Course Title: Secure a networked personal computer

Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term1 2023

Course Code: COSC6239

Course Title: Secure a networked personal computer

Important Information:

Please note that this course may have compulsory in-person attendance requirements for some teaching activities.
To participate in any RMIT course in-person activities or assessment, you will need to comply with RMIT vaccination requirements which are applicable during the duration of the course. This RMIT requirement includes being vaccinated against COVID-19 or holding a valid medical exemption.
Please read this RMIT Enrolment Procedure as it has important information regarding COVID vaccination and your study at RMIT: https://policies.rmit.edu.au/document/view.php?id=209.
Please read the Student website for additional requirements of in-person attendance: https://www.rmit.edu.au/covid/coming-to-campus

Please check your Canvas course shell closer to when the course starts to see if this course requires mandatory in-person attendance. The delivery method of the course might have to change quickly in response to changes in the local state/national directive regarding in-person course attendance.

School: 520T Future Technologies

Campus: City Campus

Program: C4408 - Certificate IV in Cyber Security

Course Contact: Luke Eberbach

Course Contact Phone: +61 3 9925 4381

Course Contact Email: luke.eberbach@rmit.edu.au


Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff

Nominal Hours: 60

Regardless of the mode of delivery, represent a guide to the relative teaching time and student effort required to successfully achieve a particular competency/module. This may include not only scheduled classes or workplace visits but also the amount of effort required to undertake, evaluate and complete all assessment requirements, including any non-classroom activities.

Pre-requisites and Co-requisites

NIL

Course Description

This unit provides base level skills and knowledge to configure an operating system on a personal computer, adding security, setting user level passwords and privileges to limit and identify user access – all required to increase protection of the end point from cyber security attacks. The unit also provides an overview of internet of things (IOT) devices, an introduction to computer networking virtualisation and base level Linux commands – deemed to be invaluable in using cyber security tools.


National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria

National Element Code & Title:

VU21993 Secure a networked personal computer

Element:

1.Identify the role of personal computers and other computing devices in cyber security

Performance Criteria:

1.1 Computer system components are identified and how they work together is explained.
1.2 Identification and selection of appropriate components for a computer system are selected
1.3 Configuration of specialised computer systems is described and demonstrated
1.4 Role of security relevant peripherals is defined
1.5 Common computer input output devices are identified
1.6 Emerging Internet of Things (IOT) devices are identified and demonstrated

Element:

2.Undertake preventative maintenance and base level troubleshooting procedures for a computer

Performance Criteria:

2.1 Preventative maintenance procedures for a personal computer are described and demonstrated
2.2 Base level troubleshooting procedures are demonstrated

Element:

3.Configure and use a computer operating system and relevant applications

Performance Criteria:

3.1 Operating system (OS) installation is performed
3.2 Operating system structure is examined
3.3 Appropriate security applications are installed and configured
3.4 Routine system management tasks with appropriate operating system tools are demonstrated

3.5 Common preventative maintenance techniques for operating systems are described and demonstrated
3.6 Configuring access controls for the workstation is described and implemented
3.7 Setting passwords and allocating privileges are described and implemented
3.8 Basic operating system troubleshooting processes are explained and demonstrated

Element:

4.Configure and use virtualised images

Performance Criteria:

4.1 Environmental requirements for installing the virtualisation software are reviewed
4.2 Required services and ports, according to virtualisation software vendors are installed
4.3 Environmental requirements to ensure virtual machines function are configured
4.4 Remote client access to virtual machines is configured

Element:

5.Identify key concepts in networking

Performance Criteria:

5.1 Key components of a computer network are identified
5.2 Purpose and characteristics of networking standards are explained
5.3 Changing the IP address in an operating system is performed
5.4 Network connectivity between computers is configured and tested

Element:

6.Connect devices to networks

Performance Criteria:

6.1 Process of connecting a computer to a wired and wireless network is demonstrated
6.2 Purpose and characteristics of internet service provider (ISP) connection technologies are defined
6.3 Cloud concepts and network host services are examined
6.4 Preventative maintenance procedures for networks are demonstrated
6.5 Base level troubleshooting methods for networks are described and demonstrated

Element:

7.Demonstrate base level Linux commands

Performance Criteria:

7.1 Structure and characteristics of the Linux operating system environment are defined
7.2 Use of base level Linux commands is defined and demonstrated

Learning Outcomes


Refer to Elements


Details of Learning Activities

A range of learning activities are planned for this course including self-paced and collaborative classroom based activities.

The collaborative classroom based activities will include theory sessions, practical lab sessions, tutorial sessions, and out-of-class research and homework.

We expect you to participate and contribute in all scheduled learning activities.


Teaching Schedule

Week

Date

Topics Delivered

Assessment

1

6-12 Feb

Understanding hardware peripherals.

 

2

13-19 Feb

Installation of Windows OS. Installing and configuring virtualization software.

 

3

20-26 Feb

Setting up BitLocker.

 

4

27 Feb-5 Mar

Installation of Linux OS. Configuring virtualization software

 

5

6-12 Mar

Anti-Virus and Anti-Spyware Software

 

6

13-19 Mar

Firewalls

 

7

20-26 Mar

Remote connection to a Virtual Machine.

 

8

27 Mar-2 Apr

Protected Folder Access

 

9

3-9 Apr

Password policies

Task 1 - Knowledge Assessment Due

Mid-Semester break (10-16 April)

10

17-23 Apr

Basics of computer networking.

Assigning IP addresses.

Having devices communicating with each other.

