CS427 Computer and Network Security
Syllabus | International University of Sarajevo - Last Update on Feb 02, 2026
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Computer Sciences and Engineering
Amal Mersni
Course Lecturer
Course Objectives
The rate of change and evolution of modern technologies is astronomical. Computer networks are not, however, an exception. A decade ago, we viewed network security differently than we do today due to new protocols, technologies, hardware advancements, and the current threat landscape. As a result, we are observing a shift from segmentation to micro-segmentation, from trusted perimeters to zero-trust, from threat prevention to response automation, and from protecting networks to protecting assets, data, and digital identities. The Computer and Network Security course's objectives include the following: • To provide an in-depth understanding of how to protect modern networks from threats. • To gain theoretical and practical skills to build a comprehensive network security architecture to protect modern networks from emerging threats. • To acquire critical thinking and problem-solving abilities via hands-on experience using network simulators/ real equipment. • To provide an experience-based course that employs industry-appropriate instructional strategies to prepare students for entry-level positions in the industry.
Learning Outcomes
After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:
Course Materials
Required Textbook
- McNab C. Network security assessment: know your network. – "O'Reilly Media, Inc.", 2017.
- Cisco Academy Networking Program: Access Course Resource Pages through NetAcad.com https://www.netacad.com/portal/resources/course resources/network security.
Additional Literature
CCNA Security 210-260 Official Cert Guide. By Omar Santos. Published September 11, 2015, by CISCO Press CCNA 200-301 Official Cert Guide Library. By Wendell Odom. Published Dec 27th, 2019 by CISCO Press. Cisco Academy Networking Program: Introduction to Cisco Packet tracer. URL:https://www.netacad.com/courses/packet-tracer/introduction-packet-tracer.Teaching Methods
This course employs various teaching and learning methods such as Lectures with presentations and notes
In-class examples and discussions
Interactive activities
And video demonstration: practical skills and hands-on experience tasks for engaged learning and continuous feedback on progress.
Weekly Topics
| Week | Topic | Readings / References |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Course Introduction | |
| 2 | Remembering the networking basics | digital materials |
| 3 | LAB - Implementing and Investigation of LAN Switching and Routing Technologies | hands-on |
| 4 | Remembering the information security basics | digital materials |
| 5 | Physical network security | digital materials |
| 6 | Switching security | digital materials |
| 7 | Routing security | digital materials |
| 8 | Mid-term Exam Week | no mid-term exam |
| 9 | Transport layer security | digital materials |
| 10 | Firewall, IDPS, Network Monitoring | digital materials |
| 11 | Application layer security | digital materials |
| 12 | Host security | digital materials |
| 13 | Digital identity protection | digital materials |
| 14 | BCP & DRP | digital materials |
| 15 | Course project presentations |
Course Schedule (All Sections)
| Section | Type | Day 1 | Venue 1 | Day 2 | Venue 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CS427.1 | Course | Wednesday 09:00 - 11:50 | B F1.17 | - | - |
| CS427.1 | Tutorial | Thursday 12:00 - 13:50 | B F1.16 | - | - |
Office Hours & Room
| Day | Time | Office | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuesday | 14:00 - 16:00 | A F1.6 | |
| Thursday | 13:00 - 14:00 | A F1.6 | (Internship consultations , internship application forms) |
Assessment Methods and Criteria
Assessment Components
Final Exam
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3 4
Hands-on Labs
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3 4
Course Project
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3 4
Class participation
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3 4
IUS Grading System
| Grading Scale | IUS Grading System | IUS Coeff. | Letter (B&H) | Numerical (B&H) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 - 44 | F | 0 | F | 5 |
| 45 - 54 | E | 1 | ||
| 55 - 64 | C | 2 | E | 6 |
| 65 - 69 | C+ | 2.3 | D | 7 |
| 70 -74 | B- | 2.7 | ||
| 75 - 79 | B | 3 | C | 8 |
| 80 - 84 | B+ | 3.3 | ||
| 85 - 94 | A- | 3.7 | B | 9 |
| 95 - 100 | A | 4 | A | 10 |
Late Work Policy
Information about late submission policies will be shared during class and posted in this section. Please check back for official guidelines.
ECTS Credit Calculation
📚 Student Workload
This 6 ECTS credit course corresponds to 150 hours of total student workload, distributed as follows:
Lecture Hours
39 hours ⏳ (13 week × 3 h)
Hands-on Labs
12 hours ⏳ (6 week × 2 h)
Home Study
39 hours ⏳ (13 week × 3 h)
Course Project
48 hours ⏳ (6 week × 8 h)
Final exam Study
12 hours ⏳ (2 week × 6 h)
150 Total Workload Hours
6 ECTS Credits
Course Policies
Academic Integrity
All work submitted must be your own. Plagiarism, cheating, or any form of academic dishonesty will result in disciplinary action according to university policies. When in doubt about citation practices, consult the instructor.
Attendance Policy
Students are expected to adhere to the attendance requirements as outlined in the International University of Sarajevo Study Rules and Regulations. Excessive absences, whether excused or unexcused, may impact academic performance and eligibility for assessment. Mandatory sessions (e.g., labs, workshops) require attendance unless formally exempted. For detailed policies on absences, documentation, and penalties, please refer to the official university regulations.
Technology & AI Policy
Laptops/tablets may be used for note-taking only during lectures. Phones should be silenced and put away during all class sessions. Audio/video recording requires prior permission from the instructor.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) Usage: The use of AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Copilot, Gemini) varies by assessment component. Please refer to the AI usage indicator next to each assessment item in the Assessment Methods and Criteria section above. Submitting AI-generated content as your own work, where AI is not explicitly allowed, constitutes an academic integrity violation.
