Overview
This unit will provide you with the foundation knowledge of computer and network infrastructure that underpins Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in modern organisations. You will study networking essentials including virtualisation, wireless networks, cloud computing, cyber security, and risk management. By the end of this unit, you will be able to build and manage basic computer networks. You will conduct hands-on practical activities with industrial-grade networking equipment and cyber security tools to enhance the security of built networks.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
Anti-requisite: If students have undertaken COIT11233 Information and Communication Technology Foundations, then this unit should not be taken.
Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).
Offerings For Term 1 - 2025
Attendance Requirements
All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes - in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).
Recommended Student Time Commitment
Each 6-credit Undergraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.
Class Timetable
Assessment Overview
Assessment Grading
This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of 'pass' in order to pass the unit. If any 'pass/fail' tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully ('pass' grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the 'assessment task' section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%). Consult the University's Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final grades.
All University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
You may wish to view these policies:
- Grades and Results Policy
- Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework)
- Review of Grade Procedure
- Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure - Domestic Students
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure - International Students
- Student Refund and Credit Balance Policy and Procedure
- Student Feedback - Compliments and Complaints Policy and Procedure
- Information and Communications Technology Acceptable Use Policy and Procedure
This list is not an exhaustive list of all University policies. The full list of University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
Feedback, Recommendations and Responses
Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.
Feedback from Discipline Lead and Head of College.
The 3-hour tutorial classes are challenging for students to maintain attention.
Review the tutorial activities and adjust the tutorial classes to a 2-hour format instead of the current 3-hour sessions.
Feedback from Teaching Team.
Late enrolled students struggle with tutorial tasks in the early weeks.
Start tutorial activities from Week 02 and use the Week 01 tutorial class for learning guidance.
- Explain the role of hardware and software components in computer networks
- Recognise the importance of protocols, standards, and layered architectures in building computer networks
- Explain the selection of network components, topologies, and technologies to meet business requirements
- Describe challenges and solutions in securing computer networks and infrastructure
- Interpret the use of forwarding and encapsulation to deliver data securely in computer networks
- Discuss techniques for managing cyber security, documenting, and troubleshooting computer networks.
The Australian Computer Society (ACS), the professional association for Australia's ICT sector, recognises the Skills Framework for the Information Age (SFIA). SFIA is adopted by organisations, governments, and individuals in many countries and provides a widely used and consistent definition of ICT skills. SFIA is increasingly being used when developing job descriptions and role profiles. ACS members can use the tool MySFIA to build a skills profile.
This unit contributes to the following workplace skills as defined by SFIA 8 (the SFIA code is included):
- Network Support (NTAS)
- IT Infrastructure (ITOP)
- Security Administration (SCAD)
- Systems Installation/Decommissioning (HSIN)
- Problem Management (PBMG)
- Information Security (SCTY).
The National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education (NICE) Framework defines knowledge, skills and tasks needed to perform various cyber security roles. Developed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), the NICE Framework is used by organisations to plan their workforce, including recruit into cyber security positions.
This unit helps prepare you for roles such as Systems Security Analyst, Network Operations Specialist and Systems Administrator, contributing to the following knowledge and skills:
- K0001 Knowledge of computer networking concepts and protocols, and network security methodologies.
- K0010 Knowledge of communication methods, principles, and concepts that support the network infrastructure.
- K0011 Knowledge of capabilities and applications of network equipment including routers, switches, bridges, servers, transmission media, and related hardware.
- K0029 Knowledge of organization's Local and Wide Area Network connections.
- K0050 Knowledge of local area and wide area networking principles and concepts including bandwidth management.
- K0053 Knowledge of measures or indicators of system performance and availability.
- K0060 Knowledge of operating systems.
- K0061 Knowledge of how traffic flows across the network (e.g., Transmission Control Protocol [TCP] and Internet Protocol [IP], Open System Interconnection Model [OSI], Information Technology Infrastructure Library, current version [ITIL]).
