IFQ658 Networks and Security
To view more information for this unit, select Unit Outline from the list below. Please note the teaching period for which the Unit Outline is relevant.
| Unit code: | IFQ658 |
|---|---|
| Equivalent(s): | IFN507, IFQ507, IFN658 |
| Assumed Knowledge: | IFN583 or equivalent |
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Timetable | Details in HiQ, if available |
| Availabilities |
|
| CSP student contribution | $1,192 |
| Domestic tuition unit fee | $4,116 |
| International unit fee | $5,616 |
Unit Outline: Session 2 2026, QUT Online, Online
| Unit code: | IFQ658 |
|---|---|
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Equivalent: | IFN658 OR IFN507 or IFQ507 |
| Assumed Knowledge: | IFQ583 or equivalent |
Overview
Networking allows us to connect all sorts of devices and gain access to a wide range of applications and services. However, our heavy reliance on networking technology means the security of our networks is critical for both enterprise and individuals to avoid disruption to services that are essential for day-to-day activities in a connected world.
This unit introduces the core concepts of computer networks and the Internet, in particular layered network architecture and models, hardware and software, TCP/IP protocol stack, addressing and routing, wireless networks, network security, and network services and applications. It teaches you how modern computer networks and the Internet work, how they are structured, and how they operate.
Additionally, we will explore the challenges associated with securing a network. We will consider attack scenarios along with security controls for addressing network security vulnerabilities.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:
- Describe the major principles, and the security requirements of computer networks.
- Analyse networks using network analysis, and testing tools and methodologies.
- Apply problem solving skills to identify appropriate network security controls to address identified security risks in practical network scenarios.
- Communicate professionally about networks and security requirements, risks, designs, controls, systems, tools and vulnerabilities in written form.
- Collaborate with others in a team environment to write a report addressing an aspect of network security.
Content
You will investigate the following topics:
- network fundamentals including architecture, addressing, routing, and protocols,
- network analysis tools and techniques,
- security goals in networked systems,
- security challenges for common network types,
- securing network protocols at various layers,
- network security controls
Learning Approaches
This unit is designed for asynchronous online study, with activities including numerous short videos, podcasts and exercises carefully chosen to reinforce key skills and concepts. Throughout the unit you will have the opportunity to participate in online discussions with peers and teaching staff.
You are responsible for your academic progression through this unit. Unit staff will provide a learning environment designed to maximise your learning experience. To realise your full potential, it is strongly recommended that you complete all of the onliine learning activities offered in this unit.
The online modules include theoretical content and practical activities. Theory on various topics in networkiing and cyber security will be presented, and examples showing how this theory can be applied will also be given. Practical materials and activities provide an interactive and participatory forum where you can use your emerging knowledge and skills in problem-based scenarios. Questions related to the presented material will be provided; your answers to these questions will direct your focus and aid your preparation for unit assessment items.
Feedback on Learning and Assessment
You will have a range of opportunities to receive feedback on your learning and progress in this unit. This includes:
- formative in-class individual and whole-of-class feedback provided by unit staff during practical classes
- responses to questions posed through the unit communication channel from your peers and teaching staff
- feedback given on your assessment items via the rubric and written feedback, individually and during scheduled review sessions
- have a private consultation with teaching staff at a mutually convenient time.
Assessment
Overview
This unit requires you to complete two assessment tasks to demonstrate that you have meet the learning outcomes of the unit: an assignment project and a final examination. The final exam is an individual assessment, while the assignment project is a group work. For the group assignment project, although you may discuss the project topics with the members of other groups, the work you submit must be the effort from your own group. It is your responsibility to ensure that your work is completed in a timely manner.
Unit Grading Scheme
7- point scale
Assessment Tasks
Assessment: Project (applied)
A project to design and assess network services by using computer networking technologies and tools.
The ethical and responsible use of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tools is authorised in this assessment. See the relevant assessment details in Canvas for specific guidelines.
This assignment is an assessment for the purpose of an extension.
Assessment: Final Examination
Written examination consisting of a set of true/false questions, multiple choice questions, multiple answer questions, fill-in-the-blank questions, and/or short answer questions. It will cover all theories and practicals learned in this unit.
