CS106 Introduction to Cybersecurity
CS106 Introduction to Cybersecurity
Syllabus | International University of Sarajevo - Last Update on Sep 09, 2026
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Computer Sciences and Engineering
Amal Mersni
Course Lecturer
Course Objectives
This course introduces cybersecurity concepts, threats, and protection practices to students from any academic discipline. It is intended for students across the social sciences and humanities (SSH) and STEM who have little or no prior background in IT, computer science, or cybersecurity. The course adopts an EU perspective through ENISA resources, EU cybersecurity frameworks and standards, data protection principles, digital identity, and cyber hygiene. Students identify common threats, actors, and vulnerabilities in the European context, analyze simple risk scenarios, and apply practical safeguards for personal, academic, and organizational use of digital technologies.
Learning Outcomes
After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:
Course Materials
Required Textbook
Recommended textbook: Sharp, R. (2023). Introduction to cybersecurity: A multidisciplinary challenge. Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-41463-3
Additional Literature
European Union Agency for Cybersecurity. (2025). ENISA threat landscape 2025. https://doi.org/10.2824/1946374 European Union Agency for Cybersecurity. (n.d.). Cyber hygiene. https://www.enisa.europa.eu/topics/cyber-hygiene Directive (EU) 2022/2555 (NIS 2 Directive). http://data.europa.eu/eli/dir/2022/2555/oj Regulation (EU) 2016/679 (General Data Protection Regulation). http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2016/679/oj Regulation (EU) 2019/881 (Cybersecurity Act). http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2019/881/oj Regulation (EU) 2024/1183 (European Digital Identity Framework). http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/1183/oj Regulation (EU) 2024/2847 (Cyber Resilience Act). http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/2847/ojTeaching Methods
Lectures; guided discussions; EU document analysis; short practical activities; case-based learning; practical assignments; course project and presentation.
Weekly Topics
| Week | Topic | Readings / References |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cybersecurity, Risk, and Digital Resilience | Sharp (2023); ENISA Cyber Hygiene |
| 2 | Security Principles: Assets, Threats, and Controls | Sharp (2023) |
| 3 | EU Cybersecurity Frameworks and Standards | NIS2; Cybersecurity Act; Cyber Resilience Act |
| 4 | ENISA Threat Landscape: State of EU Cybersecurity | ENISA Threat Landscape 2025 |
| 5 📍 | Threat Actors and Prime Cyber Threats in Europe | ENISA Threat Landscape 2025 |
| 6 | European Vulnerability Landscape and Secure Configuration | ENISA Threat Landscape 2025; ENISA Cyber Hygiene |
| 7 | Malware, Ransomware, and Recovery | ENISA Threat Landscape 2025; ENISA Cyber Hygiene |
| 8 | Midterm Examination | Course materials |
| 9 | Social Engineering, Phishing, and Online Fraud | ENISA Cyber Hygiene; Sharp (2023) |
| 10 | Threats Against Data: Breaches, Leaks, and Data Protection (GDPR) | GDPR; Sharp (2023) |
| 11 | Digital Identity and Authentication | European Digital Identity Framework; ENISA Cyber Hygiene |
| 12 | Availability, Denial-of-Service, and Continuity | ENISA Threat Landscape 2025 |
| 13 | Information Manipulation, Interference, and Digital Trust | ENISA Threat Landscape 2025 |
| 14 | EU Cyber Hygiene Best Practices for Users and Organizations | ENISA Cyber Hygiene |
| 15 | Project Presentations and Final Review | Course materials |
Course Schedule (All Sections)
| Section | Type | Day 1 | Venue 1 | Day 2 | Venue 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CS106.1 | Course | Thursday 10:00 - 11:50 | A F1.10 | - | - |
Office Hours & Room
Assessment Methods and Criteria
Assessment Components
Final Exam
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3
Midterm Exam
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2
Practical Assignments
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 2 3 4
Course Project and Presentation
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 3 4 5
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 3 ECTS credit course corresponds to 75 hours of total student workload, distributed as follows:
Lectures
30 hours ⏳ (15 week × 2 h)
Course project and presentation
9 hours ⏳ (3 week × 3 h)
Reading and EU resource review
14 hours ⏳ (14 week × 1 h)
Midterm preparation and examination
5 hours ⏳ (1 week × 5 h)
