FIT5037 Network security - Semester 2, 2014

Network security is an important part of any computer network and essential knowledge for IT professionals. This unit provides fundamental network security for IT students and professionals. It covers wired and wireless communication and network security, security at different layers, computer system security, network services and applications security, basic defence systems, cryptography for network security, techniques for identifying system vulnerabilities and penetration testing.

Mode of Delivery

Workload Requirements

Minimum total expected workload equals 12 hours per week comprising:

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

• Two hours of lectures
• One 2-hour laboratory/tutorial

(b.) Additional requirements (all students):

• A minimum of 8 hours independent study per week for completing lab and project work, private study and revision.

Additional workload requirements

Please be advised that FIT5037 is a heavy unit and you will need to consistently study the unit materials each week. There will be a large amount of work to be done during the semester from Week 1 onwards.

Unit Relationships

Prohibitions

FIT5044

Prerequisites

((FIT5131 or FIT9017) and (FIT5134 or FIT9018) and (FIT5132 or FIT9003 or FIT9019) and (FIT5135 or FIT9020) and (FIT5136 or FIT4037) and (FIT5130 or FIT9030)) or equivalent

Students are expected to have knowledge and experience with computer networking, Unix operating system, basic maths for cryptography and socket programming.

Chief Examiner

Campus Lecturer

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Previous Student Evaluations of this Unit

This unit has been been redeveloped substantially from previous semesters.

Academic Overview

Learning Outcomes

• explain the fundamentals of wired and wireless network security;
• use practical skills to identify computer system vulnerabilities and carry out penetration testing;
• identify important network security components, then design and implement defence systems.

Unit Schedule

*Unit Schedule details will be maintained and communicated to you via your learning system.

Teaching Approach

Assessment Summary

In-semester assessment: 100%

Assessment Requirements

Assessment Policy

Assessment Tasks

Participation

• Assessment task 1

  Title:

  Assignment 1

  Description:

  Part I (individual) - Application of Cryptography in Communications and networks Security (15%).

  • You will have to study synmetric and assynmetric crypto systems and hash functions to know how to use those systems in communications and networks correctly. You will also have to analyse the advantages and disadvantages of each system in terms of security and performance.

  Part II (group - maximum number of members is two) - Building a Basic Firewall (15%).

  • You are required to set up, configure, and test your firewall using IPTABLES. You will need to do some research and reading to be able to complete this assignment.

  Refer to the assignment spec for more detail.

  Weighting:

  30%

  Criteria for assessment:

  You need to be able to understand the theory and demonstrate your practical work to your tutor.

  • If you fail to understand what you have done you will get Zero for the assignment.
  • If you can demonstrate your practical work but do not completely understand the theory, you will get a Pass at the maximum.
  • If you can demonstrate your practical work but understand 25% of the theory, you will get a Credit as the maximum. 
  • If you can demonstrate your practical work and understand 50% of the theory, you will get a Distinction as the maximum. 
  • If you can demonstrate your practical work and understand the theory well, you will get a High Distinction. 

  For group work students will receive equal marks. However, every member of the group will be interviewed about their individual contributions.

  You will have to submit a report and give a presentation.

  Due date:

  Week 9, Friday 4pm (submit your assignment using the assignment box on level 6 of H building)

• Assessment task 2

  Title:

  Assignment 2

  Description:

  Group Assignment (maximum number of members is two)
  
  Part I (system vulnerabilities)

  • Identify system vulnerabilities in your wired and wirelesss networks, demonstrate your attacks, and propose solutions to mitigate the attacks.

  Part II (penetration testing)

  • Do penetration testing to your system using free available tools and applying techniques you have learned.
  • Propose solutions and changes to your system.

  Refer to the assignment spec for more detail.

  Weighting:

  30%

  Criteria for assessment:

  You need to be able to understand the theory and demonstrate your practical work to your tutor.

  • If you fail to understand what you have done you will get Zero for the assignment.
  • If you can demonstrate your practical work but do not completely understand the theory, you will get a Pass at the maximum.
  • If you can demonstrate your practical work but understand 25% of the theory, you will get a Credit as the maximum. 
  • If you can demonstrate your practical work and understand 50% of the theory, you will get a Distinction as the maximum. 
  • If you can demonstrate your practical work and understand the theory well, you will get a High Distinction. 

  For group work students will receive equal marks. However, every member of the group will be interviewed about their individual contributions.

  You will have to submit a report and give a presentation.

  Due date:

  Week 14, Monday 4pm (submit your assignment using the assignment box on level 6 of H building)

• Assessment task 3

  Title:

  Lab Exercises

  Description:

  Lab Exercises will be handed out each week from Week 2 to Week 10. Please read the handouts for details.

  Weighting:

  10%

  Criteria for assessment:

  You will get full marks if you can complete all the exercises and demonstrate them well. Different marks will be given depending on the level of completion and demonstration.  

  No submission is required.

  Due date:

  Weekly (Week 2 to Week 10) - no submission required

• Assessment task 4

  Title:

  Theoretical Test

  Description:

  The theoretical test will evaluate your understanding of the theories covered in the unit. It is an open book test and 80% are multiple choice questions and 20% are short answer questions. You will have to study all the materials delivered in the lectures and tutorials/labs.

  Weighting:

  30%

  Criteria for assessment:

  Correct answers to questions, demonstrating understanding of the materials learned.

  Due date:

  Week 12 lecture

Learning resources

Feedback to you

• Graded assignments with comments
• Interviews

Extensions and penalties

Returning assignments

Assignment submission

Online submission

If Electronic Submission has been approved for your unit, please submit your work via the learning system for this unit, which you can access via links in the my.monash portal.

Recommended Resources

Students with their own laptop (recommended minimum 8GB RAM) can, for working on assignments:

Other Information

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