Course Details for A.Y. 2017/2018

Course Objectives

It has become nearly impossible to live in today's society and to be not dependent on information systems of one type or another. This course provides an introduction to Information Systems and Network Security. The main objective is to provide students with an overall understanding of the main concepts of information systems and network security, to highlight their increasing importance in modern organizations and societies and to emphasize the ethical, social and security implications.

Course Content

• Basics of Cryptology.
• Information Systems Security: - Information Technology Security, Crime, Compliance, Continuity. - Threats, Vulnerabilities, and Risk Exposure. - Defense: Information Technology Defense.
• Game Theory for Network Security.
• Introduction to Information Systems.
• Algorithmic Issues arising in Information Systems: Revenue Maximization Envy-Free Pricing Problems.
• Introduction to Cloud Computing.
• Algorithmic Issues arising in Information Systems: Scheduling Algorithms; Envy-Free Scheduling.

Learning Outcomes (Dublin Descriptors)

On successful completion of this course, the student should

Prerequisites and Learning Activities

Foundamentals of algorithms and discrete mathematics. General knowledge of Computer Networks.

Assessment Methods and Criteria

Pre-Assessment: Course pre-requisites are clearly stated on the Module website. Formative Assessment: The formative assessment is performed via interaction between teacher and students during lectures. Students are involved in questioning and discussion, by means of open oral questions to the entire class. Summative Assessment: Written test followed by an optional oral exam. The oral exam can be required either by the student, to improve grades, or by the teacher, in presence of significant mistakes/misunderstandings in the written exam. An optional mid-term written test is also be provided, which is meant to cover the first part of the course, in order to help the students to split the workload. The written test is aimed at: (1) verification of theoretical competence, and in particular of knowledge and comprehension of Course contents (2) verification of skills in understanding and solving significant exercises, and in explaining the proposed solutions. This in order to verify the ability of application of techniques learnt during the Course, of analysis of problems and synthesis of suitable solutions, and of evaluation of alternative solutions. Criteria of evaluation will be: the level of knowledge and practical ability; the property of use of the technical/mathematical language; the clarity and completeness of explanations. The written test (about 2 hours) consists in: (i) Short essays and open questions to cover point (1), 30-50% of total marks; (ii) Exercises, to cover point (2), 50-70% of total marks. All parts can result in negative marks if the answer is omitted or seriously flawed. The oral exam (max 1 hour) will occur within the same exam session of the written test and will typically cover the areas of the written answers that need clarification plus, possibly, additional subjects proposed by the teacher.

Textbooks

• Lecture notes and extra didactic material provided by the lecturer., Lecture notes and extra didactic material provided by the lecturer. http://gianpieromonaco.com/ISNS2017.html   

Internet Resources

Course page updates

• A.Y. 2012/2013
• A.Y. 2013/2014
• A.Y. 2014/2015
• A.Y. 2015/2016
• A.Y. 2016/2017
• A.Y. 2017/2018
• A.Y. 2018/2019
• A.Y. 2019/2020