Course Title: Multi-Factor Authentication

Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Multi-Factor Authentication

Credit Points: 12.00

Terms

Course Code

Campus

Career

School

Learning Mode

Teaching Period(s)

INTE1129

City Campus

Postgraduate

145H Mathematical & Geospatial Sciences

Face-to-Face

 Sem 2 2006,
Sem 2 2007,
Sem 2 2008,
Sem 1 2010,
Sem 2 2011,
Sem 1 2013,
Sem 1 2016

INTE1129

City Campus

Postgraduate

171H School of Science

Face-to-Face

 Sem 2 2017,
Sem 1 2019,
Sem 2 2020,
Sem 1 2023,
Sem 1 2024

Course Coordinator: Dr Arathi Arakala

Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 9925 2279

Course Coordinator Email: arathi.arakala@rmit.edu.au

Course Coordinator Location: 15.3.7

Course Coordinator Availability: by appointment, by email


Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

 

Required Prior Study

You should have satisfactorily completed following course/s before you commence this course.

Alternatively, you may be able to demonstrate the required skills and knowledge before you start this course.

Contact your course coordinator if you think you may be eligible for recognition of prior learning.

Required Concurrent Study

You should undertake following course/s at the same time as this course as it contains areas of knowledge and skills which are implemented together in practice.

Alternatively, you may be able to demonstrate the required skills and knowledge before you start this course.

Contact your course coordinator if you think you may be eligible for recognition of prior learning.


Course Description

This course extends the broad overview of information security presented in the prerequisite courses and introduces a rigorous and practical study of authentication systems that use multi factor authentication. 

Passwords alone have been proven to be ineffective over the last five years and additional factors are necessary to complement the authentication process. We will study the mechanisms behind token-based authentication like smartcards (something you have) and biometric authentication (something you are).  

We will study the basic structure of token-based authentication systems. We will then dive into the cryptographic primitives that keep token-based systems secure and analyse the security of these primitives. We will study side-channel attacks on hardware tokens, that focus on the implementation of the system rather than the cryptosystem itself. 

This course introduces the architecture of a biometric authentication system. We will study a variety of biometric modalities like fingerprint, face, and iris. In addition, we investigate combinations of modalities and their applications in a variety of settings to meet security and accuracy needs. We will also look at attacks on biometric systems and techniques to prevent and mitigate them. 

This course includes a Work Integrated Learning (WIL) component in which your knowledge and skills will be applied and assessed in a real or simulated workplace context and where feedback from industry and/or community is integral to your experience. Your WIL activities involve simulations using industry standard technology and case studies on real world implementations of these systems.  


Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

The course aligns with the following Program Learning Outcomes (PLOs) of MC159 

PLO 1: International Orientation and Strategic Thinking - 

           Demonstrate a strategic and practical overview of complex issues in cyber security.

PLO 2: Critical Analysis and Problem Solving -  

           Evaluate cyber security risks across diverse service settings including the Internet and WWW based commerce systems, high bandwidth digital communications and funds transfer services; Undertake professional careers or postgraduate research in cyber security or other IT related fields, acquiring the required information needed to identify real world solutions to real world cyber security problems. 

PLO 3: Communication - 

           Communicate effectively both technical and non-technical material in a range of forms (written, electronic, graphic, oral) and to tailor the style and means of communication to different audiences. 

PLO 4: Ethical Values - 

           Demonstrate an advanced ability to appreciate the ethical considerations that inform judgments and decision making in academic and professional settings 

PLO 5: Self-Management, Teamwork and Leadership - 

           Work autonomously and effectively within and potentially as a leader of an interdisciplinary team. 
 


On completion of this course you should be able to: 

  1. Apply cryptographic constructs and industry standard frameworks to develop solutions for multi factor authentication systems. 
  2. Identify the vulnerabilities and inspect the security of cryptographic protocols and structures used in multi factor authentication systems  
  3. Implement cryptographic algorithms and multi factor authentication models using industry standard software and scripting languages. 
  4. Demonstrate ability to research beyond the course material and explain complex cryptographic and technical ideas in clear, professional English in a range of forms (written, oral, electronic, graphic). 
  5. Apply project management practices including managing team dynamics to complete a project.  
  6. Discuss the role of ethics in protecting security and privacy through multi factor authentication. 


Overview of Learning Activities

A variety of planned student learning experiences will accommodate the learning outcomes envisaged for this course. This includes individual and group activities and laboratory-based learning experiences. 

A presentation format will provide an overview of the specified study area and direct you to foundational, analytical, and evidence-based readings about cryptographic primitives and systems used in multi factor authentication systems. Facilitated open discussions will draw on your capacity to solve problems, to think critically and analytically and reflect on your own relevant work and life experiences. Your capacity to solve problems and to think critically and analytically will also be addressed through problems presented in lectures, tutorials and facilitated seminars. 

Individual and group activities, such as in-semester assessments, will provide you with on-going feedback on your progress. In-semester assessments may take the form of problem-based assignments, timed assessments and/or programming/software-based solutions.  Written and Oral presentation of work may also form part of the assessment. The assessments will reinforce the material covered in lectures and in your personal study.  

An end-of-semester assessment that will test your comprehension of the subject material and your ability to apply this understanding to real world problems will complement your learning.  

You will be expected to understand the plagiarism policy enforced at RMIT and practice academic integrity. 

You are encouraged to be proactive and self-directed in your learning, asking questions of your lecturer and/or peers and seeking out information as required, especially from the numerous sources available through the RMIT library, and through links and material specific to this course that is available through myRMIT Studies Course


Overview of Learning Resources

 

RMIT will provide you with resources and tools for learning in this course through myRMIT Studies Course. 

There are services available to support your learning through the University Library. The Library provides guides on academic referencing and subject specialist help as well as a range of study support services. For further information, please visit the Library page on the RMIT University website and the myRMIT student portal.


Overview of Assessment

Assessment Tasks:

Assessment 1: Software-based practical assessment  
Weighting 30% 
This assessment supports CLOs 1, 3, 4, 5 

Assessment 2: Problem based online timed tests
Weighting: 40%
This assessment supports CLOs 1, 2, 4

Assessment 3: Case study-based group project
Weighting: 30%
This assessment supports CLOs 1, 4, 5, 6 

If you have a long-term medical condition and/or disability it may be possible to negotiate to vary aspects of the learning or assessment methods. You can contact the program coordinator or Equitable Learning Services if you would like to find out more.