CPS 155 is a course that presents fundamental concepts of security, network organization, and operation.

It will introduce mechanisms and the history of software, hardware, and OS security. Students will differentiate between physical, organizational, and personal security. Introduction to Cybersecurity consists of two lectures per week based on reference text and course notes. In addition, two hands-on labs will be conducted each week based on the Lab Manual for the course. Students will receive one homework assignment and one quiz each week. The homework assignment will be due the first class of the following week. There are no prerequisites for this course.

By the end of the course, students will be able to understand how a network functions, monitor a network’s functions and performance, control a network’s configuration, determine what security is and how it relates to a network, detect and respond to an attack on a network, determine if a network is vulnerable to an attack, identify the threats to a network, prevent harm to a network, and analyze the impact of the protection.

Knowledge Required at Start of Course

  • Be able to use a computer
    • Activate applications
    • Utilize the internet
    • Send and receive email
    • Have a basic literacy in computer operation
  •  Three years of high school mathematics
    • Basic Algebra
    • Introduction to logic
    • Problem-solving skills utilizing unknowns

Course Outline

  • Weeks 1-3: How Does a Network Work? How Does Your Computer System Work (Hardware and OS)? Binary, hex, and information representation (ASCIIÉ); Serial Communication and modems; Network fundamentals (Chapter 9, p. 195); Wireless and instant messaging (Chapter 12, p. 287)
  • Weeks 4-6: What is Security? General security concepts (Chapter 2, p. 19); Operational and organizational security (Chapter 3, p. 43); Role of people in security (Chapter 4, p. 63); Computer ethics; The impact of physical security on network security (Chapter 8, p. 181); Infrastructural security (Chapter 10, p. 215)
  • Weeks 7-9: How Do We Detect and Respond to Attacks on the Network? Disaster recovery, business continuity, and organizational policies (Chapter 19, p. 483); Risk management (Chapter 20, p. 511); Change management (Chapter 21, p. 533); Privilege management (Chapter 22, p. 549); Computer forensics (Chapter 23, p. 569); Security and law (Chapter 24, p. 587)
  • Weeks 10-11: How is the Network Vulnerable, and What Are the Threats? Attacks and malware (Chapter 15, p. 395); E-mail attacks (Chapter 16, p. 423); Web-based attacks (Chapter 17, p. 439)
  • Weeks 12-13: How Do We Prevent Harm to the Network? Cryptography (Chapter 5, p. 77); Public key infrastructure (Chapter 6, p. 107); Intrusion detection systems (Chapter 13, p. 309); Security baselines (Chapter 14, p. 337); Software development (Chapter 18, p. 469)