- K0071 Knowledge of remote access technology concepts.
- K0077 Knowledge of server and client operating systems.
- K0108 Knowledge of concepts, terminology, and operations of a wide range of communications media (computer and telephone networks, satellite, fiber, wireless).
- K0111 Knowledge of network tools (e.g., ping, traceroute, nslookup)
- K0113 Knowledge of different types of network communication (e.g., LAN, WAN, MAN, WLAN, WWAN).
- K0136 Knowledge of the capabilities of different electronic communication systems and methods (e.g., e-mail, VOIP, IM, web forums, Direct Video Broadcasts).
- K0137 Knowledge of the range of existing networks (e.g., PBX, LANs, WANs, WIFI, SCADA).
- K0138 Knowledge of Wi-Fi.
- K0332 Knowledge of network protocols such as TCP/IP, Dynamic Host Configuration, Domain Name System (DNS), and directory services.
- S0033 Skill in diagnosing connectivity problems.
- S0035 Skill in establishing a routing schema.
- S0041 Skill in installing, configuring, and troubleshooting LAN and WAN components such as routers, hubs, and switches.
- S0073 Skill in using virtual machines. (e.g., Microsoft Hyper-V, VMWare vSphere, Citrix XenDesktop/Server, Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud, etc.).
- S0151 Skill in troubleshooting failed system components (i.e., servers)
- S0154 Skill in installing system and component upgrades. (i.e., servers, appliances, network devices).
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
| Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | |
| 1 - Online Quiz(zes) - 30% | ||||||
| 2 - Written Assessment - 30% | ||||||
| 3 - Portfolio - 40% | ||||||
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
| Graduate Attributes | Learning Outcomes | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | |
| 1 - Communication | ||||||
| 2 - Problem Solving | ||||||
| 3 - Critical Thinking | ||||||
| 4 - Information Literacy | ||||||
| 5 - Team Work | ||||||
| 6 - Information Technology Competence | ||||||
| 7 - Cross Cultural Competence | ||||||
| 8 - Ethical practice | ||||||
| 9 - Social Innovation | ||||||
| 10 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures | ||||||
Textbooks
There are no required textbooks.
IT Resources
- CQUniversity Student Email
- Internet
- Unit Website (Moodle)
- Cisco Packet Tracer
- Wireshark network protocol analyser
- draw.io
- A Virtual Machine (VM) in each Cyber-IoT lab computer
All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: Harvard (author-date)
For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.
m.elkhodr@cqu.edu.au
Module/Topic
Computer Network Overview in Week 01
Chapter
Chapters 1 & 11
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Network Models in Week 02
Chapter
Chapter 1 & 7
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Lecture: Introduction to Portfolio Tasks and Lab Guidance
Lab Exercise 1: to build a simple computer network in Week 03
Chapter
The materials, including the lab exercise specification, are available on the Moodle website.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Network Hardware Essentials in Week 04
Chapter
Chapters 2, 4 & 8
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Network Topology and Media in Week 05
Chapter
Chapter 3 & 4
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Lecture: Switch and Router in Depth
Lab Exercise 2: to build a LAN network in Week 06
Chapter
Chapter 8
The lab exercise specification is available on the Moodle website.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Quiz 1 (15%) is due on Friday in Week 06.
Module/Topic
Network Protocols and Services in Week 07
Chapter
Chapter 5
Events and Submissions/Topic
Portfolio: The first draft (20%) is due on Friday in Week 07.
Module/Topic
IP Addressing in Week 08
Chapter
Chapter 6
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Lecture: Wireless Networks
Lab Exercise 3: to build a wireless Network in Week 09
Chapter
Chapters 2, 3, 4, 7 and 8
The lab exercise specification is available on the Moodle website.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Lecture: Introduction to Network Security
Lab Exercise 4: to build internetwork with two LAN networks in Week 10
Chapter
Chapter 9
The lab exercise specification is available on the Moodle website.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Quiz 2 (15%) is due on Sunday in Week 10.
