Cyber Security with Foundation Year

This module introduces basic computing knowledge and skills to a level that will give you confidence you can study and practice computing at Honours level.   

Indicative Content 

• Essential concepts of computer programming  
• Database queries 
• Web technologies   
• Basics of how computers and computer networks operate    
• Issues of Security 
• Awareness of own pace of learning, and how to learn effectively. 

The focus of the module is on helping you gain a well-rounded understanding of computing, on able to see common threads in development methods, and being able to apply your learning about computing, and your learning about study approaches into project work on other areas on the course. 

This module extends on “Foundations in Computing 1” (and has study of that module as a prerequisite). You will explore computing to a greater depth - for example further program design and implementation, and explore wider uses of computing used in business, social contexts and embedded into other technologies. . 

Indicative Content:

• Programming simple programs effectively 

• Understanding example application areas (e.g. IoT, Games) 

• Understanding how computing supports businesses 

• Further practise of skills in a topic area you are considering selecting for Honours studies 

The module maintains the ethos of its prerequisite (Foundations in Computing 1), by provide you with a broad but largely integrated understanding of computing. A further strong aim is to help you make a properly informed choice as to which branch(es) of computing you wish to follow for study at Honours level. 

This module develops your mathematics skills relevant to the IT discipline. You choose whether to target an “Advanced” level (which includes topics relevant to degrees in the Computer Science area), or “Standard” level (which includes topics that can occur in any IT-related studies). 

You’ll study topics such as: 

• Fractions and decimals 

• Percentages, rounding, estimations 

• Standard form, metric units, indices, powers 

• Algebra and solving linear equations 

• Factorisations 

• Matrices 

• Logic gates and truth tables 

• Binary number system 

• Statistics 

Indices and powers (advanced level) 

• Factorising and solving quadratic equations (advanced) 

• Simultaneous equations and matrices (advanced) 

• Correlation and linear regression (advanced) 

This module is specifically designed to help support students on the Foundation Year of a BSc Honours course in a computing area.  You will develop an understanding of, and practise, skills needed for study at Honours level and for eventual employment. 

Indicative Content 

• Disability and Inclusiveness 

• Understanding learning processes and its relationship to success in assessment 

• Finding appropriate information 

• Effective communication 

• Effective use of IT Tools for clear communications and personal professional organisation 

• Academic Integrity 

An underlying theme of the module is to help you gain an ability to see for yourself where your study skills lie, and which areas you can make further improvements.  

Aims: 
 
In this module students gain a fundamental understanding of the way computer networks operate and the core components of computer systems.  

This module introduces the fundamental principles and features that underpin all modern computing systems. Students will learn about computer and network components and their functions, as well as how network communication is structured.  

By the end of this module, students will understand the core components of computer systems, be able to build local area networks (LANs), configure and manage switches, and implement IPv4 and IPv6 address infrastructures. 

INDICATIVE CONTENT 

• Introduction to computer architecture and systems, including memory, I/O devices and interfaces, CPU, memory and buses 

• Structure and variety of Operating systems 

• High and low level languages, device drivers and processes 

• Memory (internal, external and cache) in computer systems 

• CPU structure, function and instruction sets 

• Digital logic (Boolean algebra, gates and circuits) 

• Build and configure a PC 

• Introduction to network protocols and models 

• IPv4 and IPv6 addressing and address resolution 

• Network services and routing 

• Packet and Datagram structures 

• Basic device network configuration 

• Switching concepts and configuration 

• Build a small network 

The module introduces the fundamental concepts and principles of cyber security and digital forensics. It consolidates your understanding of numerical skills, providing a foundation of mathematical and statistical knowledge, skills and concepts for applications in cryptography and cyber security. 

You’ll study topics such as: 

• Confidentiality, integrity and availability in computer systems 
• Authentication and identification schemes 
• Malware and viruses 
• Cryptography 
• Network security threats and defences 
• Security planning, policies and training 
• Digital Forensics 
• Cyber law and standards 
• Numerical and algebraic processes and two-dimensional geometry 
• Computer number systems, e.g. binary, hexadecimal, etc. 
• Set theory and logic 
• Symmetric block ciphers, e.g. DES (triple-DES), AES (Rijndael) and  
• Public-key ciphers, e.g. RSA including prime numbers, modular arithmetic and exponentiation 
• Classical ciphers, e.g. shift, substitution, transposition, poly-alphabetic 
• Statistics and probability 

The module has two aims; to prepare students for higher education and to prepare students for placement. Firstly, preparation for higher education will be done by developing skills which students will need to apply in other first year modules, their second year and placement years and ultimately their careers. These skills will include problem-solving, group working, communicating and innovating. A great deal of emphasis will be placed on developing reflective learners.

Secondly, students will be invited to consider the kind of career they would like to pursue, their current ability to secure it, what gaps need to be closed and to plan for actions that will lead to securing an appropriate placement.

Indicative Content:-

- Professionalism and ethics

- Placement workspace

- Client engagement and intrapreneurship

- Personal performance planning and appraisal processes

- Career planning

• Pre placement preparation, such as CV writing and covering letter
• A minimum of 120 hours work experience placement, which may include a residency.  

This module introduces practical computer programming using a procedural problem-solving approach. It will develop your awareness of the design and implementation of programs in a modern, industry-standard programming language. 

 
You’ll study topics such as: 

• Procedural programming concepts 
• Problem-solving and top-down design 
• Software development processes: specification, design, implementation, testing 
• Data structures  
• Algorithmic analysis and design 
• Input/output  
• String and file handling 
• Procedures and functions, parameters, and return values 
• Program quality  

This module introduces the theoretical insights and practical skills required to administer and maintain a secure database using industry-standard database systems and tools. It will develop your understanding of database design and the provision of data integrity as well as your critical thinking to validate a database administration strategy in a business context. 

