Module Details

Module Code: COMP8063
Title: Emerging Cyber Trends
Long Title: Emerging Cyber Trends
NFQ Level: Advanced
Valid From: Semester 2 - 2024/25 ( January 2025 )
Duration: 1 Semester
Credits: 5
Field of Study: 4811 - Computer Science
Module Delivered in: 2 programme(s)
Module Description: The cornerstone security concepts which underpin current cyber trends are essential knowledge to understanding emerging cyber trends. These concepts also have a significant role in directing effective and efficient personal cyber defences, something that is essential for a professional in the field. In this module students will learn the main cornerstone concepts, the current and emerging trends in the industry and how to successfully harden themselves against cyber attacks.
 
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this module the learner will be able to:
# Learning Outcome Description
LO1 Evaluate the impact of poor user behaviour on the cyber risk profile of an organisation.
LO2 Develop a security training and awareness programme for an organisation with the aim of establishing a security conscious culture.
LO3 Critique emerging and current enterprise cybersecurity trends with the aim of building a cybersecurity program.
LO4 Analyse the impact of increased digitalisation and connectivity from emerging technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT).
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
Malware & Ransomware
Viruses, worms, spyware, ransomware, rootkits & backdoors, botnets, social engineering. Ransomware – locker and Crypto. Impact of malware and ransomware on home and business users. Target systems i.e. OS, Windows, iOS, Android. Infection methods – traffic distribution systems, spam email, downloaders, social engineering etc. Malware and ransomware mind tricks. Famous malware and ransomware attacks.
User Behaviour & security
User passwords for home and business accounts. Passwords setting, length, complexity and recall. Alternative modes of authentication i.e. biometric, geo location, dual factor etc. Best practices and policy when setting passwords at a corporate level. Remote working and user behaviour. Risks when working from home and best practices and policy for an organisation. Wifi – remote workers accessing public wifi services. USB devices, risks, policy and behaviour. Cost of the bad user behaviour to company.
User Awareness & 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.
Enterprise/IT Cybersecurity/Cloud
Cloud and virtualization security issues, cloud deployment models security issues, resiliency and automation strategies, secure application development and deployment concepts, security technologies. Societal challenges, next generation IT systems i.e. SDN, 5G, virtual and augmented reality, autonomous systems, AI and robotics, Blockchain, Quantum Computing. Cyber crisis management co-operation – challenges, opportunities.
Internet of Things (IoT) & Cyber Physical Systems (CPS)
What are the IoT, CPS and Industrial IoT. Challenges – increased connectivity, alignment between IT/OT security awareness and expertise, organisational policies, process lifecycle management, standards fragmentation, technology heterogeneity, bad password practice etc. Good practices for IoT security. IIoT asset taxonomy. Threats Taxonomy i.e. nefarious activity, eavesdropping, outages, disaster, physical attack, failures. Attack Scenarios. Security Measures and good practice.
Module Content & Assessment
Assessment Breakdown%
Coursework100.00%

Assessments

Coursework
Assessment Type Written Report % of Total Mark 50
Timing Week 7 Learning Outcomes 1,2
Assessment Description
This report will assess the student's understanding of the cornerstone security concepts and current security landscape. The student may be expected to write a report a specific current trend in the industry, it's origin and the expected implications for the future.
Assessment Type Project % of Total Mark 50
Timing Sem End Learning Outcomes 3,4
Assessment Description
The focus of this project will be for the student to develop a cyber defense programme for an organisation in which a number of the current emerging technologies have been realized (e.g. cognitive EDR) which incorporates the impact this technology will have on current operations and security. The core focus of this project is quantifying the practical implication of these technologies and the financial and competitive advantage they may yield.
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 1.00 1
Independent & Directed Learning (Non-contact) Non Contact Independent study. Every Week 4.00 4
Total Hours 7.00
Total Weekly Learner Workload 7.00
Total Weekly Contact Hours 3.00
 
Module Resources
Recommended Book Resources
  • Charles J. Brooks. (2018), Cybersecurity Essentials, Sybex, [ISBN: 1119362393].
  • Christopher Hadnagy. (2018), Social Engineering: The Science of Human Hacking, 2nd. Wiley, [ISBN: 111943338X].
Supplementary Book Resources
  • Kevin D. Mitnick. (2003), The Art of Deception: Controlling the Human Element of Security, Wiley, [ISBN: 076454280X].
Recommended Article/Paper Resources
  • Lu, Yang, and Li Da Xu. (2018), Internet of things (iot) cybersecurity research: A review of current research topics, IEEE Internet of Things Journal, Vol 6, Issue 2.
  • Olmstead, Kenneth, and Aaron Smith. (2017), Americans and cybersecurity., Pew Research Center, Volume 26.
Other Resources
 
Module Delivered in
Programme Code Programme Semester Delivery
CR_KCYMN_9 Master of Science in Cybersecurity Management 2 Mandatory
CR_KCYMT_9 Postgraduate Diploma in Science in Cybersecurity Management 2 Mandatory