The use of GenAI is prohibited during this examination.
Academic Integrity
Academic integrity is a commitment to undertaking academic work and assessment in a manner that is ethical, fair, honest, respectful and accountable.
The Academic Integrity Policy sets out the range of conduct that can be a failure to maintain the standards of academic integrity. This includes, cheating in exams, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion and contract cheating. It also includes providing fraudulent or altered documentation in support of an academic concession application, for example an assignment extension or a deferred exam.
You are encouraged to make use of QUT’s learning support services, resources and tools to assure the academic integrity of your assessment. This includes the use of text matching software that may be available to assist with self-assessing your academic integrity as part of the assessment submission process.
Breaching QUT’s Academic Integrity Policy or engaging in conduct that may defeat or compromise the purpose of assessment can lead to a finding of student misconduct (Code of Conduct – Student) and result in the imposition of penalties under the Management of Student Misconduct Policy, ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.
Resources
There is no required textbook for this unit, but a reference book is suggested. All learning materials will be provided via the Canvas site. This unit utilises a range of different software, which is available in computer laboratories or is freely available.
Resource Materials
Reference book(s)
Jill West (2024), CompTia Network+ Guide to Networks, 10th Edition, Cengage Learning.
Risk Assessment Statement
There are no extraordinary risks associated with the classroom/ lecture activities in this unit.
Course Learning Outcomes
This unit is designed to support your development of the following course/study area learning outcomes.IQ20 Master of Information Technology
- Demonstrate advanced specialist IT knowledge in at least one information technology discipline
Relates to: ULO1, ULO3, Project (applied), Final Examination - Critically analyse complex IT problems and opportunities and use creativity and problem-solving skills to generate innovative and novel solutions that are convincingly justified.
Relates to: ULO2, ULO3, Project (applied), Final Examination - Integrate advanced, industry-best practice, IT methods, tools and techniques to develop and implement complex IT systems, processes and/or software.
Relates to: ULO2, ULO3, Project (applied), Final Examination - Employ leadership and initiative in both self-directed and collaborative contexts to create value for others
Relates to: ULO5, Project (applied) - Communicate effectively in IT professional and scholarly contexts to specialist and non-specialist audiences using written, visual and oral formats.
Relates to: ULO4, ULO5, Project (applied)
Unit Outline: Session 4 2026, QUT Online, Online
| Unit code: | IFQ658 |
|---|---|
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Equivalent: | IFN658 OR IFN507 or IFQ507 |
| Assumed Knowledge: | IFQ583 or equivalent |
Overview
Networking allows us to connect all sorts of devices and gain access to a wide range of applications and services. However, our heavy reliance on networking technology means the security of our networks is critical for both enterprise and individuals to avoid disruption to services that are essential for day-to-day activities in a connected world.
This unit introduces the core concepts of computer networks and the Internet, in particular layered network architecture and models, hardware and software, TCP/IP protocol stack, addressing and routing, wireless networks, network security, and network services and applications. It teaches you how modern computer networks and the Internet work, how they are structured, and how they operate.
Additionally, we will explore the challenges associated with securing a network. We will consider attack scenarios along with security controls for addressing network security vulnerabilities.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:
- Describe the major principles, and the security requirements of computer networks.
- Analyse networks using network analysis, and testing tools and methodologies.
- Apply problem solving skills to identify appropriate network security controls to address identified security risks in practical network scenarios.
- Communicate professionally about networks and security requirements, risks, designs, controls, systems, tools and vulnerabilities in written form.
- Collaborate with others in a team environment to write a report addressing an aspect of network security.
Content
You will investigate the following topics:
- network fundamentals including architecture, addressing, routing, and protocols,
- network analysis tools and techniques,
- security goals in networked systems,
- security challenges for common network types,
- securing network protocols at various layers,
- network security controls
Learning Approaches
This unit is designed for asynchronous online study, with activities including numerous short videos, podcasts and exercises carefully chosen to reinforce key skills and concepts. Throughout the unit you will have the opportunity to participate in online discussions with peers and teaching staff.
