CSC8410 : Security of Complex Systems (Inactive)
- Inactive for Year: 2024/25
- Module Leader(s): Dr Narges Khakpour
- Lecturer: Dr Mujeeb Ahmed
- Owning School: Computing
- Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters
Your programme is made up of credits, the total differs on programme to programme.
| Semester 1 Credit Value: | 10 |
| ECTS Credits: | 5.0 |
| European Credit Transfer System | |
Aims
Complex systems, such as industrial control systems include social, cyber and physical aspects, which can all be exploited by attackers.
Outline Of Syllabus
- Fundamentals of complex systems, e.g., the devices, platforms and protocols used in them
- Security of complex systems (e.g., Industrial control systems; Smart grids; Industrial IoTs; Smart cities)
- Vulnerabilities in industrial protocols and defense techniques
- Threat modelling in the context of complex systems
- Sophisticated attack mechanisms, e.g., adversarial machine learning
- Human and organisational factors, e.g., usability challenges of security; social engineering techniques; risk
perceptions and decision-making.
- Incident response and forensics
Teaching Methods
Teaching Activities
| Category | Activity | Number | Length | Student Hours | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 20 | 1:00 | 20:00 | Work on completion coursework |
| Structured Guided Learning | Lecture materials | 11 | 1:00 | 11:00 | Follow-up lectures and workshops |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Lecture | 8 | 1:00 | 8:00 | Delivery mode online |
| Structured Guided Learning | Structured research and reading activities | 11 | 1:00 | 11:00 | Preparation for lectures and workshops |
| Structured Guided Learning | Structured non-synchronous discussion | 11 | 0:30 | 5:30 | Non-synchronous discussion board |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Workshops | 3 | 2:30 | 7:30 | Delivery mode: PIP |
| Guided Independent Study | Independent study | 37 | 1:00 | 37:00 | Background reading |
| Total | 100:00 |
Teaching Rationale And Relationship
This module is taught to Degree Apprenticeship students who follow a hybrid pattern of one day on-campus every 4 teaching weeks with other weeks taught online.
Lectures and workshops will be used to introduce the learning material and for demonstrating the key concepts by example. Workshops will also be used for group activities involving application of learning material to the workplace.
Students will be expected to prepare for lectures and workshops using guided learning materials and follow-up lectures and workshops within a few days by re-reading and annotating lecture notes to aid deep learning.
Non-synchronous discussion board will enable offline questions and discussions on the lecture material, coursework, and wider module in more detail.
Students aiming for Distinction level marks are expected to widen their knowledge beyond the content of lecture notes through background reading.
Assessment Methods
The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners
Other Assessment
| Description | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Report | 2 | M | 100 | 2,000 words |
Formative Assessments
Formative Assessment is an assessment which develops your skills in being assessed, allows for you to receive feedback, and prepares you for being assessed. However, it does not count to your final mark.
| Description | Semester | When Set | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Written exercise | 1 | M | Knowledge based quiz - feedback prior to summative assessment |
Assessment Rationale And Relationship
Written exercise in the form of a quiz provides opportunity to assess learning and knowledge related to complex systems in terms of security aspects and their impact, the role of human users, and possible security mechanisms. The report exercise enables an assessment of skills via a work-based problem related to complex systems in terms of recommending security mechanisms, analysing causes of compromise, and development strategies to keep compromised systems operational.
Reading Lists
Timetable
- Timetable Website: www.ncl.ac.uk/timetable/
- CSC8410's Timetable