ACIT4050 Applied Computer and Network Security Course description

The aim of this course is to build further on the grounding of principles in the earlier security courses, covering both practical and theoretical aspects of cyber security. The course will give an in-depth insight into societal aspects of computer and network security, practical experience in penetration testing, and insights into relevant mechanisms of cyber defense. Real-life cases of security incidents will be discussed and then analyzed in depth by the students.

After completing the course, the student should have the following learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and general competence:

Knowledge

The student

• has advanced knowledge of their area of specialisation and can analyse academic problems to identify the need for research and professional development
• has in-depth knowledge of the research process

Skills

The student

• can analyse relevant theories and issues to initiate and carry out a limited research, quality improvement or development work
• can use relevant methods for research, quality improvement or development work in their own work
• can analyse and deal critically with various sources of information and use them in scholarly arguments in their own research, quality improvement or development work
• can carry out an independent, limited research, quality improvement or development work in accordance with the approved project description and the applicable norms for research ethics

General competence

The student

• can communicate relevant issues, analyses and conclusions from their own research, quality improvement or development work to both the general public and academia
• can contribute to new thinking, innovation processes and evidence-based practice in the health services and in health-promoting work

The student should have the following outcomes upon completing the course:

Knowledge

Upon successful completion of the course, the student has:

• thorough knowledge of cyber security
• advanced knowledge of mechanisms for cyber defense, and how they are used in practice
• a thorough understanding of societal aspects of cyber security
• a thorough understanding of the relation between security and privacy

Skills

Upon successful completion of the course, the student can:

• describe the main aspects of the relation between security and privacy
• describe central problems related to cyber security governance
• plan and describe the structure of cyber defense for an organization

General com​petence

Upon successful completion of the course, the student:

• understands the role of, and mechanisms that are used in penetration testing
• understands the role of, and mechanisms that are used for cyber defence
• can explain and discuss security challenges related to cyber security to experts and non-experts alike
• can explain and discuss societal aspects of cyber security with experts and non-experts alike.

This course features weekly lectures and workshops to provide both theoretical content and hands-on experience. Students work individually or in groups to complete assignments. The students supplement the lectures and workshops with their own reading. Compulsory assignments are given throughout the semester.

The following required coursework must be approved before the student can take the exam:

• 8 assignments focusing on technical work or on theoretical aspects, documented in reports.

Individual written exam 3 hours.

The exam grade can be appealed.

New/postponed exam

In case of failed exam or legal absence, the student may apply for a new or postponed exam. New or postponed exams are offered within a reasonable time span following the regular exam. The student is responsible for registering for a new/postponed exam within the time limits set by OsloMet. The Regulations for new or postponed examinations are available in Regulations relating to studies and examinations at OsloMet.

In the event of resit and rescheduled exams, another exam form may also be used or a new assignment given with a new deadline. If oral exams are used, the result cannot be appealed.

No aids are permitted

Language of instruction: Norwegian/English

Under supervision, the students will conduct an independent research or development project, or a literaturestudy. Students can choose to write the master’s thesis individually or in pairs. On application, large, interdisciplinary innovation projects can be written in groups of up to four students. Students can also apply to write the master’s thesis with students from other specialisations if they so wish, provided that the scope of the master’s thesis is the same. If more than one student work on the master’s thesis together, each student’s contributions must be documented. The thesis can be written as a monograph or as a scientific article on a specialised topic.

Development of the project description in preparation for the master’s thesis is part of the course MAVIT4070 Research Design and Project Description, 10 ECTS credits.

All compulsory courses in the programme must be passed before the student can submit their master's thesis for assessment.