Overview
Cybersecurity has become a fundamental aspect of organizational strategy and risk management in today’s digital environment. There is heightened awareness of the growing threats to data and information security and the dangers posed by hackers, not only to individuals, but also to businesses, governments, and various organizations that share information over public networks. In our algorithm-driven world, managing privacy concerns has also become a vital function for organizations seeking to safeguard their operations and maintain business continuity, as people are concerned about the data collected about them.
This course aims to equip students with a comprehensive understanding of cybersecurity and privacy concepts, principles, frameworks, and strategies. You will develop practical skills necessary to assess risks, establish effective governance structures, and develop strategies to safeguard critical assets across various sectors. The course will guide you through implementing effective multi-layered defence strategies, such as zero trust architecture and the principle of least privilege, and introduce you to industry-leading frameworks, including NIST CSF 2.0 and ISO 27001, to support continuous improvement and resilience. You will discover how to foster a strong cybersecurity culture by embracing leadership best practices, helping employees to adopt security protocols, and training them to resist emerging digital manipulations like deepfakes. You will also learn how cybersecurity has evolved from a technical concern to a fundamental business enabler and why leadership is directly responsible for managing privacy and information security risks.
Learning outcomes
By the end of this course, students should be able to:
- identify cybersecurity threats and vulnerabilities,
- conduct risk assessments using industry tools,
- develop cybersecurity and privacy policies and incident response plans, and
- promote a culture of cybersecurity and privacy
Evaluation
Your grade will be based on the successful completion of three individual assignments as well as your participation in moderated group discussions. Your coursework will be evaluated as follows:
| Activity | Weight |
| Participation in Discussions | 40% |
| Assignment 1 | 15% |
| Assignment 2 | 20% |
| Assignment 3 | 25% |
| Total | 100% |
To receive a passing grade in this course, you must meet these minimum standards:
- receive a minimum of 60% on the participation component, and
- receive an average grade of 60% over all course components.
Materials
Digital course materials
Links to the following course materials will be made available in the course:
Whitman, M. E., & Mattord, H. J. (2022). Principles of information security (7th ed.). Cengage.
All other course materials will be accessed online.