Course

Scripting for CyberSecurity

Faculty
Commerce & Business Administration
Department
Computing Studies & Information Systems
Course code
CSIS 3560
Credits
3.00
Semester length
15 Weeks
Max class size
35
Method(s) of instruction
Lecture
Seminar
Course designation
None
Industry designation
None
Typically offered
To be determined

Overview

Course description
This course will provide students with a comprehensive introduction to scripting and automation within the context of information security including systems administration, text processing, alerting and more. This is a lab-based course consisting of three modules. First students receive an introduction to the Linux operating system, including bash shell scripting, text processing and basic *nix commands in a command-line environment. The second part covers Windows operating system topics focusing on PowerShell, automation for various infrastructure and operational tasks, data analysis, and using internal windows system components such as WMI and WinRM to analyze system state information. PowerShell will also be used to cover some of the topics mentioned above. The third part of the course will focus on tools for individual use and customization requirements in addition to automation using Python. This course will equip students with a practical hands-on knowledge, literacy, tools and languages to help them succeed in the CyberSecurity Program.
Course content
  1. Flow control
  2. Handling User Input/Output
  3. Strings and Regular Expressions
  4. Functions
  5. Lists/Tuples/Arrays/Collections
  6. File Input/Output
  7. Error handling and debugging approaches
  8. Batch processes, tasks, and reports for cyber security practices
  9. Scripts in Bash, Python and PowerShell
  10. Systems Administration automation in Linux and Windows
  11. Screen/web scraping and other custom reconnaissance methods
  12. Log file Analysis and Automation
  13. Command line integration and extension of tools in cybersecurity
Learning activities

The methods of instruction for this course will include lectures, seminars, demonstrations, and hands-on assignments/projects.

Means of assessment

Assessment will be in accordance with the Douglas College Evaluation Policy.

Assignments/Labs

10% - 20%

Midterm exam(s)*

30% - 40%

Final Exam*

30% - 40%

Research Project 

0% - 10% 

Total 

100% 

* Practical hands-on computer exam

In order to pass the course, students must, in addition to receiving an overall course grade of 50%, also achieve a grade of at least 50% on the combined weighted examination components (including quizzes, tests, exams).

Students may conduct research as part of their coursework in this class. Instructors for the course are responsible for ensuring that student research projects comply with College policies on ethical conduct for research involving humans, which can require obtaining Informed Consent from participants and getting the approval of the Douglas College Research Ethics Board prior to conducting the research.

Learning outcomes

At the end of this course, the successful student will be able to:

  1. Apply basic knowledge of the Linux operating system command-line utilities with bash scripting for text processing to retrieve, process and automate.
  2. Apply scripting languages in Windows and Linux to common security tasks.
  3. Apply scripting knowledge to solve problems of automation and integration within the context of systems administration and cybersecurity.
  4. Implement systems automation using Bash, PowerShell and Python.
  5. Apply security best practices and auditing for script coding and implementation.
  6. Explain, analyze and implement log file analysis.
  7. Implement various scripts to call external services such as WinRM, ssh, and web services.
  8. Automate screen scraping for Web Applications.
  9. Analyze, develop and implement third party modules in PowerShell and Python for information security related software.
Textbook materials

Course Materials to be provided by the instructor and/or approved textbooks from the department

Requisites

Prerequisites

Min grade C in CSIS 2260 and CSIS 2270
Note: CSIS 1175 recommended

Corequisites

 

Equivalencies

No equivalent courses.

Course Guidelines

Course Guidelines for previous years are viewable by selecting the version desired. If you took this course and do not see a listing for the starting semester / year of the course, consider the previous version as the applicable version.

(Current)

Course Transfers

These are for current course guidelines only. For a full list of archived courses please see https://www.bctransferguide.ca

Institution Transfer details for CSIS 3560
Alexander College (ALEX) ALEX CPSC 2XX (3)
Athabasca University (AU) AU COMP 2XX (3)
Coast Mountain College (CMTN) No credit
College of New Caledonia (CNC) CNC CSC 2XX (3)
College of the Rockies (COTR) COTR COMP 2XX (3)
Columbia College (COLU) COLU CSCI 2nd (3)
Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU) No credit
LaSalle College Vancouver (LCV) LCV VGP 3XX (3)
Northern Lights College (NLC) NLC ITEC 2XX (3)
Okanagan College (OC) OC COSC 232 (3)
Simon Fraser University (SFU) SFU CMPT 3XX (3)
Thompson Rivers University (TRU) TRU COMP 3XXX (3)
University Canada West (UCW) UCW CPSC 3XX (3)
University of Northern BC (UNBC) UNBC CPSC 345 (3)
University of the Fraser Valley (UFV) UFV CIS 2XX (3)

Course Offerings

Winter 2025

CRN Days Instructor Status
Maximum seats
35
Currently enrolled
33
Remaining seats:
2
On waitlist
0
Building
New Westminster - North Bldg.
Room
N6109
Times:
Start Time
8:30
-
End Time
11:20
Section notes

CSIS 3560 001 - Restricted to students in the following programs: Computing Studies and Information Systems Diploma, PBD Computer & Info Systems (Data Analytics, Emerging Technology, and Cybersecurity), and PDD Information & Communication Technology. If you have any questions, please contact Ivan Wong at wongi5@douglascollege.ca

CRN Days Instructor Status
Maximum seats
35
Currently enrolled
18
Remaining seats:
17
On waitlist
0
Building
New Westminster - North Bldg.
Room
N6107
Times:
Start Time
8:30
-
End Time
11:20
Section notes

CSIS 3560 002 - Restricted to students in the following programs: Computing Studies and Information Systems Diploma, PBD Computer & Info Systems (Data Analytics, Emerging Technology, and Cybersecurity), and PDD Information & Communication Technology. If you have any questions, please contact Ivan Wong at wongi5@douglascollege.ca