
TBA
Lecturer
Rohitranjan Vasantkumar Gupta
rohitranjanvasantkumar.gupta@mq.edu.au
Contact via Email
TBA
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
COMP6013
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description

This unit introduces students to concepts and techniques related to cyber security analysis and design to build a defence-in-depth security posture. To achieve comprehensive defence strategies, the unit will analyse the security issues at different levels of cyber space, ranging from physical security, identity and access, perimeter security, network security, compute security, application security, to data security and privacy.  A particular focus is to make use of data-driven approaches to collect and analyse the operational data of the deployed systems from the different levels, achieving many security analysis tasks such as network traffic flow analysis, detection of phishing emails and URLs, etc. Then, secure architecture and resilient strategies at each level will be investigated and designed to strengthen the security entirely by design.

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: Understand and describe the cyber security risks, vulnerabilities, and attacks at each level of cyber space. 
  • ULO2: Utilise data-driven approaches to perform analyses on the data collected from different levels of cyber space, and effectively detect anomalous network traffic flows, malware, phishing URLs, and scam calls, etc.
  • ULO3: Design secure architectures and resilient strategies for each level of cyber space, which ensure security by design and empower the defense capability.  
  • ULO4: Communicate professionally in both written and oral forms to a range of stakeholders.

General Assessment Information

Release Dates

  • Analysis Individual Project - Sunday ending Week 6, 23:55
  • Design Group Project - Sunday ending Week 8, 23:55

Descriptions of Assessment Activities and Other Information

  • Submission of Assessments - Assessments need to be submitted via iLearn.
  • Marking of Assessments - Marks and feedback will be provided via iLearn with a turnaround time of 2.5 weeks for the assignments.

Requirements to Pass this Unit

To pass this unit you must achieve a total mark equal to or greater than 50%

Late 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.

Assessments where Late Submissions will be accepted:

  • Analysis Individual Project - YES, Standard Late Penalty applies
  • Design Group Project - NO, unless Special Consideration is Granted
  • Final Examination - NO, unless Special Consideration is Granted

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 written assessments in this unit on time, please submit a Special Consideration request through http://connect.mq.edu.au/.

Final exam: If you miss the final exam due to a serious, unavoidable and significant disruption, contact your convenor and submit a Special Consideration request through http://connect.mq.edu.au/.

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due Groupwork/Individual Short Extension AI Approach
Analysis Individual Project 30% No 24/04/2026 Individual Yes Open
Design Group Project 30% No 23:55, Friday Week 11 Individual and Group No Open
Final Exam 40% No Exam Period Individual No Observed

Analysis Individual Project

Assessment Type 1: Written Submission
Indicative Time on Task 2: 25 hours
Due: 24/04/2026
Weighting: 30%
Groupwork/Individual: Individual
Short extension 3: Yes
AI Approach: Open

You will be provided with domain-specific case studies for critical analysis. This assignment is to be submitted via iLearn.
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Understand and describe the cyber security risks, vulnerabilities, and attacks at each level of cyber space. 
  • Utilise data-driven approaches to perform analyses on the data collected from different levels of cyber space, and effectively detect anomalous network traffic flows, malware, phishing URLs, and scam calls, etc.
  • Communicate professionally in both written and oral forms to a range of stakeholders.

Design Group Project

Assessment Type 1: Experiential task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 30 hours
Due: 23:55, Friday Week 11
Weighting: 30%
Groupwork/Individual: Individual and Group
Short extension 3: No
AI Approach: Open

You will work in groups to complete a design-based project. You will need to complete a reflective report as part of the group assignment and submit it via iLearn.
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Understand and describe the cyber security risks, vulnerabilities, and attacks at each level of cyber space. 
  • Utilise data-driven approaches to perform analyses on the data collected from different levels of cyber space, and effectively detect anomalous network traffic flows, malware, phishing URLs, and scam calls, etc.
  • Design secure architectures and resilient strategies for each level of cyber space, which ensure security by design and empower the defense capability.  
  • Communicate professionally in both written and oral forms to a range of stakeholders.

Final Exam

Assessment Type 1: Examination
Indicative Time on Task 2: 30 hours
Due: Exam Period
Weighting: 40%
Groupwork/Individual: Individual
Short extension 3: No
AI Approach: Observed

The final exam will test your understanding of material covered across the entire unit.
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Understand and describe the cyber security risks, vulnerabilities, and attacks at each level of cyber space. 
  • Utilise data-driven approaches to perform analyses on the data collected from different levels of cyber space, and effectively detect anomalous network traffic flows, malware, phishing URLs, and scam calls, etc.
  • Design secure architectures and resilient strategies for each level of cyber space, which ensure security by design and empower the defense capability.  
  • Communicate professionally in both written and oral forms to a range of stakeholders.

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

CLASSES

Each week you should complete any assigned readings and review the lecture slides in order to prepare for the lecture. There are three hours of lectures and a one-hour workshop every week. The hands-on exercises in works help to reinforce concepts introduced during the lectures. You should have chosen a practical on enrollment. You will find it helpful to read the workshop instructions before attending - that way, you can get to work quickly! For details of days, times and rooms consult the timetables webpage.

WEEK 1 CLASSES

Lectures and practical classes commence in week 1. You should have chosen a practical/workshop on enrollment. You will find it helpful to read the workshop instructions before attending - that way, you can get to work quickly! For details of days, times and rooms, consult the timetables webpage.

DISCUSSION BOARDS

This unit makes use of discussion boards hosted within iLearn. Please post questions there; they are monitored by the staff on the unit.

METHODS OF COMMUNICATION

We will communicate with you via your university email and through announcements on iLearn. General queries (that concern the entire cohort or at least a subset) should be made via Discussion Forums, while queries specific to you should be raised via email.

TECHNOLOGY USED

iLearn

iLearn is a Learning Management System that gives you access to lecture slides, lecture recordings, forums, assessment tasks, instructions for practicals, discussion forums and other resources.

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

This is the first offfering of this unit

Changes since First Published

Date Description
10/02/2026 Removed MTG folks. Added Rohit. Already talked to him, and he's on board.

Unit information based on version 2026.03 of the Handbook