You are responsible for your academic progression through this unit. Unit staff will provide a learning environment designed to maximise your learning experience. To realise your full potential, it is strongly recommended that you complete all of the onliine learning activities offered in this unit.
The online modules include theoretical content and practical activities. Theory on various topics in networkiing and cyber security will be presented, and examples showing how this theory can be applied will also be given. Practical materials and activities provide an interactive and participatory forum where you can use your emerging knowledge and skills in problem-based scenarios. Questions related to the presented material will be provided; your answers to these questions will direct your focus and aid your preparation for unit assessment items.
Feedback on Learning and Assessment
You will have a range of opportunities to receive feedback on your learning and progress in this unit. This includes:
- formative in-class individual and whole-of-class feedback provided by unit staff during practical classes
- responses to questions posed through the unit communication channel from your peers and teaching staff
- feedback given on your assessment items via the rubric and written feedback, individually and during scheduled review sessions
- have a private consultation with teaching staff at a mutually convenient time.
Assessment
Overview
This unit requires you to complete two assessment tasks to demonstrate that you have meet the learning outcomes of the unit: an assignment project and a final examination. The final exam is an individual assessment, while the assignment project is a group work. For the group assignment project, although you may discuss the project topics with the members of other groups, the work you submit must be the effort from your own group. It is your responsibility to ensure that your work is completed in a timely manner.
Unit Grading Scheme
7- point scale
Assessment Tasks
Assessment: Project (applied)
A project to design and assess network services by using computer networking technologies and tools.
The ethical and responsible use of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tools is authorised in this assessment. See the relevant assessment details in Canvas for specific guidelines.
This assignment is an assessment for the purpose of an extension.
Assessment: Final Examination
Written examination consisting of a set of true/false questions, multiple choice questions, multiple answer questions, fill-in-the-blank questions, and/or short answer questions. It will cover all theories and practicals learned in this unit.
The use of GenAI is prohibited during this examination.
Academic Integrity
Academic integrity is a commitment to undertaking academic work and assessment in a manner that is ethical, fair, honest, respectful and accountable.
The Academic Integrity Policy sets out the range of conduct that can be a failure to maintain the standards of academic integrity. This includes, cheating in exams, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion and contract cheating. It also includes providing fraudulent or altered documentation in support of an academic concession application, for example an assignment extension or a deferred exam.
You are encouraged to make use of QUT’s learning support services, resources and tools to assure the academic integrity of your assessment. This includes the use of text matching software that may be available to assist with self-assessing your academic integrity as part of the assessment submission process.
Breaching QUT’s Academic Integrity Policy or engaging in conduct that may defeat or compromise the purpose of assessment can lead to a finding of student misconduct (Code of Conduct – Student) and result in the imposition of penalties under the Management of Student Misconduct Policy, ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.
Resources
There is no required textbook for this unit, but a reference book is suggested. All learning materials will be provided via the Canvas site. This unit utilises a range of different software, which is available in computer laboratories or is freely available.
Resource Materials
Reference book(s)
Jill West (2024), CompTia Network+ Guide to Networks, 10th Edition, Cengage Learning.
Risk Assessment Statement
There are no extraordinary risks associated with the classroom/ lecture activities in this unit.
Course Learning Outcomes
This unit is designed to support your development of the following course/study area learning outcomes.IQ20 Master of Information Technology
- Demonstrate advanced specialist IT knowledge in at least one information technology discipline
Relates to: ULO1, ULO3, Project (applied), Final Examination - Critically analyse complex IT problems and opportunities and use creativity and problem-solving skills to generate innovative and novel solutions that are convincingly justified.
Relates to: ULO2, ULO3, Project (applied), Final Examination - Integrate advanced, industry-best practice, IT methods, tools and techniques to develop and implement complex IT systems, processes and/or software.
Relates to: ULO2, ULO3, Project (applied), Final Examination - Employ leadership and initiative in both self-directed and collaborative contexts to create value for others
Relates to: ULO5, Project (applied) - Communicate effectively in IT professional and scholarly contexts to specialist and non-specialist audiences using written, visual and oral formats.
Relates to: ULO4, ULO5, Project (applied)