A coursework weighted at 100% made up of:

1) seminar presentation and paper (1500 words), duration up to 15 minutes, weighted at 40%, assessing Learning Outcome 2

2) Practical assignment weighted at 60% assessing Learning Outcomes 1 and 3.

The assignment will require students to demonstrate practical skills in database security and management and to demonstrate that these skills can be applied in a complex environment.

Database Models and Database Theory

Relational Model (origins, relational set theory, relational algebra, strengths and limitations).
Object-relational and Object-Oriented Databases
Entity-Relationship Model and transformations between ER and Relational Model
Normal Forms including higher normal forms
Transaction management (ACID)
SQL (DDL and DML)

Database Administration and Database management in a complex environment

Strategic role of database management, enterprise issues and users. Current issues and future developments. High level security issues.

Distributed Databases
Centralisation versus decentralisation. Client/Server versus distributed database applications. Locking and transaction control (parallelism and serialisability).

Object-Oriented Databases
Examples of applications research trends and issues.

Database Administration and Database management in a complex environment.

Logical and physical structure of databases. Management of tablespaces. Transaction and log management, including redo and control files. Database optimisation and tuning including storage management and cache tuning. Database partioning. Recovery and archiving.

Physical and logical security including roles and privileges.

Data tracking including row history. Security technologies including transparent encryption.

Overview of forensic issues concerned with database security i.e. use of flashback, SQL Injection prevention etc

The style of the module is based on a series of on-line worksheets that present material, refer you to internal and external references and guide you in further study. You will be expected to follow these references and others of your own to build on the body of knowledge presented in the worksheets.
You will work as a virtual team with other students enrolled on the module and build up an on-line project plan as you proceed.
Electronic learning strategies will be used extensively.

The 3 hours contact time will typically include provision of On-line, telephone and email support as necessary.

Material on Blackboard
Oracle
Staffordshire University has subscriptions to electronic book services such as Safari Tech Books, Ebrary and Netlibrary. There are titles in each of the collections that will support students studying Database Technology. Staffordshire University has subscriptions to IEEExplore, ACM Digital Library, Elsevier Science Direct and Infotrac Computer Database all offering full text electronic access to journals and conference proceedings.

Standalone versions of Oracle 10g or higher and Oracle Enterprise Manager. Students will need to create and destroy databases and this cannot be done on the university network for security reasons.

None

Connolly T. M., and Begg, C. E. (2009), Database Systems: A Practical Approach to Design, Implementation and Management, Addison Wesley, 5th Edition, ISBN-10: 0321523067

Perkins, L. and Redmond, E. (2018) Seven Databases in Seven Weeks 2e, O’Reilly, ISBN-10: 1680502530

Additional directed Online reading of papers from Oracle, Microsoft, User Group Meetings and Conferences, and Journals, etc.

1. DISCUSS CRITICALLY THE MAJOR DEVELOPMENTS AND RESEARCH IN DATABASE SECURITY.
Learning

2. DISCUSS CRITICALLY THE MAJOR DEVELOPMENTS AND RESEARCH IN DATABASE ADMINISTRATION. Knowledge & Understanding

3. ANALYSE, DESIGN AND BUILD AN APPROPRIATE SECURE DATABASE SYSTEM.
Analysis

This module covers the strategic and practical aspects of database management and security. There is a strong practical element but you will also be expected to consider strategic issues and to carry out research on related topics.