CSC8202 : Information Security and Cryptography
- Offered for Year: 2023/24
- Module Leader(s): Professor Thomas Gross
- Lecturer: Dr Essam Ghadafi
- Owning School: Computing
- Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters
| Semester 1 Credit Value: | 10 |
| ECTS Credits: | 5.0 |
Aims
Avoiding security breaches is a high priority for organisations which store and handle confidential data. This module will provide students with the fundamentals of information security covering the techniques used to protect information and information systems from unauthorized access and tampering. The module will cover both the technical (e.g., cryptography) and organisational aspects (e.g., security policies) of protecting information.
Outline Of Syllabus
- Cryptography primitives (Symmetric and Asymmetric primitives: encryption, MACs, signatures, hash functions,
PKI)
- Identification & Authentication
- Biometrics
- Access Control & Authorisation
- Identity Management
- Privacy
- Security Policies
- Information security risk management and disaster recovery
Teaching Methods
Teaching Activities
| Category | Activity | Number | Length | Student Hours | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 1 | 1:00 | 1:00 | PC Examination |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Lecture | 24 | 1:00 | 24:00 | Lectures present in person |
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 24 | 1:00 | 24:00 | Formative Coursework to assess practical skills on a realistic and open-ended problem, while still assessing theoretical underpinnings. |
| Structured Guided Learning | Structured non-synchronous discussion | 9 | 1:00 | 9:00 | Lecture follow-up via online discussion board sessions |
| Guided Independent Study | Independent study | 19 | 1:00 | 19:00 | Background reading |
| Guided Independent Study | Independent study | 15 | 1:00 | 15:00 | Lecture follow-up |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Scheduled on-line contact time | 8 | 1:00 | 8:00 | Online Q&A with Zoom or Teams |
| Total | 100:00 |
Teaching Rationale And Relationship
Lectures will be used to introduce the learning material and for demonstrating the key concepts by example. Students are expected to follow-up lectures within a few days by re-reading and annotating lecture notes to aid deep learning.
Students are expected to spend time on coursework outside timetabled classes.
Students aiming for 1st class marks are expected to widen their knowledge beyond the content of lecture notes through background reading.
Students should set aside sufficient time for lecture follow up and revision to prepare for the coursework.
Assessment Methods
The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners
Exams
| Description | Length | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Digital Examination | 60 | 1 | A | 100 | N/A |
Formative Assessments
| Description | Semester | When Set | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Practical/lab report | 1 | M | formative coursework. |
Assessment Rationale And Relationship
The formative coursework allows an assessment of the development of student's practical skills on a realistic and open-ended problem
The examination is an appropriate way to assess knowledge of theoretical, including ethical, underpinnings and practical skills.
Reading Lists
Timetable
- Timetable Website: www.ncl.ac.uk/timetable/
- CSC8202's Timetable