CST4530 Security Solutions and Applications Module Handbook 2024-25 | MUL

CST4530 Module Overview 

This module covers the concepts and critical issues of security with an emphasis on security architecture and mechanisms, standards, protocols, solutions, and applications. It aims to provide students with an understanding of security technologies, algorithms, and solutions. It will also provide an understanding of the design criteria in security, basic system security analysis, and security solution synthesis. 

CST4530 Learning Outcomes 

Knowledge 

On completion of this module, the successful student will be able to: 

• Build up knowledge about the key concepts and principles of security.
• Develop a comprehensive understanding of the models, architectures, methods, and solutions commonly used in network and computer security applications.

Research Ethics 

• The teaching, learning, assessment and research activities undertaken in this module have been considered and are not likely to require ethical approval.
• However, please seek advice if undertaking the module entails carrying out any research activities involving human participants, human data, animals/animal products, precious artefacts, materials or data systems. If you submit work that includes data gathered from or about people, this may be treated as academic misconduct and could lead to a failing grade being awarded.

Learning Resources 

Your online reading lists can be accessed from the My Study area of UniHub. They highlight essential and recommended reading for all modules for which you are registered. 

For more information, please contact your Liaison Librarian

Brief Guide to Web-based Module

 Protocols: A key site to find out about protocols and protocol stacks

This is an important site for looking at recent technical papers on research topics. 
Scholar Google is also a key site for technical papers. 

Expectations of Studying this Module

Attendance and Engagement 

Engaging with online and on-campus in-person learning and activities is integral to your success. Middlesex University supports you to achieve your full potential through a number of strategies, all of which provide a supportive learning environment online, remotely, face-to-face, or blended. 

Professional Behaviour and Online Conduct

The programme of study you are undertaking is underpinned by developing professional behaviour and attitude. You are expected to behave in a professional, supportive manner toward your peers and teachers. You must come to sessions prepared and ready to contribute where appropriate. Please remember that your University ID should be carried with you always whilst on campus, and you must be able to identify yourself if asked to do so. Please conduct your email communication with fellow students, tutors and all relevant staff formally and courteously.

Academic Integrity and Misconduct 

Academic Integrity is a set of principles and values to show that you work in a professional, honest and ethical way. You should be aware of the University's academic integrity and misconduct policies and procedures. Taking unfair advantage of other students in the assessment is considered a serious offence by the University. Action will be taken against any student who contravenes the regulations through negligence, foolishness or deliberate intent. Academic misconduct takes several forms, in particular : 

• Plagiarism is using extensive unacknowledged quotations from, or direct copying of, another person's work and presenting it for assessment as if it were your own effort. This includes the use of third-party essay writing services. 
• Collusion-working together with other students (without the tutor's permission), and presenting similar or identical work for assessment.
• Infringement of Exam Room Rules- Communication with another candidate, taking notes at your table in the exam room and/or referring to notes during the examination.
• Self-Plagiarism- including any material which is identical or substantially similar to material that has already been submitted by you for another assessment in the University or elsewhere. 

Appropriate use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is detailed in the assessment requirements grid in section 7.5 

The Student Success Essentials Course includes useful information about how to approach your assessments and complete them with honesty. The course also describes what plagiarism (cheating) is and how to avoid it so you don't face any disciplinary action. For completing this course, you will be awarded Digital-Credentials and a certificate that will verify the knowledge you have gained. Digital credentials can be shared and promoted via LinkedIn and other digital channels. You will have to log into MyUniHub and then MyLearning to access the course. 

Overall Module Grade 

Each summative assessment will be marked as a percentage. To produce the overall module, a weighted average percentage will be calculated and then converted to a 20-point grade using the University scale in the appendix.

To pass this module, you need to have an overall grade of at least 40% (grade 16). 

Before you submit your work for final grading, please ensure that you have accurately referenced the work. It is your responsibility to check the spelling and grammar, as all written assessments will assess technical proficiency in English. This means accurate and effective spelling, punctuation and grammar. Details of how it will be assessed will be provided in the marking criteria for each assessment, and the overall approach can be found within the Grade Criteria Guide in the University Regulations (scroll to university regulations) 

Reasonable adjustments will be made for those students who have a declared disability/specific learning condition that would affect performance in this area. 

Reassessment for this module normally takes place according to2031 Learning Framework Guidance and Support Material (mdx.ac.uk). 

Feedback on your Assignments 

You will be provided with feedback on all assessments that is helpful and informative, consistent with aiding the learning and development process. The nature of the feedback shall be determined at programme level but may take a variety of forms, including: written comments; individual and group tutorial feedback; peer feedback; or other forms of effective and efficient feedback. If you have submitted a formative or draft assessment, you will receive feedback but no grade. The comments should inform you about how well you have done or tell you about the areas for improvement. All assignments should be submitted online unless specified in the assessment briefs. Feedback on summative assessments will normally be provided within 15 WORKING DAYS of the published submission date. 

How is your Assignment Mark Agreed? 

External Examiners (external academic experts) review what we deliver at a programme level. The University reviews a sample of your work to quality assure the grades and feedback you received from the person who marked your work. Our External Examiners will sample a selection of modules from a programme, with more focus on outcomes between modules within a programme. 

The following diagram provides an overview of the marking process for your module assessment. Further information on the role of external examiners can be found at.

Results Confirmation 

Module grades are considered and confirmed by an Assessment Board. Following the Board, individual results and your progression status or finalist classification will be made available in the My Study area on MyUniHub. 

If any of your results are provisional, they will be labelled as such. Further information on your results and assessment can be found in the University Guide, under the Your Study area of MyUniHub, or by seeking advice from your Progression and Support Team Officer. Further details can also be found in the University regulations.

Assessment 1 Group Presentation and Report