Cyber Attacks and Defense

Course Objectives and Learning Outcomes

This course serves as the first cybersecurity class for Computer Science undergraduate students. It introduces the basics of cyber attacks and cyber defense mechanisms, with an emphasis on cyber operations. This course introduces what cybersecurity entails in organizational and enterprise settings, plus other non-technical factors in securing the cyberspace. The overall objective is to help our future computing professionals develop essential understanding of the fundamental concepts underlying cybersecurity. In addition, the understanding will be augmented through multiple hands-on/programming activities, which enhance the understanding by allowing students to see security-in-action. The course is designed in modular fashion so that elements of the courseware could be plugged in other instructional efforts. Upon completion of the course, students will be able to:

Clearly define basic cybersecurity related concepts

Illustrate and apply fundamental security principles and practices to typical IT infrastructure components

Accurately describe various types of cyber threats and attacks

Describe security countermeasures

Exercise the secure software development principles in coding

Demonstrate skills with tools to enhance systems security

Demonstrate understanding of human, organizational, and societal factors in cybersecurity

Articulate the emerging security issues with modern enterprise computing

Develop understanding of what cyber security entails as a profession

View Syllabus of Cyber Attacks and Defense Course

Modules	Submodules	Units Included
Security Fundamentals	Security Concepts and Principles Security Management The Cybersecurity Profession and Careers	Security Concepts, Security Design Principles, Security Models, Frameworks, Guidelines and Policies, Security Controls/Practice, Risk Management, Non-technical Security Related Issues, Cybersecurity as a Profession, Building up your skills
Security Threats and Countermeasures	Security Threats Introduction to Cryptography	Attack Vector, Attack Surface, Cyber Crimes, Common Cryptographics basics/uses, Applications of Cryptography and PKI
Network Security	Networking Basics Network Security Basics Network Defense Basics Wireless Security	OSI, TCP/IP Models, Network Architecture and Topologies, Common Network Devices, Network Security Issues/Attacks, Firewall/IDS/IPS Basics, Wireless Networking Basics, Wireless Security Protocols
Software Security	System Security Low-level Attacks and Defense Secure Programming Web-based System Security	OS Security, File System Security, Lower-level attacks, exploits and defense, Security Requirements, Defensive Programming, Secure Programming Practice, Web Application Technologies, Web Application Vulnerabilities and Attacks, Secure Web-based systems
Cloud Security	Cloud Computing Fundamentals Cloud Security	Virtualization, Cloud Services, Cloud Deployment Models, Cloud Architecture, CLoud Security Threats, Cloud Security Measures, IoT and Security