This course provides students with a comprehensive understanding of the principles, technologies, and practices used to secure computer networks and information systems. Network Security focuses on protecting network infrastructure, data, and services from unauthorized access, misuse, disruption, and cyber threats.
Throughout the course, students examine the modern cybersecurity threat environment, including malware, phishing attacks, denial-of-service attacks, and other common network vulnerabilities. The course introduces key security concepts such as confidentiality, integrity, and availability (CIA triad), which form the foundation of information security.
Students also learn about essential security technologies and mechanisms used to protect networks. These include cryptographic techniques for securing communications, access control methods for managing user permissions, firewall technologies for protecting network boundaries, and intrusion detection and prevention systems used to monitor suspicious network activity.
In addition, the course explores best practices for securing hosts and applications, protecting sensitive data, and implementing organizational security policies. Students are introduced to risk management concepts and security planning strategies that help organizations prepare for potential security incidents.
Finally, the course covers incident response and disaster recovery planning, equipping students with the knowledge needed to detect, respond to, and recover from cyber incidents effectively.
By the end of this course, students should be able to identify network security threats, apply appropriate security controls, and design basic strategies for protecting networked systems in organizational environments.