Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: IT Infrastructure and Security

Credit Points: 12.00

Terms

Course Code

Campus

Career

School

Learning Mode

Teaching Period(s)

COSC2737

City Campus

Postgraduate

171H School of Science

Face-to-Face

 Sem 1 2018,
Sem 2 2018,
Sem 1 2019,
Sem 2 2019,
Sem 2 2020,
Sem 1 2021

COSC2737

City Campus

Postgraduate

175H Computing Technologies

Face-to-Face

 Sem 1 2022,
Sem 1 2023,
Sem 1 2024,
Sem 1 2025

Course Coordinator: Dr Maggie Liu

Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 9925

Course Coordinator Email: xiaoning.liu@rmit.edu.au

Course Coordinator Availability: By appointment


Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

Assumed Knowledge

Before starting this course, you should complete the Lab and Unix Induction. These are needed for understanding basic networking and to operate and configure a web server. You should also be familiar with general computer platform components and demonstrate basic knowledge of the function and role of computer networks.

For more background information, see the Lynda website from the RMIT Library Guide at http://rmit.libguides.com/compsci.


Course Description

This course aims to provide a broad introduction to the fundamentals of web and data communication, network and associated security concepts and technology. The emphasis is on the higher level aspects of these topics from the perspective of computer scientists and information technologists; the course covers the underlying mechanisms and their characteristics that need to be considered by communicating application software.


Topics include:

  • basic principles of data communication and operations of communication systems;
  • communication protocols and error handling;
  • basic configurations of web servers;
  • securing a web server, and
  • understanding the principles behind them.


Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

Upon successful completion of this course you should be able to:

  1. Describe all of the IT Infrastructure Architecture components and the issues relating to each of them
  2. Demonstrate knowledge of higher level aspects of data communications and network technology appropriate for the development of software applications in a networked environment and design simple computer scripts that are aware of basic aspects of networking
  3. Install, configure, and maintain a basic Web server
  4. Analyse and determine an appropriate enterprise networking systems and secure web server configuration based on stated user needs
  5. Explain the functioning of security services in computing environments and the security issues in mobile and IoT computing
  6. Describe and review emerging networking and security technologies


Program Learning Outcomes 

This course contributes to the program learning outcomes for the following program(s):  

GC188 - Graduate Certificate in Information Technology
MC208 - Master of Information Technology

PLO1: Enabling Knowledge - You will gain skills as you apply knowledge with creativity and initiative to new situations 

PLO2: Critical Analysis - You will learn to accurately and objectively examine, and critically investigate computer science and information technology (IT) concepts, evidence, theories or situations

PLO3: Problem Solving - Your capability to analyse complex problems and synthesise suitable solutions will be extended

PLO4: Communication - You will learn to communicate effectively with a variety of audiences through a range of modes and media

PLO5: Team Work - You will learn to work as an effective and productive team member in a range of professional and social situations 

For more information on the program learning outcomes for your program, please see the program guide.  


Overview of Learning Activities

The learning activities included in this course are:

  • Watching pre-recorded lecture videos. This helps you to understand the important content/theory. Key concepts will be explained in pre-recorded lectures in which course material will be presented and the subject matter will be illustrated with demonstrations and examples;
  • Workshop sessions: provide the opportunity to consolidate and deepen your knowledge. These sessions include practical analysis and problem-solving exercises to enable you to analyse, compare, rank and trouble-shoot computer system components and designs; and
  • Private study: working through the content as presented in classes and other learning materials, and gaining practice at solving conceptual and technical problems. It is essential to keep up to date with provided class exercises as well as doing your own broader reading on the topics covered.


Overview of Learning Resources

The course is supported by the Canvas learning management system which provides specific learning resources. Pre-recorded lecture videos will be available to students. In addition, there are many relevant textbooks beyond the ones suggested here, and open-source software is available for download from their respective sites (advised within class), and a large amount of general documentation is available. See the RMIT Library Guide at http://rmit.libguides.com/compsci for more.


Overview of Assessment

Note: This course has no hurdle requirements.

Assessment Tasks

Assessment Task 1: Progressive Assessment
Weighting: 40%
This assessment task supports CLOs 1 - 3

Assessment Task 2: Industry-focused Security Assignment
Weighting: 45%
This assessment task supports CLOs 1 - 6

Assessment Task 3: End-of-Semester summative Exercise
Weighting: 15%
This assessment supports CLOs 1 - 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.