 

11

24-30 Apr

Preventive Maintenance of Computer

 

12

1-7 May

Understanding what user accounts are.

Define global and local user accounts.

What is Parental Control.

Modifying roles of the user account.

 

13

8-14 May

Understanding Linux basic command structure. Understanding what Linux folders represent.

 

14

15-21 May

Sharing folder access.

 

15

22-28 May

Project Demonstrations

Task 2 - Practical and Product Assessment Due

16

29 May-4 Jun

Course & assessment feedback

 


Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts


References


Other Resources


Overview of Assessment

Assessment 1: Knowledge Assessment
Assessment 2: Project

These tasks assesses the following Course Learning Outcomes (CLOs):

Assessment Mapping Matrix

Elements/Performance Criteria

Assessment 1

Assessment 2

1.1


X

1.2 


X

1.3


X

1.4


X

1.5


X

1.6


X

1.3 


X

2.1 


X

2.2 


X

3.1 


X

3.2 


X

3.3 


X

3.4 


X

3.5


X

3.6


X

3.7


X

3.8


X

4.1


X

4.2


X

4.3


X

4.4


X

5.1


X

5.2


X

5.3


X

5.4


X

6.1

X

X

6.2


X

6.3


X

6.4


X

6.5


X

7.1


X

7.2


X


Assessment Tasks

This unit’s assessments are designed to allow you to demonstrate your skills and knowledge in base-level skills and knowledge to configure an operating system on a personal computer, adding security, setting user-level passwords and privileges to limit and identify user access – all required to increase protection of the endpoint from cyber security attacks. The student must also provide an overview of the internet of things (IoT) devices, an introduction to computer networking virtualisation and base level Linux commands – deemed to be invaluable in using cyber security tools. 

Task 1 - Knowledge Assessment

This is the first assessment task of two assessments that students must satisfactorily complete, in order to be deemed competent for this unit.
This is an online knowledge assessment comprising of descriptive questions. Students can complete the knowledge assessment outside the class time through Canvas. This is an open book assessment. Students need to successfully complete all the questions in this knowledge assessment to be deemed satisfactory. This is an individual assessment and must be submitted online through CANVAS (unless otherwise instructed by the teacher).

Task 2 - Knowledge Assessment

This is the second assessment task of two assessments that students must satisfactorily complete, in order to be deemed competent for this unit. 

You will be given a case study where you will be setting up personal computers for new staff members in a business following the business’s IT requirements and the requirements of the staff member’s position. This will be done in three steps.
1. Identify the requirements
2. Set up the computer
3. Demonstrate and explain the computer set up, maintenance and troubleshooting requirements to the staff member who will be using it.


Assessment Matrix

Element

Performance criteria

 

 

 

 

Assessment 1

Knowledge Assessment

Assessment 2:

Product Assessment
  1. Identify the role of personal computers and other computing devices in cyber security

 

1.1 Computer system components are identified and how they work together is explained.

 

1.1

1.2 Identification and selection of appropriate components for a computer system are selected

 

1.2

1.3 Configuration of specialised computer systems is described and demonstrated

 

2.1

1.4 Role of security relevant peripherals is defined

 

1.3, 2.3

1.5 Common computer input output devices are identified

 

1.4

1.6 Emerging Internet of Things (IOT) devices are identified and demonstrated

 

1.5
  1. Undertake preventative maintenance and base level troubleshooting procedures for a computer

2.1 Preventative maintenance procedures for a personal computer are described and demonstrated

 

3.2

2.2 Base level troubleshooting procedures are demonstrated

 

3.2
  1. Configure and use a computer operating system and relevant applications

3.1 Operating system (OS) installation is performed

 

2.2

3.2 Operating system structure is examined

 

1.1, 2.1, 2.2

3.3 Appropriate security applications are installed and configured

 

2.3

3.4 Routine system management tasks with appropriate operating system tools are demonstrated

 

3.2

3.5 Common preventative maintenance techniques for operating systems are described and demonstrated

 

3.2

3.6 Configuring access controls for the workstation is described and implemented

 

1.6, 2.4

3.7 Setting passwords and allocating privileges are described and implemented

 

2.5

3.8 Basic operating system troubleshooting processes are explained and demonstrated

 

3.2
  1. Configure and use virtualised images

4.1 Environmental requirements for installing the virtualisation software are reviewed

 

1.8

4.2  Required services and ports, according to virtualisation software vendors are installed

 

1.9, 2.6

4.3 Environmental requirements to ensure virtual machines function are configured

 

1.8, 2.7

4.4 Remote client access to virtual machines is configured

 

1.8, 2.7
  1. Identify key concepts in networking

5.1 Key components of a computer network are identified

 

1.10

5.2 Purpose and characteristics of networking standards are explained

 

1.11

5.3 Changing the IP address in an operating system is performed

 

2.8

5.4 Network connectivity between computers is configured and tested

 

2.9
  1. Connect devices to networks

6.1 Process of connecting a computer to a wired and wireless network is demonstrated

12

2.10

6.2 Purpose and characteristics of internet service provider (ISP) connection technologies are defined

 

1.12

6.3 Cloud concepts and network host services are examined

 

1.12

6.4 Preventative maintenance procedures for networks are demonstrated

 

3.2

6.5 Base level troubleshooting methods for networks are described and demonstrated

 

3.2
  1. Demonstrate base level Linux commands

7.1 Structure and characteristics of the Linux operating system environment are defined

 

 

1.1

7.2 Use of base level Linux commands is defined and demonstrated

 

3.2

Course Overview: Access Course Overview