CYBR 307-001 Essential Technical Cybersecurity for Business

Syllabus - Spring 2025

Required Text

There is currently no required text for this course.

 

Course Description

Prerequisite/Corequisite: CYBR 201
Introduction to key technical elements of the cybersecurity landscape essential for solving business problems. Development of simple scripts/programs. Exploration of common technical concepts, fundamental operating system functions, and tools employed by cybersecurity practitioners.
Purpose: This course is for students who do not intend to engage directly in the technical aspects of cybersecurity upon graduation, but rather for whom a solid understanding of key technical elements will make them better cybersecurity domain critical thinkers, problem solvers, managers, and decision-makers.

Schedule (*all times are ET)

Tuesday Topic Thursday Topic
14 January Introduction
HO: Sokoban [due 16Jan@1230]
16 January Functional Proficiency 1 - Algorithms
HO: Futurecoder 1 [due 21Jan@1230]
21 January Functional Proficiency 2 & Basic Linux 1
HO: Algorithm Importance [due 23Jan@1230]
23 January Functional Proficiency 3 & Basic Linux 2
HO: Futurecoder 2 [due 28Jan@1230]
HO: Python math problems [due 28Jan@1230]
28 January Functional Proficiency 4
HO: Operating System 1 [due 30Jan@1230]
30 January Basic OS 1
HO: Futurecoder 3 [due 4Feb@1230]
4 February Functional Proficiency 5
HO: Operating System 2 [due 6Feb@1230]
6 February Basic OS 2 & Web Intro
HO: Futurecoder 4 [due 11Feb@1230]
HO: UNCW Personal Webpage [due 11Feb@1230]
11 February Web 2 & Lists
HO: Operating System 3 [due 13Feb@1230]
13 February Basic OS 3 & Web 3
HO: Futurecoder 5 [due 20Feb@1230]
HO: Web Bouncing Ball [due 20Feb@1230]
18 February Attend WITX - no class 20 February Web Game
HO: Simple Game of Tag [due 25Feb@1230]
25 February Web Game 2
HO:Futurecoder 6 [due 27Feb1230]
27 February Web Game 3
N/A
4 March Spring break - no class 6 March Spring break - no class
11 March Midterm (start in-class) [due 12Mar@1230]
13 March Midterm Review - Linux cont.
HO:Futurecoder 7 [due 20Mar@1230]
18 March Attend Business Week - no class 20 March Linux cont.
HO:Linux 1 [due 25Mar@1230]
25 March Linux cont.
HO:Limerick parsing [due 27Mar@1230]
27 March Linux cont
HO:Anagrams [due 1Apr@1230]
1 April Anagrams
HO:Nmap Intro [due 3Apr@1230]
3 April Nmap & Linux cont
Logs - John - Burp [due 8Apr@1230]
8 April Logs - Pwd Cracking - Burp Suite
Firewall Fun [due 10Apr@1230]
10 April Firewall & Linux cont
Metasploit [due 15Apr@1230]
Equifax [due 15Apr@1230]
15 April TBD

17 April Easter - no class
22 April TBD

24 April TBD

29 April Wrap-up/Make-up Day 1 May Reading Day - no class
6 May Final Exam (online)
[available 6Dec@0001 - due 10Dec@1159]

8 May No class

RBC = Read Before Class; TQ = Take Quiz; HO = Hands-on

Course Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs)

  1. Identify and describe basic technical security issues across the cybersecurity landscape.
  2. Analyze technical cybersecurity problems and recommend solutions to meet business needs.
  3. Demonstrate functional proficiency with scripting/programming languages.
  4. Describe the role and basic functions of an operating system.
  5. Use select tools common to cybersecurity practitioners for basic tasks and problem-solving.

Policy Information

Academic Honor Code

As a student at The University of North Carolina Wilmington, I am committed to honesty and truthfulness in academic inquiry and in the pursuit of knowledge. I pledge to uphold and promote the UNCW Student Academic Honor Code.

The University of North Carolina Wilmington is a community of high academic standards where academic integrity is valued. UNCW students are committed to honesty and truthfulness in academic inquiry and in the pursuit of knowledge. This commitment begins when new students matriculate at UNCW, continues as they create work of the highest quality while part of the university community, and endures as a core value throughout their lives.

Please read and be familiar with the UNCW Student Academic Honor Code. I have highlighted some parts that are particularly relevant to courses I teach here.

Academic dishonesty in any form will not be tolerated in this class.

Time Commitment

It is a matter of UNC system policy that you should expect to be committed for an average of 8.5 hours per week (hpw) to this class (or any 3-credit hour class you take at UNCW).

A credit hour is defined as one 50-minute meeting of face-to-face instruction per week for 15 weeks, plus a minimum of 2 hours per week for 15 weeks of out-of-class student work.

You should be mentally prepared to spend ~8.5 hpw on this class.

