UDDIFOCS - BSc Digital Forensics and Cyber Security

This course is designed to meet the new and rapidly growing demand for the professionals in Digital Forensics and Cyber Security. It’s designed in particular for those who wish to specialise in the protection against and detection and conviction of digital crimes. Successful completion of this course offers improved career opportunities in law enforcement, government or other related agencies, and commercial IT departments or security consultancies. This course is also an excellent preparation for further research or studies such as MSc or PhD.

Appropriate blended learning approaches and technologies, such as, the University’s VLE and the digital forensics and network security toolkits will be used to facilitate and support student learning, in particular, to:

• deliver course content;
• encourage active learning;
• provide formative and summative assessments, and prompt feedback;
• enhance student engagement and learning experience.

In this course, students are also provided with the study towards the certification of CompTIA Security +, an international, vendor-neutral certification that demonstrates competency in:

• Network security
• Compliance and operational security
• Threats and vulnerabilities
• Application, data and host security
• Access control and identity management
• Cryptography

The primary aim of this course is to provide a broad, general education in the theory and practice of computing with special emphasis in the subject field of digital forensics and cyber security. It also covers the underlying computing principles of programming, problem-solving, communication networks and information systems, and as such has much in common with other courses in our Computing course portfolio. Three major themes are therefore characterised by the course: Digital Forensics, Cyber Security, and Computing.

The general aims of the course are:

• to prepare students for careers in digital forensics and/or cyber security
• to develop students skill’s in problem-solving, communication and other transferable skills applicable to a variety of careers
• to prepare students in study for higher degrees in related subjects
• to continue the development of those general study skills that will enable students to become independent and lifelong learners

The specific aims of the course are:

• to develop student’s knowledge of computer hardware and software systems
• to provide students with a solid background in the theoretical and practical aspects of Digital Forensics
• to develop student’s understanding of the key issues in preservation of information confidentiality, integrity, and availability
• to introduce the professional, legal and ethics issues in digital forensics and cyber security

On successful completion of this course students will be able to
LO 1. demonstrate a requisite understanding of the main body of knowledge in Computing;
LO 2. understand and apply essential concepts, principles and practice in the context of well defined scenarios, showing judgment in the selection and application of tools and techniques to solve the issues with digital forensics and cyber security;
LO 3. produce work involving identification, analysis, design and development of an digital forensics and cyber security system with appropriate documentation. The work will show problem solving and evaluation skills drawing on supporting evidence, and demonstrate a requisite understanding of the need for quality;
LO 4. demonstrate transferable skills and an ability to work under guidance and as an digital forensics and/or cyber security team member;
LO 5. identify appropriate practices within professional and ethical framework of digital forensics and cyber security and understand the need for continuing professional development in this profession;
LO 6. discuss digital forensics and cyber security practices/measures based upon the body of knowledge learned from this course.

Benchmarking standards are defined at threshold and modal:
1. Threshold
This is interpreted to mean that all students (taken over all years) graduating with an honours degree in the discipline of Computing will have achieved this. Students who reach this will be characterised by being able to:

• demonstrate a requisite understanding of the main body of knowledge for their programme of study;
• understand and apply essential concepts, principles and practice of the subject in the context of well defined scenarios, showing judgment in the selection and application of tools and techniques;
• produce work involving problem identification, the analysis, the design and the development of a system with appropriate documentation. The work will show some problem solving and evaluation skills drawing on some supporting evidence, and demonstrate a requisite understanding of the need for quality;
• demonstrate transferable skills and an ability to work under guidance and as a team member;
• identify appropriate practices within a professional and ethical framework and understand the need for continuing professional development;
• discuss applications based upon the body of knowledge.

2. Modal
This is the average (taken over all years) of all the students graduating with an honours degree in the discipline of digital forensics and cyber security. Students reaching this will be able to:

• demonstrate a sound understanding of the main areas of the body of knowledge within their programme of study, with an ability to exercise critical judgment across a range of issues;
• critically analyse and apply a range of concepts, principles and practice of the subject in an appropriate manner in the context of loosely defined scenarios, showing effective judgment in the selection and use of tools and techniques;
• produce work involving problem identification, the analysis, the design and the development of a system, with accompanying documentation. The work will show problem solving and evaluation skills, draw upon supporting evidence and demonstrate a good understanding of the need for quality;
• demonstrate transferable skills with an ability to show organised work as an individual and as a team member and with minimum guidance;
• apply appropriate practices within a professional and ethical framework and identify mechanisms for continuing professional development and life long learning;
• explain a wide range of applications based upon the body of knowledge.

A range of assessment methods is employed throughout the course. The method of assessment for each module in each level is clearly described in the individual ‘Module Guide’ which is made available to the students at the start of the semester. Modules employ a combination of the following forms of assessments:

• Case study reports and presentations
• Laboratory workbooks
• Laboratory logbooks
• Unseen examinations
• Part seen examinations
• Individual vivas

There is a module, “FC6W51 Work Related Learning”, embedded at level 6. Students must take this module to obtain work related experience.

All modules are core-compulsory except one autumn&15-credit&designate module at level six.

Appropriate blended learning approaches and technologies, such as, the University’s VLE and the digital forensics and network security toolkits will be used to facilitate and support student learning, in particular, to:

• deliver course content;
• encourage active learning;
• provide formative and summative assessments, and prompt feedback;
• enhance student engagement and learning experience.

A process of personal development planning takes place throughout the course to help students to think about and make sense of what is being learnt and why, plan ahead and relate to what has been learned and their own future.

The university careers service offers guidance to students on a one-to-one basis or in group sessions. SEW (Student Enterprise Workshops) are run during the academic year, giving students the opportunity to gain knowledge from computing and IT industry speakers.

There will be invited speeches and seminars with experts from Metropolitan Police force, IT Security companies, and digital investigative companies. Opportunities exist for students to carry out their final year projects through external links.

Students are able to gain work experience through WOW (World of Work) Agency projects. SEW (Student Enterprise Workshops) are run during the academic year, giving students the opportunity to gain knowledge from computing and IT industry speakers.

Through this course, students are also provided with the study towards the external certification of CompTIA Security +, an international, vendor-neutral certification that demonstrates competency in:

• Network security
• Compliance and operational security
• Threats and vulnerabilities
• Application, data and host security
• Access control and identity management
• Cryptography