Information Security Design and Development
This course will introduce you to information security design principles and teach you about their impact on secure systems.
- DurationApprox 10 weeks
5 hrs per week
Understand the importance of developing secure systems
Information security is an essential concern for any modern business - cyber attacks can pose a major threat to systems, reputation, and revenue. This course will equip you with the knowledge and tools you need to evaluate systems for their security and check that analysis against appropriate security profiles.
Over the five courses in this ExpertTrack, you will have the chance to familiarise yourself with the security controls used to prevent, detect, and recover from security violations at different stages of the system’s life cycle. You’ll understand how these controls are implemented, and learn how to apply formal analysis techniques to check if systems meet the necessary security standards.
Contextualise cyber security in the software development life cycle
In the first course, you will discover the importance of secure system design and how a security-first mindset can improve the software development process. You’ll learn how to examine security in the software development life cycle and discuss the legal and ethical aspects of secure systems.
Apply robust techniques for system analysis and design
In the second course, you’ll become well acquainted with system analysis and secure design techniques. You’ll be focusing on design principles that will improve a system’s security and learn to apply secure design principles to mitigate potential security threats and vulnerabilities.
Enhance and audit information system security
The latter half of this ExpertTrack offers you the opportunity to learn core security practices and techniques that are used in secure design. You’ll become familiar with a range of techniques and methods to ensure the implementation of secure systems.
Once you’ve understood those mechanics, you’ll discover a range of testing and verification techniques used to evaluate system security and function.
Upon completion of this ExpertTrack, you’ll have the skills and confidence to analyse, test, and design security requirements to fit a variety of profiles. You’ll also understand the current issues facing secure development and how to mitigate against them.
Industry statistics
- UK job openings/month3,000
- Job satisfaction4.0/5
Key skills you will learn
- Software analysis
- Software testing
- Implementing secure systems
- Secure system development
- Secure design principles
- Detecting system threats
- Preventing system threats
- Software development
Learning outcomes
By the end of the ExpertTrack, you’ll be able to...
- Evaluate a range of platforms for systems and applications, against standards and methodologies for secure development, incorporating issues raised by the legal and ethical context of the development, such as IP law, privacy and data-protection
- Identify different secure development methodologies
- Identify how to implement secure principles and test against software security and quality guidelines
- Investigate existing software, using methods such as code review, static and dynamic analyses
- Apply formal methods to different stages of the system development life-cycle such as system specification, design, development and testing
Experience required
This course has been created for learners with a strong understanding of cyber security, software development, or CS - professional experience may be useful in understanding the underlying concepts, and a relevant degree is recommended to ensure that you benefit from this ExpertTrack.
Getting started
This ExpertTrack is suited to people looking to increase their understanding of software development lifecycle and security considerations. It has been designed for security analysts, security architects, software developers, and aspiring security specialists.
ExpertTrack course overview
Course 1
How Cyber Security Affects the Software Development Life Cycle
Examine security in the software development life cycle and discuss the legal and ethical aspects of secure systems.
1 test
1 peer-graded assignment
2 weeks
5 hours per week
Week 1
System Development Life Cycle
- Welcome to Short Course 1
- History of system development and security
- Basic security primitives and methods
- Summary
Week 2
Legal and Ethical Considerations
- Welcome to Week 2
- Security standards in system development
- Legal and ethical considerations
- Summary
Course 2
Secure System Analysis and Design
Learn the fundamental methods and techniques of system analysis and secure design.
1 test
2 weeks
5 hours per week
Week 1
Applying Secure Design Principles
- Welcome to Short Course 2
- Identifying system threats, vulnerabilities and risks
- Core secure design principles
- Summary
Week 2
Applying Formal Methods
- Welcome to Week 2
- Introduction to formal specification
- Introduction to formal modelling
- Summary
Course 3
Security System and Application Development
Acquire core security practices and techniques applied to the secure development of systems.
1 peer-graded assignment
2 weeks
5 hours per week
Week 1
Implementing Secure Systems
- Welcome to Short Course 3
- Principles of secure programming
- Considering layers of security and operational practices
- Robust operation practices
- Summary
Week 2
Managing Secure System Development
- Welcome to Week 2
- Hazard analysis in system development
- Managing the development of secure systems
- Summary
Course 4
System Security Testing and Maintenance
Familiarise yourself with various testing and verification techniques used to test system security and function.
1 peer-graded assignment
2 weeks
5 hours per week
Week 1
Testing Practices for Secure Systems
- Welcome to Short Course 4
- System and software testing
- Summary
Week 2
Formal Verification
- Welcome to Week 2
- Formal verification
- State space analysis
- Summary
Course 5
Current Issues in Secure Development
Discuss and examine current limitations of secure design and development.
1 peer-graded assignment
2 weeks
5 hours per week
Week 1
Revision Part 1
- Welcome to Short Course 5
- Legislation revision
- Security standards revision
- System Development Lifecycle revision
- Secure design principles revision
- Formal modelling revision
- Summary
Week 2
Revision Part 2
- Welcome to Week 2
- Secure programming principles revision
- Hazard analysis revision
- Formal verification techniques revision
- Model checking and Computation Tree Logic revision
- Summary
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.
Download a PDF
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How ExpertTracks work
Join an ExpertTrack to master new skills in your chosen specialist area. Work through a series of topic-focused courses at your own pace, and pass the final assessment to earn a digital certificate award which proves your expertise.
Decide if the ExpertTrack is right for you with free access to the full suite of courses and assessments for a week.
Pay a monthly subscription fee of $39 for as long as it takes you to complete the ExpertTrack. You can learn at your own pace and cancel at any time.
Receive a certificate for every completed course and pass the final assessment to earn a digital certificate that you can share with your professional network.
Use your specialist training to progress further in your career or build expertise in areas you’re passionate about.
World-class learning with Coventry University
Coventry secured gold in the UK Government’s 2017 Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) and is University of the Year for Student Experience in The Times & The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2019.
- Established1992
- LocationCoventry
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ExpertTracks are a series of online courses designed to help you master new skills in specialist areas. You pay a monthly subscription fee which includes access to all courses within the ExpertTrack, as well as assessments and the final digital certificate.
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