MIT9318 Cybersecurity Capstone
Unit Code
MIT9318
Level
Postgraduate
Campus
Sydney
Prerequisites
MIT9301 and 100 credit pts of which 80 credit pts must be at level 8000
Credit Points
20
Subject Description
In the MIT9318 Cybersecurity Capstone Project, students apply the knowledge and skills gained throughout their Master of Information Technology (Cybersecurity) degree. Working in groups of 3 to 5, students engage in an industry-relevant cybersecurity project for a client. The project involves identifying, analysing, and addressing complex, security-centric challenges through a structured approach that includes project planning, threat modeling, risk assessment, secure architecture design, implementation, testing, and validation. Students are expected to design and implement robust security solutions, ensuring compliance with ethical standards and adhering to best practices in security, privacy, and confidentiality. The process also includes the preparation of regular progress reports, comprehensive technical documentation, client presentations, and a final evaluation of the project’s effectiveness and impact. Students will demonstrate their ability to apply advanced cybersecurity principles, evaluate security controls, and provide innovative solutions to real-world cybersecurity challenges.
Course Level
Level 2
Subject Type
☒ Capstone
Study Mode: Face to face on site
Study Load: Full-time
Learning Topics
- Client-focused cybersecurity project planning and requirements analysis
- Threat modelling and security risk assessment
- Secure architecture and solution implementation
- Testing and effectiveness
- Ethical, legal and professional practice, teamwork and stakeholder communication
Subject Learning Outcomes
- Apply theoretical, professional and technical knowledge and skills to achieve project deliverables.
- Elicit, analyse, and critically refine organisational IT requirements to develop a well-informed approach for a secure solution that addresses potential threats and vulnerabilities.
- Design and implement a strategy to develop and deploy a cybersecurity solution that protects against identified threats and meets stakeholders’ security needs.
- Critically assess the quality and effectiveness of all aspects of the developed solution, through evaluation of project processes and supporting documentation.
- Collaborate and communicate effectively with team members as well as external stakeholders ensuring compliance with ethical, legal, professional and industry standards.
Assessment
AIIHE uses a variety of assessment tools to guide and assess each student’s achievement of the subject learning outcomes. In this capstone subject, students develop a group charter and team plan, provide regular project-progress reports, and complete a final project comprising a group report and deliverables, a presentation and an individual reflection. These tasks assess project planning, applied technical capability, critical evaluation, collaboration, stakeholder communication and professional practice.
Summary of Assessment
- Students must attempt all assessment tasks, and achieve an overall mark of at least 50%, to pass this subject.
- Assessment in this subject is consistent with and informed by the AIIHE Assessment Policy and Procedure.
| Assessment Type | Due Date | Weighting |
|---|---|---|
| Assessment 1: Group Charter and Team Plan | Week 4 | 20% |
| Assessment 2: Project Progress | Weeks 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 | 10% |
| Assessment 2: Project Progress | Weeks 11 and 12 | 70% |
Learning Resources
AIIHE will update the topic coverage of the subject and the available relevant learning resources at the time of subject delivery. In the interim, AIIHE provides the following indicative list of relevant reference material. AIIHE also subscribes to eLearning Resources through the Canvas portal, and where relevant material is available, AIIHE will seek to source reference material from this system for staff and student access.
Prescribed Reading
- There is no prescribed text for this subject. The capstone integrates knowledge from other subjects completed throughout the Master of Information Technology program.
Texts and References
- Project Management Institute. (2021). A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK Guide) (7th edn.). Project Management Institute.
- Schwalbe, K. (2019). Information Technology Project Management (9th edn.). Cengage.
- Nassersharif, B. (2022). Engineering Capstone Design. CRC Press.
Recommended Reading
- Pidaparti, R. (2021). Capstone Engineering Design: Project Process and Reviews (Student Engineering Design Workbook). Morgan & Claypool Publishers.