This course is part of the Network Defence Management ExpertTrack
Network Defence Management: A History of IT
Learn about the history of cyber security, information technology (IT) and information systems (IS).

- Duration2 weeks
- Weekly study5 hours
- 100% onlineTry this course for free
- Included in an ExpertTrackCourse 2 of 5
- Get full ExpertTrack access$39/month
Network Defence Management: A History of IT
Develop your understanding of network management and cyber threats
This course delves into five generations of IT and IS to give you a historical perspective on the development of technologies and better understand the emerging digital opportunities for organisations today.
Discover the emergence of the IT industry
Stepping back 80 years to vacuum tubes in the first generation of computers, this course will walk you through five generations of innovation. You’ll discover the invention of transistors, integrated circuits, microprocessors, and artificial intelligence. You’ll have the opportunity to see where we came from, and just how far the industry has come.
Apply history to modern cyber security
Through a historical lens, you’ll have a chance to explore IT infrastructure, web servers, intranet, extranet, URLs, domain names, web systems, languages, application infrastructure and media standards. Understanding the history means you can better assess the vulnerabilities, historically and today.
Explore real-world cyber threats
In the second week of this course, you’ll look at common types of cyber threats, where they come from and how they’ve evolved, as well as non-web-based attacks.
By the end of the course, you should have a clearer understanding of network management and how it relates to cyber threats.
Syllabus
Week 1
Historical Context
Welcome to Network Defence Management: A History of IT
Welcome to a new week of Network Defence Management.
A history of Information Technology (IT) and Information Systems (IS)
In this activity, we guide you through the five generations of computers and networks.
Computer networks
In this activity, we introduce you to the technical aspects of a computer network and ask you to consider the implications of legacy technology.
Summary
Reflect on the activities that you have done this week and find out what is coming up next week.
Week 2
Technology Changes and Cyber Threats
Welcome to Week 2
Introduction to Week 2.
Cloud technology
In this activity, we introduce you to cloud technology and consider some of the security risks.
Cyber threats
In this activity, we examine the range of cyber attacks, where they originate from and how they have evolved over recent years.
A summary of the course
Review what you have learned during this short course and look at what's coming up next.
Prove you're job ready
Highlight the new, job-relevant skills you’ve gained and supplement existing qualifications with a hard-earned, industry-specific digital certificate – plus one for every course within your ExpertTrack.
- Learn the latest in your chosen industry or subject.
- Complete each course and pass assessments.
- Receive certificates validated by the educating organisation.
- Create a shareable certificate link for your CV and LinkedIn.
- Impress employers with learning outcomes you can add to your CV.
- Make your career dreams a reality.
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What will you achieve?
By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...
- Explore the history of IT
- Explore IT infrastructure
- Explore network management and cyber threats
Who is the course for?
This course is for anyone looking to build their understanding of cyber security and network defence management.
Please note that the individuals detailed in the ‘Who will you learn with?’ section below, are current staff members and may be subject to change.
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