Module Details

Module Code: COMP9081
Title: Security Contingency Planning
Long Title: Security Contingency Planning
NFQ Level: Expert
Valid From: Semester 1 - 2020/21 ( September 2020 )
Duration: 1 Semester
Credits: 5
Field of Study: 4811 - Computer Science
Module Delivered in: 4 programme(s)
Module Description: Attacks on a company can cause severe damage in terms of lost revenue, reputation damage, network disturbances impacting not only the company themselves but also its customers. Developing a proper and well defined approach to contingency planning in the face of a cyber event reduces the impact of the damage so that the company can prepare for future cyber incidents. In this module students will learn about contingency planning and its main elements in incident response, disaster recovery and business continuity.
 
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this module the learner will be able to:
# Learning Outcome Description
LO1 Develop a business continuity plan through the effective identification of threats and analysing their impact on business operations.
LO2 Perform a threat assessment and modelling with the aim of optimising network security measures.
LO3 Develop a security awareness programme for an organisation with the aim of establishing a security conscious culture.
LO4 Critique a disaster recovery plan for efficacy and adherence to regulations and legal requirements.
LO5 Plan an incident response, backup and recovery procedure for an organisation.
Dependencies
Module Recommendations

This is prior learning (or a practical skill) that is strongly recommended before enrolment in this module. You may enrol in this module if you have not acquired the recommended learning but you will have considerable difficulty in passing (i.e. achieving the learning outcomes of) the module. While the prior learning is expressed as named MTU module(s) it also allows for learning (in another module or modules) which is equivalent to the learning specified in the named module(s).

Incompatible Modules
These are modules which have learning outcomes that are too similar to the learning outcomes of this module. You may not earn additional credit for the same learning and therefore you may not enrol in this module if you have successfully completed any modules in the incompatible list.
No incompatible modules listed
Co-requisite Modules
No Co-requisite modules listed
Requirements

This is prior learning (or a practical skill) that is mandatory before enrolment in this module is allowed. You may not enrol on this module if you have not acquired the learning specified in this section.

No requirements listed
 
Indicative Content
Business Continuity Planning
Business Continuity Planning vs. Disaster Recovery Planning, Project scope and planning, Business impact assessment, Identify Priorities, Business Impact Assessment (BIA), Prioritization and classification of business functions, evaluating impact and dependencies, Resource Prioritization, Continuity planning, implementation, BCP Team Selection, Legal and Regulatory Requirements, Testing and Exercises for BCP resilience, use cases of BCPs.
Assessment and Testing
Categorizing Threat Actors Tools Techniques and Procedures (TTPs), MITRE ATT&CK, Strategies for Threat Modeling, Threat Analysis Practices and Tools, Categorizing Threats, Threat Models, Attack Trees, Attack Libraries, Threat Profiles, IDDIL/ATC, STRIDE/DREAD, Security Testing, Vulnerability Scanning, Penetration Testing, Log Reviews, Software Testing, Third Party Software. Managing Threat Assessment and Intelligence Operations.
Awareness, training and education
User awareness and educational programmes, protecting personal privacy, elements of the digital footprint, security technologies and tools, host firewalls, VPN, proxies, access points, SSL/TLS, anti-spam, anti-virus, considerations for different device categories, computer backups (on and offline), patch application and management. Incident Reporting culture. Security Operating Procedures. Insider threats. External Attacks. Staff induction process. Maintaining user awareness.
Incident Response
Defining security events and incidents, Attack and incident response lifecycles, Volatile and non-volatile data, IOCs vs IOAs, Laws relating to the capture of static and dynamic data, Pre-Incident Preparation, Scoping an Incident, Incident response team management, EU and Global legal frameworks. Best practices and uses cases. NIST 800-61 r2 and SANS PICERL. Developing and Managing Incident Response Teams and Frameworks.
Disaster Recovery Planning
Categorization and assessment of disasters, System Resilience and Fault Tolerance, DR Personnel (Rescue/Recovery/Salvage teams), Trusted Recovery, Crisis Management, Emergency Communications, Recovery Time Objective, Recovery Point Objective, Layers of Defense, Fail-over Mechanisms, Plan testing and maintenance, Legal Issues, ISO 22301:2019, ISO 22313:2012, ISO 22320:2018, ASIS ORM.1.201
Backup and Availability
Backup and Recovery Procedures, Storage Disk Layouts, RAID, On site and off site backups, Backup Strategies, Cloud based, Backup testing, Information storage and disposal, Server backups, Electronic Vaulting, remote journaling and mirroring, best practices, ISO/IEC 27040 and ISO 20001 requirements
Module Content & Assessment
Assessment Breakdown%
Coursework100.00%

