Unit Outline

This unit focuses on the planning and implementation aspects of cybersecurity. It first introduces cybersecurity frameworks and highlights the modern cybersecurity landscape, including contemporary digital security and safety measures used to protect systems and organisational assets. The unit then explores recent cybersecurity threats and attack models, along with modern security measures and incident response strategies used to detect, prevent, and respond to such attacks.

The unit further examines incident response processes and develops students’ understanding of digital forensics within the cybersecurity domain. Students are introduced to digital forensic processes, including the tools and techniques used for evidence acquisition, preservation, processing, analysis, and reporting. Through workshops and tutorials, students gain hands-on experience applying eForensics tools in practical digital forensic scenarios and investigating forensic artefacts using principles and techniques of digital forensics.

Additionally, the unit examines system stack weaknesses and their implications using contemporary vulnerability listings and threat intelligence sources as references. Students gain practical experience in analysing, designing, developing, and critiquing software applications containing known Common Weakness Enumeration (CWE) vulnerabilities, while learning preventive measures and secure software development practices to mitigate such weaknesses.

Throughout the unit, students apply relevant professional, ethical, and legal considerations within the practical contexts of incident response planning, vulnerability analysis, eForensic tool usage, and digital forensic investigations. Students develop an understanding of responsible cybersecurity and forensic practices, including evidence integrity, confidentiality, privacy, appropriate handling of security information, and the professional responsibilities associated with cybersecurity decision-making and digital forensic analysis.

Intended Learning Outcomes

As per the Assessment and Results Policy 1.3, your results will reflect your achievement against specified learning outcomes.

On completion of this unit, you will be able to:


1	Explain modern-day digital security and safety measures in order to devise an incident response plan.
2	Design, develop and critique a software application in order to demonstrate preventive measures against Common Weakness Enumeration Vulnerabilities.
3	Recommend and apply eForensic tools in digital forensic scenarios.
4	Investigate eForensic artefacts by applying principles and techniques of digital forensics.

Requisites


REQUISITE TYPE	REQUISITES
Pre-requisite	KIT501

Alterations as a result of student feedback

In-tutorial exam is now scheduled outside the semester duration. Giving students extra time to be spent on the tools for exam.

Teaching arrangements


ATTENDANCE MODE	TEACHING TYPE	LEARNING ACTIVITY	CONTACT HOURS	FREQUENCY
On Campus	Lecture (Online)	A real-time (i.e. synchronous) interactive activity involving the whole class whose primary purpose is the presentation and structuring of information/ideas/skills to facilitate student learning. All students are expected to attend.	2	Once only (3 times)
	Workshop	A structured real-time (i.e. synchronous) activity that involves a mix of presentation of new information/ideas/skills and guided activities related to that information/ideas/skills. All students are expected to attend.	2	Once only (5 times)
	Tutorial	A structured real-time (i.e. synchronous) activity in a small-group setting where the primary purpose is the clarification, exploration or reinforcement of subject content presented or accessed at another time or place (e.g. lecture, preparatory work). It is reliant on student-teacher and student-student interaction and dialogue for achievement of its learning outcomes. The students enrolled in the tutorial are expected to attend.	2	Once only (4 times)
	Independent Learning	Involving reading, listening to audio, watching video, and/or completing exercises and/or quizzes, self-study is individual work undertaken when the student chooses (i.e. asynchronous), most likely through engagement with MyLO. The content is examinable, and may need to be completed prior to attending classes and/or attempting assessment tasks.	2	Weekly

Attendance / engagement expectations

If your unit is offered On campus, it is expected that you will attend all on-campus and onsite learning activities. This is to support your own learning and the development of a learning community within the unit. If you are unable to attend regularly, please discuss the situation with your course coordinator and/or our UConnect support team.

If your unit is offered Online or includes online activities, it is expected you will engage in all those activities as indicated in the Unit Outline or MyLO, including any self-directed learning.

If you miss a learning activity for a legitimate reason (e.g., illness, carer responsibilities) teaching staff will attempt to provide alternative activities (e.g., make up readings) where it is possible.

How will I be Assessed?

For more detailed assessment information please see MyLO.

Assessment schedule


ASSESSMENT TASK #	ASSESSMENT TASK NAME	DATE DUE	WEIGHT	LINKS TO INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES
Assessment Task 1:	Cybersecurity incident analysis	Week 6	25 %	LO1, LO3
Assessment Task 2:	Cybersecurity vulnerability analysis	Week 14	20 %	LO1, LO2
Assessment Task 3:	Cybersecurity planning, incident response, and Vulnerability Assessment quiz	Refer to Assessment Description	15 %	LO1, LO2, LO4
Assessment Task 4:	eForensics	Refer to Assessment Description	40 %	LO3, LO4

Assessment details

Assessment Task 1: Cybersecurity incident analysis

Task Description:

Students will work in groups to research cybersecurity incidents of high impact that have occurred in the recent years. The template of this research will follow the anatomy of a cyber-attack, ethics framework in cybersecurity and incident response planning guidelines provided during Week #2 workshop. The outcome of this research will be a 20-minute presentation by each group. This presentation will highlight the background, timeline, impact, preventive measures, ethics evaluation and response planning in relation to the incident. Moreover, based on the incident and response plan, the group will recommend a set of digital forensic tools that can be applied for investigation. This assignment will enable students to learn about modern-day cybersecurity measures in place and explain their motivation and limitations to devise an effective incident response plan. This assessment consists of both group and individual tasks. The topics for this research will be assigned to a group during week #2 and week #3. The assessment will be due in week #6.

