Introduction to Cyber Security and Data Communication

This is an introductory course to cyber security and data communication. The course focuses on practical work and general skills, and goes through selected topics around cybersecurity, networks, communication and protocols, cryptography, use of computers and operating systems, application development and programming.

A. Knowledge:

1. Basic knowledge of network protocols at different levels, such as TCP / IP, HTTP and MQTT.
2. Basic concepts within network structure and routing.
3. Basic architecture of systems within the Internet of Things.
4. Programming in Python, including access to communication and hardware.
5. Basic understanding of security and cryptography mechanisms.
6. Basic understanding of IT system vulnerabilities.
7. Basic knowledge of selected human aspects of cybersecurity and data communication.

B. Skills:

1. Build and configure an IP network.
2. Using an operating system via the command line.
3. Develop applications in Python, including access to networks and hardware and use of external libraries.
4. Use web services via a programming interface (API).
5. Develop an architecture for a single system that contains communication.
6. Use of development tools.
7. Use of security tools.
8. Analyze selected human aspects of cybersecurity and data communication.

C. General competence:

1. Find relevant information online and use resources for developers independently.
2. Organize work in small teams.
3. Interact and learn with others; teach others and receive information.
4. Establish good collaborative relationships within your teams
5. Learn about your own learning habits, and organize own learning.
6. Work focused on a problem and goal-oriented.
7. Take initiative and learn to take professional leadership
8. Reflect about own work.
9. Think about ethics related to information systems.

The two labs in this course cover several sustainability goals and targets. The lab on Ethical hacking provides an introduction to information security, which is directly connected to target 9.1 in SG9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure) for reliable and resilient infrastructure. The second lab, Internet of things, covers enabling technology critical for several sustainability goals, and especially SG9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure), SG14 (Life on Land) through sensor technology. It has a potential impact on SG12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) and SG11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities). We also discuss ethical dilemmas of IoT, like short-lived products and electronic waste, privacy concerns and safety issues.

The course is structured into several units that focus on different problems. Each unit uses team-based learning and practical work. Much of learning happens in groups. Attendance to the lectures and the lab hours is compulsory (>80%) . For almost each unit, there is a compulsory quiz - Readiness Assurance Test (RAT) - and practical work, which forms the basis for the reports.