COMPUTER SECURITY - 2026/7

Module Overview

The digital world critically relies on cyber security to prevent harm and misuse. This module provides a foundational introduction to computer security, focusing on how to protect information, systems and networks from attackers. Students explore foundational cryptography and security protocols, covering core principles such as confidentiality, integrity and availability across various domains. Students will also study business orientated security practice through threat modelling concepts to reason systematically about security risks in simple systems.

Module provider

Computer Science and Electronic Eng

Module Leader

GARDHAM Daniel (CS & EE)

Number of Credits: 15

ECTS Credits: 7.5

Framework: FHEQ Level 5

Module cap (Maximum number of students): N/A

Module Availability

Semester 2

Prerequisites / Co-requisites

None

Module content

Indicative content includes:

• Introduction to security concepts
• Symmetric cryptographic algorithms, e.g., block ciphers, MACs
• Asymmetric encryption and digital signatures, e.g., RSA/ElGamal
• Attacks and security of protocols
• Topics in network security, e.g., VPNs, TLS, SSH
• Authentication, e.g. Passwords, MFA, challenge-response protocols
• Introduction to Operating System Security, e.g. Access Control
• Threat Modelling (STRIDE)

Assessment pattern

Alternative Assessment

N/A

Assessment Strategy

The assessment strategy is designed to provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate the learning outcomes of this module.

The summative assessment of this module comprises:

• an individual coursework in which students will need to demonstrate technical understanding of cryptographic primitives, addressing LO1.
• a 2hr exam in which students will be required to demonstrate understanding of core security principles, the ability to reason about security of protocols and how vulnerabilities are managed in professional environments, addressing LO2, LO3 and LO4.

The formative assessment and feedback of this module comprises:

• quizzes to assess the understanding of key concepts and provide immediate feedback;
• PollEverywhere offering formative feedback opportunities during lectures;
• general feedback provided to support student learning;
• verbal feedback given in lab sessions as students attempt the lab exercises; and,
• an online discussion forum for providing feedback to students, to support the module material and coursework project.

Module aims

• Develop a foundational understanding of core security concepts
• Explore cryptographic mechanisms and understand how they are used to build secure protocols
• Examine security across various domains and understand the goals and constraints imposed in these settings
• Introduce tools and techniques for exploring cryptography and protocol analysis
• Identify, reason about and understand how security threats are managed by organisations

Learning outcomes

Methods of Teaching / Learning

Per week, this module will typically comprise:

• 2 hour lecture
• 2 hour lab session

Indicated Lecture Hours (which may also include seminars, tutorials, workshops and other contact time) are approximate and may include in-class tests where one or more of these are an assessment on the module. In-class tests are scheduled/organised separately to taught content and will be published on to student personal timetables, where they apply to taken modules, as soon as they are finalised by central administration. This will usually be after the initial publication of the teaching timetable for the relevant semester.

Reading list

https://readinglists.surrey.ac.uk
Upon accessing the reading list, please search for the module using the module code: COM2041

Other information

Digital Capabilities

Computer Security is vital to all aspects of life and this module teaches both theory and practical skills to secure a system. These skills are now fundamental to developing solutions to problems as a computer scientist. Network systems are a part of most industries and the skills learned in this module will give students the knowledge to secure these systems

Employability

This module provides security, cryptographic theory and software skills that are vital in today’s industry. Students are equipped with theory practical problem-solving skills that allow them to work with and reason about security in computer and networked systems. These skills are highly valuable to employers.  Cyber Security experts are highly sought-after.

Global and Cultural Skills

Computer Science is a global language and the tools and languages used on this module can be used internationally. This module allows students to develop skills that will allow them to reason about and develop applications with global reach and collaborate with their peers around the world.

Resourcefulness and Resilience

This module involves practical problem-solving skills that teach a student how to reason about security in complex hardware and software systems through combining the foundation theory taught with practical technologies for systems that are in everyday use.

Programmes this module appears in

Please note that the information detailed within this record is accurate at the time of publishing and may be subject to change. This record contains information for the most up to date version of the programme / module for the 2026/7 academic year.