Digital Systems and Security (GSS508)

GSS508 Digital Systems and Security examines the governance, protection and resilience of digital systems in an increasingly AI-enabled security environment. As organisations across the public and private sectors adopt artificial intelligence to support intelligence analysis, cyber defence, surveillance, risk assessment and operational decision-making, security leaders must address not only traditional cybersecurity threats but also the governance challenges arising from AI-enabled technologies. These include ensuring transparency, accountability and human oversight while managing risks associated with autonomous systems, adversarial attacks, data integrity, model failures and AI-assisted cyber threats. The course adopts a holistic approach to digital security, recognising that effective protection of digital systems extends beyond technical controls to encompass organisational governance, risk management, legal and ethical considerations, human behaviour and organisational culture. Students will examine security across multiple domains, including software, networks, cloud environments, operational technologies and AI-enabled systems, while considering how these components interact within complex organisational settings. Through contemporary case studies and applied scenarios, students will learn to identify vulnerabilities, evaluate cyber and AI-related risks, design secure and resilient digital systems, and develop strategies to prevent, detect and respond to cyber incidents. The course also explores the governance of AI in security operations, including the responsible deployment of AI tools for threat detection, incident response, intelligence analysis and risk monitoring. Particular emphasis is placed on evaluating AI outputs, recognising their limitations and biases, maintaining human accountability for AI-assisted decisions, and establishing governance mechanisms to ensure the safe, ethical and effective use of AI. By the end of the course, students will be equipped to evaluate the security and resilience of digital systems, design governance frameworks for AI-enabled security operations, assess AI deployments for accountability and operational risks, and lead organisational responses to cyber incidents and AI system failures within complex security environments.

• Introduction to Digital Systems Security
• Cyber Threats, Attack Vectors and AI-Specific Adversarial Risk
• Data Integrity, Confidentiality, and Availability
• Network Security and Firewalls
• Encryption and Cryptography
• Access Control and Authentication
• Security in Cloud Computing
• Security Governance and Risk Management
• Human Factors in Security
• Incident Response and Disaster Recovery
• Legal and Ethical Considerations in Digital Security
• Emerging Technologies, Artificial Intelligence and Future Security Trends

• Discuss key threats to digital systems, including malware, phishing, and cyber-attacks, and understand their impact on information security.
• Examine the principles of data integrity, availability, and confidentiality within the context of digital systems.
• Appraise governance frameworks for AI deployment in security organisations, including accountability structures, human oversight requirements, and audit mechanisms.
• Analyse organisational vulnerabilities and evaluate the effectiveness of security policies and strategies.
• Assess legal and ethical issues related to digital security, including data privacy and regulatory compliance.
• Formulate governance solutions for AI-assisted security operations that integrate technical, human, and organisational considerations while maintaining appropriate human oversight and accountability.