You’ll study topics such as: 

• Database administration to support security measures: authentication, authorisation, views, stored procedures, trigger 

• Database programming 

• Backup and recovery strategies: data transfer, data type transformation, enforcing integrity 

• Employability skills: personal responsibility and teamwork. 

• Social, ethical, professional, legal, and sustainable practice and values, including equality, diversity, and inclusion 

This module introduces ethical hacking to analyse and test common security vulnerabilities.  It will develop your use of intrusion detection and incident response approaches for their mitigation. 
 

You’ll study topics such as: 

• Laws and professional codes of conduct relevant to ethical hacking 
• Manual and automated processes to build a profile of computer systems 
• Vulnerabilities in protocols, computer systems and web applications 
• Tools and techniques to compromise computer system security 
• Classifying and assessing the risk of vulnerabilities 
• Network data features to aid forensic analysis, incident response and cyber security 
• Capturing, filtering and analysis of network traffic and malicious content 
• Host- and network-based intrusion detection systems 
• Anomaly and signature approaches to network defence 
• Threat intelligence 

This module develops your understanding of project requirements to design, develop and deliver a solution against a client project.  As you engage with the client, you will enhance your project management and teamworking skills while being introduced to models and techniques that are commonly used in information system development.  You will critically assessing successes and failures of the project, and reflect on your personal and professional performance. 

You’ll study topics such as: 

• Project management methodologies 

• Systems development methodologies 

• Collaboration, equality, diversity and inclusion considerations 

• Identifying stakeholders 

• Understanding requirements 

• Requirements and systems modelling techniques 

• Project planning 

• Time management 

• Task management 

• Social, professional, ethical, and legal issues 

• Presentation of information 

• Report writing, oral presentation 

• Project evaluation 

• Professional reflection 

The aim of the module is to enable students to analyse and test common security vulnerabilities through ethical hacking and to apply appropriate intrusion detection and incident response approaches for their mitigation. 

Indicative content 

Module content may vary in response to changing technical and professional landscapes but could include: 

• Security Requirements for Networks and Networking Devices over TCP/IP layers. 

• Data Confidentiality through Encryption, Public-Key Cryptography, Digital Signature and Data Integrity, including Access Control (local and remote) and Blockchain Technology. 

• Understanding wireless Networks and Wireless security 

• Secure Socket Programming (client-server) and Secure Application Development to maintain CIA Triad & transparency and trust for data and maintaining network security.  

• Understanding Security Policies, Business Continuity/Disaster Recovery, Relevant legislation, such as licences, data protection and storage security. 

• Fundamentals of operating systems. 

• Installation, management and monitoring of typical networked services and operating systems. 

• Configuration and management of user and group authentication polices and services. 

• Networked file systems, and the management of secure access to content stored/made available through these file systems. 

Module aim:    

The aim of this module is to enhance students’ professional development through the completion of and reflection on meaningful work placement(s).  

A work placement will provide students with opportunities to experience the realities of professional employment and experience how their course can be applied within their chosen industry setting. The placement will: 

• Allow student to apply the skills, theories and behaviours relevant and in addition to their course 
• Enable students to enhance their interpersonal skills in demand by graduate employers – communication, problem-solving, creativity, resilience, team work etc.  
• Grow their student network and relationship building skills. 
• Provide student with insights into the industry and sector in which their placement occurs 
• Help student make informed graduate careers choices. 

Indicative Content:  

In this module students undertake a sandwich placement (min 24 weeks / min 21 hours per week) which is integrated, assessed and aligned to their studies.  

Their personal Placement Academic Supervisor (PAS) will be their key point of contact during their placement and will encourage and support students to reflect on their experience, learning and contribution to the organisation they work for.  

To demonstrate gains in professional development, students will be required to share their progress, learning and achievements with their Placement Academic Supervisor and reflect on these for the summative piece of work. 

This module critically evaluates and applies appropriate information security methodologies and principles to reduce organisational risk. You’ll develop skills to apply appropriate tools and techniques to test and audit application vulnerabilities and security threats, in line with information security management standards and frameworks 
 

You’ll study topics such as: 

• Identification of controls to meet standards requirements 

• Risk management and assessment methodologies 

• Policies, standards and procedures supporting an ISMS 

• Security awareness, continuity and handling incidents 

• Attack frameworks and response planning 

• Session management and injection attacks 

• Web application security and testing methodologies 

• Authentication system vulnerabilities 

• Privilege escalation and pivoting 

• Social engineering  

This module develop the skills to apply and manage on-premise and cloud-based virtualised computing systems. In groups you’ll use team development theories, perform organisational requirements and risk analyses to design, develop, apply and critically evaluate an appropriate virtualised enterprise system to address an enterprise computing need. 

You’ll study topics such as: 

• Cloud computing platform theory and administration 

• On-premise virtualisation theory, installation and management 

• Containerisation theory, implementation and orchestration 

• Enterprise level system availability 

• Team building, project management and systems design methodology 

This module enables you to demonstrate your knowledge and skills in a consultancy or employer-led research project, exploring a specific research or consultancy topic. You’ll review existing literature, choose appropriate methods and provide suitable recommendations to the existing body of knowledge. 

 
You’ll apply your skills and learning to:  

• Analysing and synthesising library resources, literature and databases 

• Methods for the specification, design, implementation and outcomes 

• Time management and project planning 

• Report writing, presentation and demonstration 

• Critical evaluation and reflection  

• Due consideration of ethics, values in the workplace and professionalism 

• What it means to be a computing professional 

• Awareness of employability issues 

• Enhancing your own employability