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ITEC 852 - Semester 2, 2012

Faculty: Science; Department: Computing

General Information

Convenor:  Prof. Vijay Varadharajan

Students should read this unit guide carefully at the start of semester. It contains important information about the unit. If anything in it is unclear, please consult one of the teaching staff in the unit.

About This Unit

As organisations and users increasingly rely upon distributed and online applications for accessing information and making critical business decisions, securing distributed applications and networks and their management have become critically important. This course is concerned with advanced security techniques and secure systems design and their applications to systems and networks. The aim of this unit is to expose the students to advanced security techniques and gain an appreciation of the security issues involved in the design of computer systems and applications and their management.

Assumed Knowledge

• Students should know basic undergraduate computer science principles such as programming, operating systems and networking. Students are expected to know one or more programming languages; it does not matter which language, as long as s/he knows at least one.

• Students are assumed to have a basic understanding of the security principles and exposure to current issues in security technology.

   

Teaching Staff

All emails related to ITEC852 should be sent to vijay.varadharajan@mq.edu.au and cc: andrina.brennan@mq.edu.au (Mrs Andrina Brennan, Exec Assist to Prof. Varadharajan) and must include your full name and your student id number.

All of the unit materials will be made available via Blackboard (https://learn.mq.edu.au ). We assume that students will regularly check Blackboard for information available, where lecture notes, practical material and other related resources can be found.

Teaching and Learning

References

Websites

The web page for this unit can be found at https://learn.mq.edu.au  (Blackboard).

Student Support Services

Macquarie University provides a range of Academic Student Support Services. Details of these services can accessed at http://www.student.mq.edu.au.

Topic List & Lecture Schedule

Note that sometimes progression in topics (and hence schedule) may vary depending on progress and discussions in lectures as well as new developments in technology and their relevance. Topics will address the following areas:

•         Lecture 1: Introduction: ICT Security Trends and Context, Security Concepts

•         Lecture 2: Cryptography

•         Lecture 3: Key Management and Authentication

•         Lecture 4: Access Control /Assignment Handed Out

•         Lecture 5: Networks Security - 1

•         Lecture 6: Networks Security - 2

•         Lecture 7: Operating Systems Security and Security Evaluation/Group Project Allocation

•         Lecture 8: Distributed Systems Security

•         Lecture 9: Trust and Trusted Computing

•         PROJECT REPORT SUBMISSION

•         Lecture 10: Group Project Presentation

•         Lecture 11: Group Project Presentation

•         Lecture 12: Revision

Assessment

Assessment tasks

Grading

For each task, those standards translate into a mark and the different component marks are added up. You will then be given a grade that reflects your achievement in the unit. The following description of the different grades is still in draft form and therefore not official as yet

• Fail (F): does not provide evidence of attainment of all learning outcomes. There is missing or partial or superficial or faulty understanding and application of the fundamental concepts in the field of study; and incomplete, confusing or lacking communication of ideas in ways that give little attention to the conventions of the discipline.
• Conceded Pass (PC): provides limited evidence of attainment of learning outcomes. There is demonstration of varying levels of basic knowledge, skills and application in the field of study; and elementary communication in ways that attempt to address the conventions of the discipline. However, the learning attainment does not provide a basis for further progression in a unit for which that unit is a prerequisite.
• Pass (P): provides sufficient evidence of the achievement of learning outcomes. There is demonstration of understanding and application of fundamental concepts of the field of study; and communication of information and ideas adequately in terms of the conventions of the discipline. The learning attainment is considered satisfactory or adequate or competent or capable in relation to the specified outcomes.
• Credit (Cr): provides evidence of learning that goes beyond replication of content knowledge or skills relevant to the learning outcomes. There is demonstration of substantial understanding of fundamental concepts in the field of study and the ability to apply these concepts in a variety of contexts; plus communication of ideas fluently and clearly in terms of the conventions of the discipline.
• Distinction (D): provides evidence of integration and evaluation of critical ideas, principles and theories, distinctive insight and ability in applying relevant skills and concepts in relation to learning outcomes. There is demonstration of frequent originality in defining and analysing issues or problems and providing solutions; and the use of means of communication appropriate to the discipline and the audience.
• High Distinction (HD): provides consistent evidence of deep and critical understanding in relation to the learning outcomes. There is substantial originality and insight in identifying, generating and communicating competing arguments, perspectives or problem solving approaches; critical evaluation of problems, their solutions and their implications; creativity in application.

In a nutshell, you are expected to perform consistently at a Functional, Proficient, Advanced level, to obtain respectively a Pass, a Credit, a Distinction or High Distinction.
 

Policies

Macquarie is developing a number of policies in the area of learning and teaching. Approved policies and associated guidelines and procedures can be found at Policy Central. There you will find the University's policy and associated procedures on:

• Assessment
• Special Consideration
• Plagiarism
• Grade Appeal

Assessment

The procedure implementing the new assessment policy can be found here.

Special Consideration

Special Consideration is intended for a student who is prevented by serious and unavoidable disruption from completing any unit requirements in accordance with their ability.
In this case, you should follow the procedure implementing the policy available here.

The actual application form is available here.

If a Supplementary Examination is granted as a result of the Special Consideration process the examination will be scheduled after the conclusion of the official examination period. For details of the Special Consideration policy specific to the Department of Computing, see the Department's policy page.

Plagiarism

Plagiarism involves using the work of another person and presenting it as one's own. The Department, in line with University policy, treats all cases seriously. In particular, the Department, and the University, keeps a record of all plagiarism cases. This record is referred to so that an appropriate penalty can be applied to each case.
More details are available here.

The convener of this unit is particularly vigilant against plagiarism and there will be no flexibility in enforcing the university policies.

Grade Appeal

In case of problems arising from the final unit grade with the academic staff members, the first step is to request a review of your grade. The Department recommends that you submit a request in writing to the convenor of the unit in order to arrange a review session. If this review does not resolve the problem, a formal Grade Appeal can be lodged.
A draft version of the policy explaining the process can be found here.