Cyber Security - MSc

Digital forensic investigation techniques are an essential part of the body of knowledge of every cyber security specialist. They facilitate informed timely management of cyber security breaches. Their understanding is important to develop and deploy effective controls for monitoring, detecting and responding to information security incidents within the scope of criminal, civil and enterprise investigations. 

The module provides you with an opportunity to learn and critically reflect on the skills of Advanced Ethical Hacking and information security within a global context. This module builds on the knowledge and underpinning theory from the networking modules and reviews the requirements for a secure network communication system.  

This module prepares you for the research project that you will undertake towards the end of your master’s course. It equips you with knowledge and transferable skills that will also help you in your subsequent career, for example, when you are asked to write a report or to carry out an IT project. You will become familiar with the research literature in your discipline, research methodology and research ethics, as well as project management tools, methods and techniques. 

This module aims to introduce learners to the security of Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS). Taking a holistic approach, the module will cover both operational and information technology (OT and IT) aspects of the CPS. The module will enable learners to familiarise with the state of the art with respect to CPS security through research-informed curriculum and engagement with the cutting-edge during the module. Specifically, the module will include introduction to unique security requirements for such systems, identify cyber security threat landscape for CPS, and include discussions around methods and mechanisms to protect against security threats along with codes of practice and standards used in different industries such as Manufacturing, Power, Automotive or Medical. 

The module covers information security governance and its associated body of knowledge and aims to develop your technical competence in information assurance. Security measures for adequate protection of valuable information assets are essential to guard business success, reputation, and compliance with legal and regulatory requirements. This module provides students with in-depth knowledge and understanding of the concepts, methods, processes, tools and practices underlying good information security governance. Topics to be covered include security governance, risk management, security programme development and management, legislation, policies, standards, frameworks, and issuing bodies, business continuity and cybercrime. 

This module covers the concepts and techniques of applied artificial intelligence (AI), focusing on the machine learning applications in practice. It provides the underpinning principles on the design and development of AI to address emerging challenges in the cyber world. A range of machine-learning schemes are examined, including identification of anomalous situations that alter data reliability and integrity. In addition, the students will develop related analytical and practical skills that can be applied in designing AI for data processing applications.  

The purpose of the module is to enable you to undertake a sustained, in-depth and research-informed Level 7 project exploring an area that is of personal interest to you. In agreement with your supervisor, you will decide upon your topic which will take the form of a practical outcome (artefact) with accompanying contextual material. The main consideration when choosing your topic is that it must be aligned to the programme you are studying and informed by the research strategy of your school, and you should consider the relevance of this topic to your future academic or professional development.