Introduction to Cyber Security

In this module, you will be introduced to the topic of Cyber Security, including a brief history of ethical hacking, Confidentiality, Integrity and Availability (the CIA Triad) of data as well as the Computer Misuse Act.

The History of Computing & Cryptography

Take a look at computing from the breaking of the Enigma code at Bletchley Park, the world’s first programmable computer - Colossus, through to the development of mainframes, personal computers, and the development of the internet.

Explore the study of the techniques of secret writing, especially code and cipher systems, methods as well as the procedures, processes, methods of making and using secret writing, as codes or ciphers.

In addition, you will get the chance to reflect on the next big thing in cyber security, namely Quantum Computing. You will get the opportunity to consider whether quantum computing is a challenge to current cryptographic practices.

Cybercrime

In this module you will explore Cybercrime, which is used to describe two closely linked, but distinct ranges of criminal activity, namely cyber dependent crimes, and cyber-enabled crimes. Cyber-dependent crimes, can be committed only through the use of Information and Communications Technology (‘ICT’) devices, where the devices are both the tool for committing the crime, and the target of the crime. Whereas Cyber-enabled crimes refer to traditional crimes which can be increased in scale or reach by the use of computers, computer networks or other forms of ICT.

Risk Assessment, Management & Governance (Part 1 & 2)

This module looks at Risk Management, which is the process of identifying, assessing, and controlling threats to an organisation's capital and earnings. These threats, or risks, could stem from a wide variety of sources, including financial uncertainty, legal liabilities, strategic management errors, accidents, and natural disasters.

IT security threats and data-related risks, and the risk management strategies to alleviate them, have become a top priority for digitized companies. As a result, a risk management plan increasingly includes companies' processes for identifying and controlling threats to its digital assets, including proprietary corporate data, a customer's personally identifiable information (PII) and intellectual property.

Governance refers to the actions, processes, traditions, and institutions by which authority is exercised and decisions are taken and implemented. Risk governance applies the principles of good governance to the identification, assessment, management, and communication of risks

Furthermore, we have added a section on the Ethics of cyber security practice. You shall be examining how ethics are critical to any sound cybersecurity defence strategy.

Security Testing & Vulnerability Assessment

Explore Security Testing, which is a type of Software Testing that uncovers vulnerabilities, threats, and risks in a software application, and prevents malicious attacks from intruders. The purpose of Security Tests is to identify all possible loopholes and weaknesses of the software system which might result in a loss of information, revenue, or reputation at the hands of employers or outsiders of the organisation. The main goal of Security Testing is to identify the threats in the system and measure its potential vulnerabilities, so the threats can be encountered, and the system does not stop functioning or cannot be exploited. It also helps in detecting all possible security risks in the system and helps developers to fix the problems through coding.

In this module you will also learn about Vulnerability Assessment which is a risk management process used to identify, quantify, and rank possible vulnerabilities to threats in a given system. It is not isolated to a single field and is applied to systems across different industries such as; IT systems; Energy and other Utility systems; Transportation; Communication Systems.

Digital Forensics

Explore Digital Forensics, which is the process by which information is extracted from data storage media (e.g., devices, remote storage and systems associated with computing, imaging, image comparison, video processing and enhancement [including CCTV], audio analysis, satellite navigation, communications), rendered into a useable form, processed, and interpreted to obtain intelligence for use in investigations, or evidence for use in criminal proceedings.

Incident Response Management

In this module you will look at Incident Response Management, which is an organised strategy for addressing and managing the after effects of a security breach or cyber-attack, also known as an incident involving IT, computer incident or security. The purpose is to control the situation in a way that limits harm and reduces the time and cost of recovery.

Identity & Access Management (Authentication, Authorisation & Accountability)

This module explores Identity and Access Management (IAM), which is a collective term that covers products, processes, and policies used to manage user identities and regulate user access within an organisation.

This module also looks at authentication, authorisation, and accountability (AAA) which refers to a common security framework for mediating network and application access. AAA intelligently controls access to computer resources by enforcing strict access and auditing policies. This process ensures that access to network and software application resources can be restricted to specific, legitimate users.

Explore Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML). AI makes it possible for machines to learn from their experiences, adjusting to new inputs and performing human-like tasks. Most AI applications rely heavily on deep learning and natural language processing, which is referred to in general as Machine Learning. Cyber security experts are looking into the potential for AI and ML to identify and counteract sophisticated cyber-attacks with minimal human intervention.

Also study GDPR which is designed to ensure that the integrity of any personal data that is collected, managed, stored, or processed by an organisation is fully protected. It brings new mandatory requirements for data controllers and processors. These provide further safeguards, ranging from the need to gain an individual’s consent to store and use their data - and their right to know what personal data is held about them - right through to the need for some companies to appoint data protection officers.

GDPR also introduces much heavier penalties for breaches of the regulation by companies that fail to comply. The onus is on individual firms to understand the risks associated with any personal data they hold or use and to take the necessary measures to mitigate those risks.

Within this module you will also get to investigate how the UK enacted the GDPR into law as the Data Protection Act 2018 (GDPR 2018).

Security Audit, Compliance and Assurance

Explore Audit Compliance functions which are meant to reasonably ensure that the company is complying with all applicable laws, rules, and regulations, as well as internal codes of conduct, policies, and procedures. The Internal Audit function is designed to monitor and evaluate the company’s internal control environment as to its adequacy, efficiency, and effectiveness.

Security assurance can be defined as the confidence that a system meets its security requirements and is resilient against security vulnerabilities and failures. The confidence indicated by the security assurance represents the level of trust we give to a system that is safe to use.

Human Aspects and Adversarial Behaviour (specialist topic)

In this module, discover how human factors of cyber security represent the actions or events when human error results in a successful hack or data breach. Sharing of passwords, poor patch management, double-clicking on unsafe URLs, and organizational access through a personal device are just a few human errors that lead to a security threat, many of which could be mitigated.

You will also explore how by defining the anti-requirements or abuse frames which make explicit potential adversarial behaviour of attackers and design mechanisms, they can protect an organisation. Security is not a zero-sum game, meaning the gain of the attacker does not equal the loss of the defender. Therefore, understanding the goals, assets, and risks for the organisation is not enough. It is important to understand the goals of potential attackers and the gain they may achieve by having access to the organisation’s assets.

Pentesting (specialist topic)

Examine Penetration Testing (pen-testing or pentesting) which is a method of testing, measuring, and enhancing established security measures on information systems and support areas.

In this way organisations can gain assurance in the security of an IT system by attempting to breach some or all of that system's security, using the same tools and techniques as an adversary might.

Penetration testing should be viewed as a method for gaining assurance in an organisation's vulnerability assessment and management processes, not as a primary method for identifying vulnerabilities.