Module/Topic
Monitor and Manage Network Performance in Week 11
Chapter
Chapters 12 and 14
Events and Submissions/Topic
Portfolio: The second draft (20%) is due on Friday in Week 11.
Module/Topic
WAN Network and Cloud Computing in Week 12
Chapter
The materials will be provided.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
For details about the Unit Coordinator, campus-based teachers, and their email contacts, please check Moodle > Information > Unit Contacts.
Communicating with your teachers:
You should use your lecture and tutorial classes as the first point of contact with teaching staff. Ask questions of your lecturer/tutor in class each week.
Outside of class times, you are encouraged to ask questions in Microsoft Teams. A link to the unit Teams site is available in the "Learning Community" tile on Moodle. You may post a question at anytime in the Teams General channel. All staff and students can see posts in the General channel, so avoid posting personal information (such as phone numbers or your assessment solutions). The teaching team will try to respond to Teams posts as soon as possible, often within an hour during work days and with an aim of within 24 hours. While response times by staff over weekends may be longer (and may not be until Monday morning), other students may respond to your question as well.
Avoid using private chat to contact staff members in Teams. Instead, post in the General channel so all staff and students can see and potentially respond to your question, and so the answer can be shared with all students. If you have a private matter that you do not want to share with others, then contact the Unit Coordinator via email. However, if you ask questions about the unit content via email, then response may take longer than if using Teams, and the staff may choose to reply via Teams (so all students see the answer).
1 Online Quiz(zes)
This assessment item includes two online quizzes: Quiz 1 and Quiz 2. The quizzes consist of questions (e.g., multiple-choice, short answers). Questions will be drawn from topics in Weeks 1 to 5 (Quiz 1) and Weeks 6 to 9 (Quiz 2). Complete these Moodle online quizzes by the due date. The quizzes automatically close if you have not submitted your attempt at a quiz by the due date/time. The quizzes will be finalised (automatically submitted) at the due date/time. Before the due date. You need to submit each quiz attempt to check the results.
You can attempt the quizzes as many times as you want before the due date. However, your last submission for each quiz will be assessed as the final result.
Please record the details of your submission (e.g., the received result, as well as the date and time of your submission by taking a screenshot) in case there are any problems with your submission to the Moodle system.
Please note that the questions are selected randomly from a question pool, so you will unlikely be asked the same questions each time you attempt the quizzes. You will not be able to see your detailed feedback on the results until the quiz has closed. To try and submit the quiz, your computer must be connected to the Internet, although it is possible to save and resume the quiz later.
Extensions are not possible for quizzes because the answers will be released after the due date of the Quiz. If you miss attempting the quizzes, you cannot do them later.
2
Other
Quiz 1 (15%) is due on Sunday of Week 6; Quiz 2 (15%) is due on Sunday of Week 10. Warning: the quizzes close after the due dates, and no further attempts are allowed.
Immediately after the quizzes close.
The quizzes consist of a set of questions. These questions count towards 30% of the total grade in this unit: 15% for each of Quiz 1 and Quiz 2. Each submitted attempt will be marked.
The quizzes are automatically graded by the system based on the selection of correct or incorrect answers. Detailed results of your submission will be generated after the quiz closes.
Remember- you can attempt each quiz as many times as you want before the due date, however, your last successful submission for each quiz will be your final mark of that quiz.
- Explain the role of hardware and software components in computer networks
- Recognise the importance of protocols, standards, and layered architectures in building computer networks
- Explain the selection of network components, topologies, and technologies to meet business requirements
- Describe challenges and solutions in securing computer networks and infrastructure
- Interpret the use of forwarding and encapsulation to deliver data securely in computer networks
2 Portfolio
The Portfolio assessment requires students to document their weekly tutorial activities and lab exercises throughout the term. This includes screenshots, testing results, reflections, and key learnings. The portfolio is submitted in two parts:
- Portfolio Part 1 (20%) covers Weeks 3–6 and is due on Friday of Week 7.
