Scripting for CyberSecurity

Curriculum guideline

Effective Date:
Return to Course
Print Guideline
Course
CSIS 3560
Discontinued
No
Course code
CSIS 3560
Descriptive
Scripting for CyberSecurity
Department
Computing Studies & Information Systems
Faculty
Commerce & Business Administration
Credits
3.00
Start date
End term
Not Specified
PLAR
No
Semester length
15 Weeks
Max class size
35
Course designation
None
Industry designation
None
Contact hours

Lecture: 2 hours/week
Seminar: 2 hours/week

Method(s) of instruction
Lecture
Seminar
Learning activities

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

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 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.
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.

Textbook materials

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

Prerequisites

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

Corequisites