Computer Engineering MA, Network Security and Privacy, 6 credits

Aim

The course includes policies, strategies and technologies for reliable management of computer networks. Some of the concepts studied are penetration testing, performance monitoring, fault detection, and recovery. The emphasis is put on network security, including cryptography, privacy, message integrity, intrusion, packet sniffing, spoofing, authentication, authorization, access control and firewalls etc.

Course objectives

Upon completion of the course the student should be able to:

• enumerate and explain the case for network management arising from complex network systems,
• describe how network management is involved and affects the overall network design,
• summarize the strength and the weaknesses associated with different approaches to network solutions,
• define the fundamental concepts of cryptography and describe how they work,
• summarize the capabilities and limitations of secure network systems,
• demonstrate the use of appropriate management and security tools for penetration testing,
• discuss and explain the issues that go into the design of a secure network.

Content

Types of management (performance, fault, configuration, accounting, security).

• Monitoring and managing performance (hosts, routers, intrusion detection)
• Security threats and attacks (secrecy; message integrity, types of intrusion)
• Cryptography (digital signatures, public and secrete key algorithms, data encryption standards)
• AAA (authorization; authentication and accounting)
• Protection and forensics (security policies, incidents)
• Identity management
• Penetration testing

Entry requirements

90 credits finished courses, with at least 60 credits in Computer Engineering BA (ABC), including 12 credits programming and 6 credits computer networks.

Selection rules and procedures

The selection process is in accordance with the Higher Education Ordinance and the local order of admission.

Teaching form

The course consists of lectures (10%) and laboratory exercises (4%). The rest of the time (86%) is devoted to studying without supervision. This includes the time necessary to prepare for lectures, seminars, discussions, laboratory work, article reading, project works, and self study time. If resource availability changes, the distribution can be changed.

Examination form

L101: Laboration, 1 Credits
Grade scale: Two-grade scale

P101: Project with seminars, 2.5 Credits
Grade scale: Seven-grade scale, A-F o Fx

T101: Written exam, 2.5 Credits
Grade scale: Seven-grade scale, A-F o Fx

Link to grading criteria: https://www.miun.se/gradingcriteria.

The examiner has the right to offer alternative examination arrangements to students who have been granted the right to special support by Mid Sweden University’s disabilities adviser.

Examination restrictions

Students registered on this version of the syllabus have the right to be examined 3 times within 1 year according to specified examination forms. After that, the examination form applies according to the most recent version of the syllabus.

Grading system

Seven-grade scale, A-F o Fx