Common Course Outline

Course discipline/number/title COMP 2048: Introduction to Cybersecurity

Catalog Description

Credits 4
Hours/Week 4 (4 lecture)
Prerequisites (Course discipline/number) COMP 1080, MATH 0099
Other requirements None
MnTC Goals (if any) NA

Course Description

This class holistically examines cybersecurity processes and procedures, including assessment of the security posture of an organization, monitoring and securing an environment, operating within laws and guidelines, including compliance, risk assessment, and security governance, and identifying, analyzing, and responding to incidents. Focus is applied to proper security architecture, identifying threats, implementing mitigations, and incident response while working within the confines of governmental and global regulations, together with compliance standards. This class aligns to the CompTia Security+ exam.

Date Last Revised (Month, year)

November, 2023

Outline of Major Content Areas

  1. Intro to Cybersecurity
  2. CIA Triad
  3. CompTia Security+ Exam Overview
  4. Stakeholders in Cybersecurity
  5. Career Prospects
  6. Fundamentals of Security Architecture
  7. Security Architecture and Design
  8. Layered Security and Defense in Depth
  9. Risk Assessment
  10. Key Terminology
  11. Conducting Risk Assessments
  12. Implementing Security Controls
  13. Types of Security Controls
  14. Best Practices
  15. Identification of Threat Vectors and Vulnerabilities
  16. Threat Vectors
  17. Vulnerability Assessment
  18. Regulatory and Compliance Standards
  19. Compliance Standards
  20. Regulatory Standards
  21. Types of Attacks and Defense Methods
  22. Common Attack Types
  23. Defense Methods
  24. Threat Detection and Incident Response
  25. Threat Detection Methods
  26. Incident Response Procedures
  27. Identity and Access Management
  28. Authentication Methods
  29. Role-Based Access Control
  30. Disaster Planning and Recovery
  31. Disaster Planning
  32. Disaster Recovery Plan
  33. The Economics and Ethics of Cybersecurity
  34. Economics of Security
  35. Ethical Considerations
  36. Assessing Enterprise Security Posture
  37. What is Security Posture?
  38. Improving Security Posture

Learning Outcomes (General)

The student will be able to:

  1. Design security architecture focusing on security and compliance.
  2. Classify attack vectors and assess device vulnerabilities.
  3. Define and implement secure architecture and design through defense in depth.
  4. Analyze threat detections and assess proper incident response procedures.
  5. Define and implement identity and access management, including end-to-end security.
  6. Develop risk assessments and implement risk-aware security controls.
  7. Discern the differences between regulatory and compliance standards and how to apply standards.

Learning Outcomes (MnTC)

NA

Methods for Evaluation of Student Learning

Methods may include but are not limited to:

RCTC Core Outcome(s)

This course contributes to meeting the following RCTC Core Outcome(s):

Critical Thinking
Students will think systematically and explore information thoroughly before accepting or formulating a position or conclusion.

Special Information (if any)

None