COMP47850 Trends in Cybersecurity

Academic Year 2022/2023

The Trends in Cybersecurity module will cover modern research approaches and technology trends in cybersecurity. The topics to the module will be constantly updated on a yearly basis. Example topics of the module include:
- blockchain technologies
- zero trust architecture
- ransomware analysis and defence
- secure software development lifecycle
- security as a service
- use of defensive AI and machine learning for cybersecurity

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Curricular information is subject to change

Learning Outcomes:

• Identify and acquire new knowledge about modern security trends and technologies
• Critically identify and explain the main novelties and and applications of modern security trends and technologies
• Assess strengths and limitations of modern security trends and technologies

Indicative Module Content:

- Fundamentals of Blockchain Technologies
- Blockchain Stack, and its Core Components
- Existing as well as emerging blockchain security use cases
- Blockchain security and digital identity
- Zero trust security model and applications
- Ransomware families and characteristics
- Modern approaches to ransomware detection and analysis
- Secure software development lifecycle and security DevOps
- Review of modern security as a service technologies
- Review of the current research approaches on defensive AI and machine learning for cybersecurity

Student Effort Hours: 
Student Effort Type Hours
Specified Learning Activities

40
Autonomous Student Learning

40
Online Learning

24
Total

104
Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
In the first part of the module there will be a set of invited lectures on a specific cybersecurity trend (e.g., blockchain security).
In the second part of the module students will work in a group to prepare a presentation on an advance cybersecurity research or technological trend. The presentations will be recorded and made available to the rest of the class.
At the end of the module, each group will prepare an essay discussing the studied cybersecurity trend.
 
Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations
Learning Requirements:

To attend this module students should have successfully passed the following modules
- Information Security
- Leadership in Security
- Privacy and Compliance
- Risk Assessment and Security Standards
- Secure Software Engineering
- Applied Cybersecurity
- Network Security
- Incident Response


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Pre-requisite:
COMP47800 - Leadership in Security, COMP47870 - Incident Response, COMP47880 - Network Security, COMP47890 - Applied Cryptography, COMP47900 - Cyber Risk Assessment&Standard, COMP47910 - Secure Software Engineering, COMP47920 - Information Security, LAW42160 - Cybersecurity Law


 
Assessment Strategy  
Description Timing Open Book Exam Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade
Presentation: A recorded presentation of a selected cybersecurity research or technological trend. Throughout the Trimester n/a Graded Yes

40
Journal: Peer-review feedback Coursework (End of Trimester) n/a Pass/Fail Grade Scale No

5
Multiple Choice Questionnaire: MCQ about a cybersecurity trend described in the invited lectures. Throughout the Trimester n/a Graded No

15
Essay: An essay describing contributions, strengths and limitation of a selected cybersecurity research or technological trend. Coursework (End of Trimester) n/a Graded Yes

40

Carry forward of passed components
Yes
 
Remediation Type Remediation Timing
In-Module Resit Prior to relevant Programme Exam Board
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 
Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment
• Group/class feedback, post-assessment
• Online automated feedback
• Peer review activities

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Feedback will be provided in different ways: - Online Automated feedback will be provided for the MCQ - Group feedback will be provided to students after they submit their presentation and their essay - Peer review feedback will also be provided in relation to the group presentation and essay

Name Role
Mr Rupert Bowen Lecturer / Co-Lecturer