Communication Policy
All course-related communication should occur through official university channels (institutional email or SIS). Emails should include [CS427] in the subject line.
Academic Quality Assurance Policy
Course Academic Quality Assurance is achieved through Semester Student Survey. At the end of each academic year, the institution of higher education is obliged to evaluate work of the academic staff, or the success of realization of the curricula.
Learning Tips
Be prepared to contribute thoughtfully during class discussions, labs, or collaborative work. Active participation deepens understanding and encourages critical thinking.
Complete assigned readings or prep materials before class. Take notes, highlight key ideas, and jot down questions. Aim to grasp core concepts and their applications—not just facts.
Use course frameworks or methodologies to analyze problems, case studies, or projects. Begin early to allow time for reflection and refinement. Seek feedback to improve your work.
Don’t hesitate to reach out when something is unclear. Use office hours, discussion boards, or peer networks to clarify concepts and stay on track.
Syllabus Last Updated on Feb 02, 2026 | International University of Sarajevo
Print Syllabus
Referencing Curricula Print this page
| Course Code | Course Title | Weekly Hours* | ECTS | Weekly Class Schedule | ||||||
| T | P | |||||||||
| CS427 | Computer and Network Security | 3 | 2 | 6 | ||||||
| Prerequisite | SE308 | It is a prerequisite to | - | |||||||
| Lecturer | Amal Mersni | Office Hours / Room / Phone | Tuesday: 14:00-16:00 Thursday: 9:00-11:00 , 13:00-14:00 (Internship consultations , internship application forms) |
|||||||
| amersni@ius.edu.ba | ||||||||||
| Assistant | Assistant E-mail | |||||||||
| Course Objectives | The rate of change and evolution of modern technologies is astronomical. Computer networks are not, however, an exception. A decade ago, we viewed network security differently than we do today due to new protocols, technologies, hardware advancements, and the current threat landscape. As a result, we are observing a shift from segmentation to micro-segmentation, from trusted perimeters to zero-trust, from threat prevention to response automation, and from protecting networks to protecting assets, data, and digital identities. The Computer and Network Security course's objectives include the following: • To provide an in-depth understanding of how to protect modern networks from threats. • To gain theoretical and practical skills to build a comprehensive network security architecture to protect modern networks from emerging threats. • To acquire critical thinking and problem-solving abilities via hands-on experience using network simulators/ real equipment. • To provide an experience-based course that employs industry-appropriate instructional strategies to prepare students for entry-level positions in the industry. |
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| Textbook | McNab C. Network security assessment: know your network. – "O'Reilly Media, Inc.", 2017. Cisco Academy Networking Program: Access Course Resource Pages through NetAcad.com https://www.netacad.com/portal/resources/course resources/network security. | |||||||||
| Additional Literature |
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| Learning Outcomes | After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to: | |||||||||
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| Teaching Methods | This course employs various teaching and learning methods such as Lectures with presentations and notes, in-class examples and discussions, interactive activities, and video demonstration: practical skills and hands-on experience tasks for engaged learning and continuous feedback on progress. | |||||||||
| Teaching Method Delivery | Face-to-face | Teaching Method Delivery Notes | ||||||||
| WEEK | TOPIC | REFERENCE | ||||||||
| Week 1 | Course Introduction | |||||||||
| Week 2 | Remembering the networking basics | digital materials | ||||||||
| Week 3 | LAB - Implementing and Investigation of LAN Switching and Routing Technologies | hands-on | ||||||||
| Week 4 | Remembering the information security basics | digital materials | ||||||||
| Week 5 | Physical network security | digital materials | ||||||||
| Week 6 | Switching security | digital materials | ||||||||
| Week 7 | Routing security | digital materials | ||||||||
| Week 8 | Mid-term Exam Week | no mid-term exam | ||||||||
| Week 9 | Transport layer security | digital materials | ||||||||
| Week 10 | Firewall, IDPS, Network Monitoring | digital materials | ||||||||
| Week 11 | Application layer security | digital materials | ||||||||
| Week 12 | Host security | digital materials | ||||||||
| Week 13 | Digital identity protection | digital materials | ||||||||
| Week 14 | BCP & DRP | digital materials | ||||||||
| Week 15 | Course project presentations | |||||||||
| Assessment Methods and Criteria | Evaluation Tool | Quantity | Weight | Alignment with LOs | AI Usage |
| Final Exam | 1 | 40 | 1,2,3,4 | Not Allowed | |
| Semester Evaluation Components | |||||
| Hands-on Labs | 5 | 20 | 1,2,3,4 | Not Allowed | |
| Course Project | 1 | 30 | 1,2,3,4 | Not Allowed | |
| Class participation | 1 | 10 | 1,2,3,4 | Not Allowed | |
| *** ECTS Credit Calculation *** | |||||
| Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | |||
| Lecture Hours | 3 | 13 | 39 | Hands-on Labs | 2 | 6 | 12 | |||
| Home Study | 3 | 13 | 39 | Course Project | 8 | 6 | 48 | |||
| Final exam Study | 6 | 2 | 12 | |||||||
| Total Workload Hours = | 150 | |||||||||
| *T= Teaching, P= Practice | ECTS Credit = | 6 | ||||||||
| Course Academic Quality Assurance: Semester Student Survey | Last Update Date: 17/02/2026 | |||||||||