Network Security

The course provides an overview of the most important concepts, methods, and best computer and network security practices. In this course, students will obtain the knowledge and hands-on experience to secure networking and communication systems. The course will primarily focus on technologies, protocols, attacks, and defenses. More precisely, starting from a review of common vulnerabilities and attack scenarios, the course will discuss the fundamentals of security engineering and their application in system design and finally review tools and methods to assess and test communication infrastructure from a security perspective. As a result, students will gain theoretical knowledge and hands-on experience in network attacks and defense methods. Knowledge activation and the transfer from conceptual understanding towards practical experience will be further facilitated by students implementing their own attack or defense tools on selected topics and conducting measurements on the effectiveness of attack and defense schemes.

Topics covered in this course are:

• physical layer security

• link layer security

• network layer security

• transport layer security

• application layer security

• Internet security

• cyber threats and countermeasures

The final grade of the course consists of the following components:

Component 1:

• Individual Assignment 1: lab assignment on Link Layer Security (weighting 10%)

• Individual Assignment 2: lab assignment on Network Layer Security (weighting 10%)

• Individual Assignment 3: lab assignment on Transport Layer Security (weighting 10%)

• Individual Assignment 4: lab assignment on Application Layer Security (weighting 10%)

Component 2:

• Individual Assignment 5: lab assignment on Internet Security (weighting 25%)

• Individual Assignment 6: lab assignment on Cyberthreat Intelligence (weighting 25%)

Component 3:

• Individual Exam (weighting 10%)

Final grade calculation = 0.1 * Individual Assignment 1 + 0.1 * Individual Assignment 2 + 0.1 * Individual Assignment 3 + 0.1 * Individual Assignment 4 + 0.25 * Individual Assignment 5 + 0.25 * Individual Assignment 6 + 0.1 * Individual Exam

A passing final grade for the course can only be earned when for all components at least a 5.0 is earned, and the weighted final grade is at least a 5.8.

In case of an insufficient final result, repair options may exist in accordance with Article 17A, Times and number of examinations, sub 1, of the Teaching and Examination Regulations, for:

• Individual Assignment 1, 2, 3, 4: Repair opportunity

• Individual Assignment 5, 6: Repair opportunity

• Individual Exam: Resit opportunity

Disclaimer: information may change depending on unforeseen circumstances or measures (see: TER Art 2, sub 5).