Portfolio Part 2 (20%) covers Weeks 7–10 and is due on Friday of Week 11.
Each submission must be compiled into a structured document and submitted via Moodle. This assessment enables students to demonstrate their understanding and practical engagement with the unit content.
The first submission is due on Friday of Week 7, and the second submission is due on Friday of Week 11.
The first portfolio submission will be returned through Moodle within two weeks after the due date. The second portfolio submission will be returned before the certification date.
The Portfolio assessment will be evaluated based on the clarity, relevance, and quality of weekly contributions, including tutorial summaries and lab exercise reports.
The portfolio is divided into two submissions, each carrying 20% weighting of the total unit marks:
Portfolio Part 1 (20%) – Covers Weeks 3–6, due Week 7
Portfolio Part 2 (20%) – Covers Weeks 7–10, due Week 11
Each submission will be assessed on documentation quality, technical accuracy, and reflective insights.
More details on the assessment criteria and marking rubric will be available on the unit Moodle website.
- Explain the role of hardware and software components in computer networks
- Describe challenges and solutions in securing computer networks and infrastructure
- Interpret the use of forwarding and encapsulation to deliver data securely in computer networks
- Discuss techniques for managing cyber security, documenting, and troubleshooting computer networks.
3 Written Assessment
This assignment requires you to design a comprehensive networking solution based on specific case study scenarios. Your responses must be detailed and directly address the task-related requirements, aligning with the topics covered in this unit.
Note: Late penalties apply (5% of the total available marks per calendar day late or part thereof). Assignments submitted 14 or more days after the due date will not be marked and will receive zero marks.
If you require an extension, you must submit a request with supporting documentary evidence. For more details, refer to the unit Moodle website.
Week 12 Friday (6 June 2025) 12:00 pm AEST
Online via Moodle
Assessments will be returned through Moodle on the Certification of Grades Day.
Marking criteria will be included in the assessment submission template provided for this assessment. Please ensure you read them before attempting the assignment.
You will be assessed on your responses based on the technical details, accuracy, and clarity for the given contexts.
- Recognise the importance of protocols, standards, and layered architectures in building computer networks
- Explain the selection of network components, topologies, and technologies to meet business requirements
- Discuss techniques for managing cyber security, documenting, and troubleshooting computer networks.
As a CQUniversity student you are expected to act honestly in all aspects of your academic work.
Any assessable work undertaken or submitted for review or assessment must be your own work. Assessable work is any type of work you do to meet the assessment requirements in the unit, including draft work submitted for review and feedback and final work to be assessed.
When you use the ideas, words or data of others in your assessment, you must thoroughly and clearly acknowledge the source of this information by using the correct referencing style for your unit. Using others’ work without proper acknowledgement may be considered a form of intellectual dishonesty.
Participating honestly, respectfully, responsibly, and fairly in your university study ensures the CQUniversity qualification you earn will be valued as a true indication of your individual academic achievement and will continue to receive the respect and recognition it deserves.
As a student, you are responsible for reading and following CQUniversity’s policies, including the Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure. This policy sets out CQUniversity’s expectations of you to act with integrity, examples of academic integrity breaches to avoid, the processes used to address alleged breaches of academic integrity, and potential penalties.
What is a breach of academic integrity?
A breach of academic integrity includes but is not limited to plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, cheating, contract cheating, and academic misconduct. The Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure defines what these terms mean and gives examples.
Why is academic integrity important?
A breach of academic integrity may result in one or more penalties, including suspension or even expulsion from the University. It can also have negative implications for student visas and future enrolment at CQUniversity or elsewhere. Students who engage in contract cheating also risk being blackmailed by contract cheating services.
Where can I get assistance?
For academic advice and guidance, the Academic Learning Centre (ALC) can support you in becoming confident in completing assessments with integrity and of high standard.
What can you do to act with integrity?
