Unit information: Introduction to Mathematical Cybersecurity in 2021/22

Unit name	Introduction to Mathematical Cybersecurity
Unit code	MATHM0028
Credit points	10
Level of study	M/7
Teaching block(s)	Teaching Block 1A (weeks 1 - 6)
Unit director	Professor. Rubin-Delanchy
Open unit status	Not open
Pre-requisites	MATH10013 Probability and Statistics and MATH20800 Statistics 2
Co-requisites	None
School/department	School of Mathematics
Faculty	Faculty of Science

Description including Unit Aims

Unit Aims

Students will gain literacy in mathematical aspects of fundamental cyber security concepts, and gain the ability to convert these ideas into mathematical descriptions.

Unit Description

This unit will cover the following topics: how the internet works; computer security and encryption; vulnerabilities and cyber attacks; understanding the data; mathematical models such as graphs and point processes; probabilistic reasoning.

Intended Learning Outcomes

ILO1 To be able to qualitatively describe how computers communicate via the internet, and relate this to how it is quantitatively measured

ILO2 To understand how communications and computers are secured, and be able to describe how this is exploited by cyber attacks

ILO3 To have a high-level understanding of how mathematical models relate to cyber data

ILO4 To interpret applied cybersecurity reports from industry and academia and put them in a mathematical context

Teaching Information

The unit will be taught through a combination of

• synchronous online and, if subsequently possible, face-to-face lectures
• asynchronous online materials, including narrated presentations and worked examples
• guided asynchronous independent activities such as problem sheets and/or other exercises
• synchronous weekly group problem/example classes, workshops and/or tutorials
• synchronous weekly group tutorials
• synchronous weekly office hours

Assessment Information

100% Timed, open-book examination

Resources

If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.

If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. MATHM0028).

How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks, independent learning and assessment activity.

See the Faculty workload statement relating to this unit for more information.

Assessment
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit. The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. If you have self-certificated your absence from an assessment, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (this is usually in the next assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any extenuating circumstances and operates within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.