This module covers the following topics:



Core technologies and sub-disciplines in the OS and Network Security area

Advanced Networks and Operating System Security aspects and technologies

Firewall technologies

Configuring advanced Authentication, Authorization, and Accounting (AAA) features

Deploying and managing VPN solutions

Latest security industry recommendations and standards

Risk assessment and evaluation of factors

Protection and hardening of Windows and Linux servers in a variety of settings and roles

Cisco technologies and materials

White papers and emerging research in OS and the Network Security discipline

Written Report – A research report demonstrating understanding of key concepts and an ability to critically analyse information obtained in relation to the module (Learning Outcomes 1 and 3).

Practical Assessment – A practical skills demonstration to display the student’s ability to conduct the implementation of the technologies that they have studied in the module (Learning Outcomes 1 and 2).

The module will be delivered using a combination of independent research, lectures and tutorials. The lectures are intended to give the theory work and the tutorials are an opportunity to test out the theories. The lectures are based on the official Cisco material but have been adapted for student needs. Students will be also provided with a lab manual which they can work through in the tutorials.

1. DEMONSTRATE A SYSTEMATIC UNDERSTANDING AND CRITICALLY EVALUATE VARIOUS NETWORK AND OPERATING SYSTEM SECURITY STRATEGIES.

Knowledge and Understanding, Analysis


2. INSTALL, CONFIGURE AND EVALUATE NETWORK SECURITY TECHNOLOGIES BASED ON GIVEN SECURITY POLICY AND NETWORK REQUIREMENTS, ACCORDING TO INDUSTRY STANDARDS USING COMMERCIAL EQUIPMENT.

Problem Solving, Communication, Application


3. DEMONSTRATE CRITICAL ABILITY TO RESEARCH, IDENTIFY AND IMPLEMENT VARIOUS OPERATING SYSTEM SECURITY TECHNOLOGIES IN ORDER TO COUNTER OPERATING SYSTEM VULNERABILITIES.

Application, Problem Solving

The National Cyber Security Centre (2019) CyBOK: The Cyber Security Body of Knowledge. Version 1.0. The National Cyber Security Centre.

Neto, S, (2021), AWS Certified Security Study Guide, Sybex.

Kanikathottu, (2020), AWS Security Cookbook: Practical solutions for managing security policies, monitoring, auditing, and compliance, Packt Publishing.

Nazmul R, (2022), CCNP Security Cisco Secure Firewall and Intrusion Prevention System Official Cert Guide

Comer, D. (2020), Operating System Design: The Xinu Approach, Second Edition, Chapman and Hall/CRC

Hussain, M, Q. (2022), A Journey in Creating an Operating System Kernel: The 539kernel Book, Independently published

Gerofi, B. et. al. (2019), Operating Systems for Supercomputers and High Performance Computing: 1 (High-Performance Computing Series, 1), Springer; 1st ed.

Kali Linux penetration testing platform - https://www.kali.org/
Online Library Resources - http://libguides.staffs.ac.uk/libraryresources
Specialist networking laboratory with Cisco equipment including Cisco ASAs
Hosted hypervisors installed on lab machines

This module focuses on aspects of advanced networking coupled with Operating Systems. The module is both theoretical and practical within its approach to topics. You will study firewall technologies, the AAA model (Authentication, Authorization, and Accounting), as well as VPN solutions. As final topics you will investigate the latest commercial approaches used in security, and look at the Windows and Linux Operating Systems in terms of security features.