Created as part of the Master of information Technology and Master of Applied Information Technology Units - 2009

Re-introduced as a discipline core for Master of Networks and Security - 2014

This unit has been updated as part of a 2009 review and comparison of data with current Handbook, Syllabus + and Callista data.

Prerequisite change from 'For MAIT students: FIT9018 and FIT9020' to 'FIT9018 and FIT9020'. Change made to reflect true prerequisite requirements for ALL students. Effective from Semester 1, 2010.

Effective from Semester 2, 2011 - Prerequisite units have been replaced by prerequisite knowledge for FIT5163.

Effective from Semester 2,2011 - Amended objectives and synopsis based on advice from Unit Guide Editor to improve the clarity of the information presented. Amendment does not make any changes to its overall content.

This unit serves as a discipline core in the new Master of Networks and Security course which will be offered in 2014.

18/7/13 - Amendments to prerequisites and prohibitions, effective Semester 1 2014.

23/7/13 - Administrative amendment - Date of Introduction reverted to original date since this is an amendment to an existing unit.

22/1/14 - Change to contact hours made to align with Handbook entry (bulk upload from CUPID extract). Approved by ADE.

13/6/14- Objectives changed to learning outcomes to comply with AQF requirements. Change effective Semester 2,2014.

13/6/14- The research component was reverted back to original. So in effect no changes were made to research component.

22/10/2014 - Amended prerequisite requirements by adding 2015, FIT9xxx version of 2014, FIT5xxx foundation units. Approved at GPC 4/14 (Item 6.2).

5/1/2015 - Amendments to prerequisite requirements effective Semester 1 2015.

12/4/2017 - Updating exam hours from 3 to 2 hours and added reading and noting time of 30 minutes as required by new University Examination procedures, effective S2 2017.

25/06/2018 - Admin: Update to assessment removing the 30 minute reading and noting time from the exam on behalf of the CE.

5/10/2018: Update to prerequisites to allow Software engineering students to enrol as an approved elective. Effective 2019.

24/9/2019: Admin - adding 10 minutes to the exam duration as per University requirements.

29/10/2019: Updating the prerequisites, effective semester 1, 2020. Adding foundation unit (FIT9137) for commencing students. FIT9134 and FIT9135 to remain for continuing students.

21/09/2020 - Admin: Update to include new assessment and teaching approach fields as per Handbook requirements.

This is one of two core units in the Security Specialisation in the Master of Information Technology (MIT) and Master of Applied Information Technology (MAIT) and an elective in the Master of Telecommunications and all FIT Masters. It builds upon assumed prerequisite knowledge at the level of an undergraduate introductory unit in Networks and Data Communications (such as the FIT common core unit FIT1005/2008 or FIT9020 or equivalent study.)

This unit provides all graduates with advanced knowledge about a fundamental area within the field of IT, namely information and computer security. This is a very important field in IT and hence knowledge of and skill in this area is essential for a wide range of IT employment. In addition, information and computer security is an active area of research within the Faculty, and this unit contribute to the Faculty's research-teaching nexus.

This is one of the core units offered in the Master of Networks and Security. The unit concentrates on information and computer security. It complements units in other aspects of security: Network Security, Software Security. Security is an extremely important part of information technology; the Faculty must retain its role as a leader in IT teaching and research. Information security is now the number one cause of financial losses. Furthermore, this unit is critical to the Faculty's research-teaching nexus; the Faculty has significant research activity in secure/trusted software development.

At the completion of this unit students should be able to:

• critically assess threats, vulnerabilities and risks to an organisation's information assets and propose control technologies and techniques which can be applied to reduce the security risk
• apply a variety of cryptographic algorithms to develop methods to disguise information to ensure its integrity, confidentiality and authenticity;
• apply a variety of methods for key management and distribution and analyse the risks associated with the various approaches;
• implement user authentication and access control mechanisms to create a security architecture to protect the assets of the information system.
• implement cryptographic techniques to preserve the security of information and evaluate its effectiveness;
• apply a variety of security control technologies to IT systems in an organisation.

029901

The unit aims to provide the students with in depth knowledge of techniques required to deal with security problems in information systems. The main areas of study include symmetric and asymmetric encryption techniques, cryptographic hash functions with related topics of message authentication codes and digital signatures. Study of techniques and algorithms for providing mutual trust include key management and distribution and user authentication to establish trust in the identity of communicating partner are also included. It looks at various management issues, including use and abuse of encryption, distributed systems authentication and integrity management. A range of security applications are used as examples. Students will learn how to apply cryptographic techniques in practice.

On-campus

Peer assisted learning

Examination (2 hours): 60%; In-semester assessment: 40%

1. Class Test - 15% - ULO: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
2. Assignment: Mini Research Project - 25% - ULO: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
3. Examination - 60% - ULO: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

6

Minimum total expected workload equals 12 hours per week comprising:

(a.) Contact hours for on-campus students:

(b.) Additional requirements (all students):

FIT

Callista pre-requisites: No pre-requisites for MNS (4312), MIT (Professional) (2402.6), MIT (2402.5), MIT Professional (3348.1), MIT (Honours) (3349), PGDIT (2411) and PGCIT (2423).

For all other courses as below:

Callista & Handbook pre-requisites: (FIT9134 and FIT9135) or FIT9137 or equivalent

For students enrolled in E3001, E3002,E3005, E3010, E3011, E3007 completing the Software Engineering specialisation: FIT4165