Cyber Security and Digital Forensics BSc

This module will provide you with fundamental concepts and principles of computer hardware and operating systems in order to explain the structure and operation of modern computers.

By taking this module, you will gain an understanding of how the computer’s hardware enables it to function as a networked, multi-media machine as this module will focus on the understanding of concepts, theory and associated terminology. Practical hands-on laboratory experiments will be used to illustrate the application of theory and concepts. Consideration will also be given to likely future developments in the area of computer architecture.

The development of a range of transferable skills with respect to communicating and demonstrating relevant knowledge will be encouraged and supported throughout.

This module introduces fundamental computational concepts and programming constructs relevant to understanding and use of a range of widely used programming languages.

The main aim is to provide you with the opportunity to learn to program effectively. This takes place in the context of learning to solve a range of problems arising in the context of the processing, storing and transmitting data. You will understand the role of a basic but important range of data structures and types, and their use. Several data structures of interest within CCE will be considered, for example those to represent RTP packets (and associated operations on these) in order that audiovisual data can be sent using transport protocols such as the UDP protocol. The concept of an algorithm is introduced early on together with the techniques for program implementation. You will be encouraged and supported in undertaking - both individually and within a small group setting - a variety of laboratory-based problem solving tasks.

This module will enable you to differentiate between data, information and knowledge in an organisation and to investigate efficient ways of storing, preserving, searching, retrieving and displaying information in an organisation. Undertaking this module will help you to visualise and conceptualise information in organisations through knowledge of modelling techniques and to design and implement a database system, and to utilise a mark-up language, to reflect the information in an organisation. The module will enable you to query and manipulate data that is stored in relational database using Structured Query Language (SQL).

This module will provide you with experiential knowledge of the four phases of a Digital Investigation for digital landscapes, which are, Seizure (covers areas from the beginning of the crime scene and will discuss the current guidelines and standards, Locard’s exchange principle, the physical and appropriate process of “bagging and tagging” of digital devices and making and referring to contemporaneous notes), imaging (covers areas of why it is necessary to image, types of imaging methods, verification of an image, evidentiary integrity and how-to image using Write-Blocker hardware), analysis (uses various software to build up profiles of users from their digital fingerprints using appropriate software) and reporting (uses appropriate software be able to explain, justify and defend any decision made in the analysis stage).

In the past years there has been an increase in attacks on websites that can result in the disclosure of information that is of a personal and confidential nature. With the introduction of GDPR it is no longer acceptable to collect information overtly and then not protect that information adequately. The purpose of this module is to consider GDPR compliancy for websites and more importantly implement them for the protection of collected data. Compliancy is taught in another module, so this module has some overlap, but relies on some knowledge of GDPR.

The aim of this module is to enable you to understand both the requirements for cybersecurity legislation and standards and the effects of compliance with them.

Whilst taking this module you will become proficient at how to identify and comply with relevant legislation and standards. The module will include a consideration of the language and terminology of laws and standards and how `in house’ regulation can be written to facilitate the following of best practise and legal requirements by a wide range of end users.

Through this module you will become familiar with the complete standardisation process from creation to replacement or withdrawal and also consider the role of and requirements for legislation in this area.

The module looks at Network and Protocol Analysis and attempts to cover all aspects of networking and protocols including Internet Protocols, Network Services and Cloud Environments as well as Network Monitoring and Analysis. The main goal of the module is to equip you with the ability to build and analyse any networking environment independent of the underlying physical networking technology. Internet Protocols are the backbone of global communications and will be thoroughly examined in this course: including ARP, IP, UDP and TCP. This is then followed by the examination of the use of Network services including DNS, DHCP, CIFS and Ecommerce platforms such as LAMP. The course then moves on to show how these systems now run on Cloud Service Platforms leading to the development of the Intelligent Edge Environment (IEE). The course finishes by looking issues of network monitoring, network analysis and network performance.

The overall aim of the module is to provide a minimum of nine months (39 weeks) and a maximum of 12 months (52 weeks) experience in a relevant work placement. The specific aims of this module are to enable you to experience a technical employment role in a real work setting and apply theoretical knowledge to the solution of practical problems. It will help you to build your skills to assess practical problems effectively and provide well-grounded solutions developing and enhancing your professional qualities, to work in a management structure, to develop team skills and communication skills. This opportunity will develop the maturity that will enable you to perform well in your final year, contributing with the development of the skills of autonomous learning.

This module aims to look into complete memory extraction and distinguish and identify memory artefacts. You will be exposed to how memory Analysis can help to determine information about running programs, the operating system, and the overall state of a computer.

You will also look into memory forensics in the form of cyber investigation that allows an investigator to identify unauthorised and anomalous activity on a target computer or server. You will be able to run a special software that is able to capture the current state of the system's memory that is known as memory dump (snapshot file).

This module will provide an overview of the different types of cyber security threats to computer systems and networks and the measures that can be put in place to counteract and mitigate against these threats.

This module provides you with the opportunity of choosing and working on a project that reflects your interests and aims and outcomes of your programme. It should constitute a practical problem-solving project relevant to your programme of study. The primary aim of the module is to consolidate and deepen your understanding of material taught on your programme, to exercise professional judgement, to undertake individual research and to conduct an investigation and/or develop a product, process or application relevant to the focus of your programme. It provides you with the opportunity of engaging in significant system development, the typical output of which represents the solution of a problem akin to those that you as a fledgling professional practitioner are likely to encounter in future employment. The module intends that your choice of individual project will provide you with a significant opportunity to reflect on your learning progress and to develop your learning for life-long and career development.

Blockchain Technology is changing how organisations communicate and operate, with this change there is a challenge and opportunity for Blockchain developers and analysts. This module aims is to enable to gain knowledge behind the blockchain technology and how it can be applied, to gain skills to develop and implement blockchain technology and to enable you to combine knowledge and skills to complete blockchain analytics.

The aim of the module is to introduce you to a range of AI theories and techniques, including the most commonly used. This will extend to the ability to implement these techniques, to facilitate you to extend your own development skills.

This module aims to provide you with an understanding of network security and forensics. It provides an overview of some key issues, such as CIA and AAA, current systems and infrastructures, Cloud Computing and define some key principles, such as defence-indepth and de-militarisation zones (DMZ).