Task Length:

recorded presentation of 20-25 slides, depending on the incident under discussion

Due Date:

Week 6

Weight:

25 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Research a high impact cybersecurity incident and discuss its impact on cybersecurity planning and response.	LO1
2	Analyse the incident and present the research using the required template	LO1
3	Recommend an incident response plan and justify appropriate countermeasures to defend against similar cybersecurity threats.	LO1
4	Recommend a set of digital forensic tools that can be applied for the investigation of similar threats.	LO3

Assessment Task 2: Cybersecurity vulnerability analysis

Task Description:

This assessment combines group and individual tasks. Students will collaborate to enhance a software application that highlights code-level vulnerabilities. To develop a secure application variant, students will work as a team to evaluate the embedded software weaknesses and provide a post-solution critique. For the solution, students will work individually to design and implement security patches for the assigned vulnerabilities. The solutions will reference the latest Common Weakness Enumerations (CWE) listings. In addition to the source code, students will submit a video demonstration and a post-implementation report that addresses the critique and the analysis aspects of the assignment. This report includes a scope of work, the identified vulnerability in the code and its implications, the security patch design for each weakness, and the outcomes of test cases. This assignment aims to equip students to work as a team to assess vulnerabilities based on CWE listings and provide solutions that adhere to industry-based secure development practices.

Assignment specifications will be made available in Week #7. Assignment submission is due after Week #13.

Task Length:

A software application accompanied with an analysis report, For the software application with approximately 15 high-level requirements, each requirement may address 1-2 weaknesses.

Due Date:

Week 14

Weight:

20 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Analyse modern-day cybersecurity vulnerabilities.	LO1
2	Complete a vulnerability analysis report with identified vulnerability in the code and its implications, security patch design for each weakness identified	LO2
3	Critique the presented solution under the light of latest software vulnerability listings such as CWE-25 and OWASP top 10 where applicable.	LO2
4	Design, develop and test source code as a solution for the identified weakness	LO2
5	Report the analysis of the test results and map the identified weaknesses to overall vulnerabilities presented in the application	LO1, LO2

Assessment Task 3: Cybersecurity planning, incident response, and Vulnerability Assessment quiz

Task Description:

This individual assessment comprises three in-semester quizzes, each worth 5% of your grade. Each quiz comprises 30 multiple-choice questions and must be completed in a single attempt within a 1 hr timeframe. Students have one week to complete each quiz.

The first quiz, covering cybersecurity planning, is due in Week #3. The second quiz, covering incident response and principles of digital forensics, is due during Week #5. The third quiz, focusing on vulnerability analysis, is due in Week #12.

Task Length:

1 hr. for each quiz

Due Date:

Refer to Assessment Description

Weight:

15 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Answer questions correctly on the cybersecurity planning and modern-day cybersecurity topics based on provided information and discussions during the sessions	LO1
2	Answer questions correctly on incident response planning and principles of digital forensics based on provided information and discussions during the sessions	LO1, LO4
3	Answer questions correctly on vulnerability analysis based on provided information and discussions during the sessions	LO2

Assessment Task 4: eForensics

Task Description:

In this assessment, students will apply their digital forensics skills by using digital forensic forensic tools cohesively. The assignment aims to enable students to apply digital forensics principles and techniques to various eForensic artefacts, such as files, registry keys, logs, images, messages, and timestamps.

The assignment is divided into six parts. The first four parts, each worth 5% is due in week following the respective tutorials (Weeks #5. #7, #8, and #10), respectively. The fifth part is a comprehensive digital forensics investigation test that covers eForensic steps. This part is to be completed during the Week #13 exam within a 2-hour timeframe. The final part is a post-investigation follow-up report that reflects the outcomes of the investigation process. The report is due within 48 hrs of the exam.

Task Length:

~10 hrs.

Due Date:

Refer to Assessment Description

Weight:

40 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Acquire eForensic artefacts with forensic integrity intact	LO3, LO4
2	Investigation and evaluation of the key eForensic artefacts	LO4
3	Report key eForensics artefacts post-investigation	LO3, LO4

How your final result is determined

To pass this unit, you need to demonstrate your attainment of each of the Intended Learning Outcomes, achieve a final unit grade of 50% or greater, and pass any hurdle tasks.

Academic progress review

The results for this unit may be included in a review of your academic progress. For information about progress reviews and what they mean for all students, see Academic Progress Review in the Student Portal.

Submission of assignments

Where practicable, assignments should be submitted to an assignment submission folder in MYLO. You must submit assignments by the due date or receive a penalty (unless an extension of time has been approved by the Unit Coordinator). Students submitting any assignment in hard copy, or because of a practicum finalisation, must attach a student cover sheet and signed declaration for the submission to be accepted for marking.

Academic integrity

Academic integrity is about acting responsibly, honestly, ethically, and collegially when using, producing, and communicating information with other students and staff members.

In written work, you must correctly reference the work of others to maintain academic integrity. To find out the referencing style for this unit, see the assessment information in the MyLO site, or contact your teaching staff. For more detail about Academic Integrity, see Important Guidelines & Support.

Requests for extensions

If you are unable to submit an assessment task by the due date, you should apply for an extension.

A request for an extension should first be discussed with your Unit Coordinator or teaching support team where possible. A request for an extension must be submitted by the assessment due date, except where you can provide evidence it was not possible to do so. Typically, an application for an extension will be supported by documentary evidence: however, where it is not possible for you to provide evidence please contact your Unit Coordinator.

The Unit Coordinator must notify you of the outcome of an extension request within 3 working days of receiving the request.

Late penalties

Assignments submitted after the deadline will receive a late penalty of 5% of the original available mark for each calendar day (or part day) that the assignment is late. Late submissions will not be accepted more than 10 calendar days after the due date, or after assignments have been returned to other students on a scheduled date, whichever occurs first. Further information on Late Penalties can be found on the Assessments and Results Procedure.