Grading

Grading Scale (+/- at instructor discretion)

A: (avg >= 90)
B: (90 > avg) and (avg >= 80)
C: (80 > avg) and (avg >= 70)
D: (70 > avg) and (avg >= 60)

Coursework Weighting

5% Attendance
15% Chapter/Appendix Quizzes
40% Access/Excel Hands-on
20% Unit Tests
20% Comprehensive Final

Late Policy

Quizzes will close on the due date and will not generally be re-opened. Exception: Unexpected life event that derails a reasonable plan to accomplish a quiz by the due time/date; e.g. car accident, illness, family death, etc. Email me if/when this occurs and I will be reasonable.

Access/Excel hands-on assignments submitted by the due date will be scored up to a maximum of 100%. After the due date, hands-on assignments may still be submitted, but will be eligible to receive up to a maximum of 90% only. To submit a hands-on assignment late (or to resubmit for a better grade), please email me the following statement:
"I am ready to have MS Access (or Excel) assignment X (appropriate number) regraded. I understand that the highest score I can receive at this point is a 90. As a UNCW Seahawk committed to honesty and truthfulness in academic inquiry, I affirm that I did not seek help from any MIS 213 classmate, that the work I am submitting is entirely my own, and that it accurately reflects my understanding of the material."

Extra Credit

There is no specified extra credit in this class. I may, on occasion, subjectively award extra credit for assignment solutions that demonstrate meaningful, functional effort beyond the norm.

Attendance

Lecture attendance is expected and will count towards your overall grade, weighted at 5%. Each absence will result in a .33% reduction of your final grade. If an unexpected life event prevents you from attending class, email me and I will be reasonable.

Communication

The best way to contact me is via email. When writing me email, please, indicate your class. Also, be clear/concise: start with your question and then provide supporting details. You do not need to tell me how hard you have been working or how confused you are. Example
If you post questions in the assignment comment section in Canvas, I will likely not see it - don't do that.

Technical Assistance

MIS213 requires that you become familiar with several aspects of the UNCW IT infrastructure including: OneDrive, Horizon. If you have trouble with any of these items, you should contact TAC/ITS as they are the managers of these systems. [Note: contact me if experiencing problems with Entropy.]

Student Illness

Students are to do a health check each day before coming to campus. Students who experience COVID-19 symptoms should immediately contact the Abrons Student Health Center at (910) 962-3280. If a student becomes ill, s/he should let the professor know and must not attend the course in-person. If a student is too ill to attend virtually, they will be given the opportunity to complete the material asynchronously.

Disaster Contingency Plan

In the event that UNCW closes, students will be given an assignment to make up for 1 week of missed class time. This will be emailed to students within two days of the UNCW closing announcement. In the event that the rest of the semester is online, students need to be prepared by having reliable internet access, a webcam, and a microphone.

Students with Disabilities

If you are a student with a disability and need accommodations, you must be registered with Disability Services (DePaolo Hall, 910.962.7555). Please provide your Accommodations Letter within the first week of class or as soon as possible. You should then meet with your instructor to make mutually agreed upon arrangements based upon the recommendations in the Accommodations Letter. For additional information, please see UNCW Disability.

Title IX

UNCW takes all forms of interpersonal violence very seriously. When students disclose, first- or third-hand, to faculty or staff about sexual misconduct, domestic violence, dating violence and/or stalking, this information must be reported to the administration in order to ensure that students' rights are protected, appropriate resources are offered, and the need for further investigation is explored to maintain campus safety. There are three confidential resources who do not need to report interpersonal violence: UNCW CARE, the Student Health Center, and the Counseling Center. If you want to speak to someone in confidence, these resources are available, including CARE's 24-hour crisis line (910-512-4821). For more information, please visit www.uncw.edu/care

Code of Student Conduct

This course is subject to the Code of Student Life of the University of North Carolina Wilmington (the Code). The full Code is found here Code of Student Life. UNCW practices zero tolerance for violence and harassment of any kind. For emergencies, contact UNCW CARE at 910.962.2273 or Campus Police at 910.962.3184. For University or community resources visit Safe Relate Campus Resources.

Religious Observance Policy

In accordance with NC SL 2010-211, students are entitled to two excused absences for religious observances per academic year. These absences must be requested using the form provided on SeaNet, under "Student Services." These requests must be submitted by the student prior to the absence. Once the request is submitted, an email will be sent to all impacted instructors automatically. There is no need to send additional notification to instructors or the Registrar's Office. Any absence for religious purposes will be considered unexcused unless the appropriate form is submitted.

Seahawk Respect Compact

In the pursuit of excellence, UNC Wilmington actively fosters, encourages, and promotes inclusiveness, mutual respect, acceptance, and open-mindedness among students, faculty, staff and the broader community.

Therefore, we expect members of the campus community to honor these principles as fundamental to our ongoing efforts to increase access to and inclusion in a community that nurtures learning and growth for all.