Study at ITB

Bachelor of Science in Computing in Information Security and Digital Forensics

Minimum Entry Requirements

Higher Certificate (NFQ level 6) with pass grade in a cognate area (or equivalent qualification).

Aim

The purpose of the Information Security and Digital Forensics degree is to provide students with an all round perspective on information security risk and proper management. The degree also covers the steps in conducting a digital forensics investigation where evidence may be needed to secure a prosecution in the case of wrong doing. Students will develop skills in each of the specialist areas in identifying tools and techniques and learning how to implement solutions based on a problem solving methodology.

Information Security stream is a mixture of several disciplines covering sociology, economics, computers, technical and abstract areas, business and operational administration and management all applied to security of information. This is a fast changing area so close contact is kept with industrial leaders and players in the Information Security industry and invited guest speakers will be a strong feature of this course.

Subject Overview

The objective of the third year is to deepen the knowledge of particular subjects and to expand on the fundamentals concepts. This year will focus on Digital Forensics and Security of Information and introduce the students to working as a team where they will develop a project integrating knowledge from different modules.

Hardware and Software Forensics

This course involves intensive study of computerised technology storage devices where data can be extracted for legal cases in civil, commercial and criminal activity.

Data Modelling

Having successfully completed this module, the student will be able to understand the different ways data can be collected and mathematically modelled, be able to present data in an informative way, recognise the limitations of modelling data and the model used and be able to find the model most appropriate to the data analysis required.

Distributed Systems

The aim of this module is to provide an understanding of the fundamental software engineering and computer systems issues raised by programming networked and distributed applications. The course will enable students to develop applications for distributed systems and to understand the networked computer systems support that is desirable and necessary to allow such applications to be developed and implemented.

Network Security

Students will gain an introduction to core security technologies as well as how to develop security policies and mitigate risks.

Specifically the student will secure routers and switches and their associated networks. Skills learned will include installation, troubleshooting and monitoring of network devices to maintain integrity, confidentiality and availability of data and devices. Furthermore they will gain a competency in the technologies that underpin the deployment of a secure network.

Group Project (Part 1 & Part 2)

The group projects will provide students with an opportunity to undertake a substantial, group computing project and take responsibility for a full system life cycle. The projects aim to:

Train students in the essential skills (teamwork, creative thinking etc.) and best practices so that they can conduct themselves professionally in a group project. Provide the supporting environment of the student so that they may develop intellectually, be capable of independence, and have a high self-esteem. Enable students to consolidate and further their chosen area of study, and to integrate knowledge and skills acquired from other studies. Provide a vehicle for the development of students’ written and oral communication skills.

Forensic Investigation

This course will cover the basics of carrying out a Computer Forensics Investigation involving the steps of acquiring, examining, analyzing and presentation digital evidence stored in computers, external hard drives, memory sticks and network storage devices in the form of documents, images, emails, user profiles and log files.

The course will explain the need of law enforcement agencies, criminal prosecutors, military intelligence officers, insurance companies, surveillance officers, compliance officials, information security departments, lawyers, solicitors, auditors, courts, tribunals and private investigators to search for digital evidence hidden in various data storage devices.

Secure Computing

Identify vulnerabilities in data and voice communication systems, understand the different types of encryption processes available, learn how to secure data and voice communications systems.

Data Mining

To provide the student with the knowledge and understanding of the steps involved in the discovery of information in data through the process of Data Mining. This module will give students an in depth understanding of how to prepare the data for analysis and a variety of data mining algorithms.

Computer Graphics

The module will provide students with an understanding of the principles, techniques, and recent developments in the field of 3D computer graphics and give students the ability to develop systems which utilise 3D computer graphics.

It will provide students with an understanding of the applications of computer graphics in the fields of visualisation, virtual reality, computer games, CAD and computer animation.

Course Content