Assessments

Coursework
Assessment Type Project % of Total Mark 50
Timing Week 6 Learning Outcomes 1,2,3
Assessment Description
This project will evaluate the student's capacity to formulate a business continuity plan based on information presented on a use case including a threat model. The BCP is to be augmented with a awareness training strategy which the student must also detail.
Assessment Type Written Report % of Total Mark 50
Timing Sem End Learning Outcomes 4,5
Assessment Description
This report will assess the student's understanding of the incident response process, safe and robust backup procedures and technologies and how these relate to disaster recovery. The student will formulate a disaster recovery plan and then apply this plan to a use case detailing the incident response process and mitigation with appropriate remote backups and recovery.
No End of Module Formal Examination
Reassessment Requirement
Coursework Only
This module is reassessed solely on the basis of re-submitted coursework. There is no repeat written examination.

The University reserves the right to alter the nature and timings of assessment

 

Module Workload

Workload: Full Time
Workload Type Contact Type Workload Description Frequency Average Weekly Learner Workload Hours
Lecture Contact Lecture delivering theory underpinning learning outcomes. Every Week 2.00 2
Lab Contact Lab to support learning outcomes. Every Week 2.00 2
Independent & Directed Learning (Non-contact) Non Contact Independent study. Every Week 3.00 3
Total Hours 7.00
Total Weekly Learner Workload 7.00
Total Weekly Contact Hours 4.00
Workload: Part Time
Workload Type Contact Type Workload Description Frequency Average Weekly Learner Workload Hours
Lecture Contact Lecture delivering theory underpinning learning outcomes. Every Week 2.00 2
Lab Contact Lab to support learning outcomes. Every Week 2.00 2
Independent & Directed Learning (Non-contact) Non Contact Independent study. Every Week 3.00 3
Total Hours 7.00
Total Weekly Learner Workload 7.00
Total Weekly Contact Hours 4.00
 
Module Resources
Recommended Book Resources
  • Michael E. Whitman, Herbert J. Mattord. (2016), Management of Information Security, 5th. Chapter 10, Cengage Learning, [ISBN: 130550125X].
  • Mike Chapple, James Michael Stewart and Darril Gibson. (2018), (ISC)2 CISSP Certified Information Systems Security Professional Official Study Guide, 8th. Sybex, [ISBN: 1119475937].
Supplementary Book Resources
  • Andrew Hiles. (2010), The Definitive Handbook of Business Continuity Management, 3rd. Wiley, [ISBN: 0470670142].
Recommended Article/Paper Resources
  • Herbane, Brahim. (2010), The evolution of business continuity management: A historical review of practices and drivers., Business history, Vol 52, Issue 6.
  • Lee, Robert M., Michael J. Assante, and Tim Conway.. (2014), German steel mill cyber attack., Industrial Control Systems, Vol 30, p.62.
  • Haass, Jon C., Gail-Joon Ahn, and Frank Grimmelmann. (2015), Actra: A case study for threat information sharing., Proceedings of the 2nd ACM Workshop on Information Sharing and Collaborative Security..
Other Resources
 
Module Delivered in
Programme Code Programme Semester Delivery
CR_KCYMN_9 Master of Science in Cybersecurity Management 1 Mandatory
CR_KINDD_9 Master of Science in Technical Communication 1 Elective
CR_KCYMT_9 Postgraduate Diploma in Science in Cybersecurity Management 1 Mandatory
CR_KIDDE_9 Postgraduate Diploma in Science in Technical Communication 1 Elective