Practical assignments
10 hours ⏳ (5 week × 2 h)
Final preparation and examination
7 hours ⏳ (1 week × 7 h)
75 Total Workload Hours
3 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 [CS106] 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 Sep 09, 2026 | International University of Sarajevo
Print Syllabus
Referencing Curricula Print this page
| Course Code | Course Title | Weekly Hours* | ECTS | Weekly Class Schedule | ||||||
| T | P | |||||||||
| CS106 | Introduction to Cybersecurity | 2 | 0 | 3 | ||||||
| Prerequisite | None | It is a prerequisite to | - | |||||||
| Lecturer | Amal Mersni | Office Hours / Room / Phone |
A F1.6
|
|||||||
| amersni@ius.edu.ba | ||||||||||
| Assistant | Assistant E-mail | |||||||||
| Course Objectives | This course introduces cybersecurity concepts, threats, and protection practices to students from any academic discipline. It is intended for students across the social sciences and humanities (SSH) and STEM who have little or no prior background in IT, computer science, or cybersecurity. The course adopts an EU perspective through ENISA resources, EU cybersecurity frameworks and standards, data protection principles, digital identity, and cyber hygiene. Students identify common threats, actors, and vulnerabilities in the European context, analyze simple risk scenarios, and apply practical safeguards for personal, academic, and organizational use of digital technologies. |
|||||||||
| Textbook | Recommended textbook: Sharp, R. (2023). Introduction to cybersecurity: A multidisciplinary challenge. Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-41463-3 | |||||||||
| Additional Literature |
|
|||||||||
| Learning Outcomes | After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to: | |||||||||
|
||||||||||
| Teaching Methods | Lectures; guided discussions; EU document analysis; short practical activities; case-based learning; practical assignments; course project and presentation. | |||||||||
| Teaching Method Delivery | Face-to-face | Teaching Method Delivery Notes | ||||||||
| WEEK | TOPIC | REFERENCE | ||||||||
| Week 1 | Cybersecurity, Risk, and Digital Resilience | Sharp (2023); ENISA Cyber Hygiene | ||||||||
| Week 2 | Security Principles: Assets, Threats, and Controls | Sharp (2023) | ||||||||
| Week 3 | EU Cybersecurity Frameworks and Standards | NIS2; Cybersecurity Act; Cyber Resilience Act | ||||||||
| Week 4 | ENISA Threat Landscape: State of EU Cybersecurity | ENISA Threat Landscape 2025 | ||||||||
| Week 5 | Threat Actors and Prime Cyber Threats in Europe | ENISA Threat Landscape 2025 | ||||||||
| Week 6 | European Vulnerability Landscape and Secure Configuration | ENISA Threat Landscape 2025; ENISA Cyber Hygiene | ||||||||
| Week 7 | Malware, Ransomware, and Recovery | ENISA Threat Landscape 2025; ENISA Cyber Hygiene | ||||||||
| Week 8 | Midterm Examination | Course materials | ||||||||
| Week 9 | Social Engineering, Phishing, and Online Fraud | ENISA Cyber Hygiene; Sharp (2023) | ||||||||
| Week 10 | Threats Against Data: Breaches, Leaks, and Data Protection (GDPR) | GDPR; Sharp (2023) | ||||||||
| Week 11 | Digital Identity and Authentication | European Digital Identity Framework; ENISA Cyber Hygiene | ||||||||
| Week 12 | Availability, Denial-of-Service, and Continuity | ENISA Threat Landscape 2025 | ||||||||
| Week 13 | Information Manipulation, Interference, and Digital Trust | ENISA Threat Landscape 2025 | ||||||||
| Week 14 | EU Cyber Hygiene Best Practices for Users and Organizations | ENISA Cyber Hygiene | ||||||||
| Week 15 | Project Presentations and Final Review | Course materials | ||||||||
| Assessment Methods and Criteria | Evaluation Tool | Quantity | Weight | Alignment with LOs | AI Usage |
| Final Exam | 1 | 40 | 1,2,3 | Not Allowed | |
| Semester Evaluation Components | |||||
| Midterm Exam | 1 | 20 | 1,2 | Not Allowed | |
| Practical Assignments | 5 | 20 | 2,3,4 | Not Allowed | |
| Course Project and Presentation | 1 | 20 | 3,4,5 | Not Allowed | |
| *** ECTS Credit Calculation *** | |||||
| Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | |||
| Lectures | 2 | 15 | 30 | Course project and presentation | 3 | 3 | 9 | |||
| Reading and EU resource review | 1 | 14 | 14 | Midterm preparation and examination | 5 | 1 | 5 | |||
| Practical assignments | 2 | 5 | 10 | Final preparation and examination | 7 | 1 | 7 | |||
| 0 | ||||||||||
| Total Workload Hours = | 75 | |||||||||
| *T= Teaching, P= Practice | ECTS Credit = | 3 | ||||||||
| Course Academic Quality Assurance: Semester Student Survey | Last Update Date: 28/09/2026 | |||||||||