autumn 2025
SVF-2109 Cyber Security in Society - 10 ECTS
Course content
This course consists of four blocks: (1) civic cybersecurity, (2) organizational cybersecurity, (3) societal cybersecurity, and (4) cybersecurity and international politics.
Block 1 provides the students with the necessary competence to behave in a safe and secure manner in an increasingly digitalized society. It covers topics such as: main concepts and theoretical perspectives to cybersecurity, role of individuals in cybersecurity, digital rights and civic responsibilities, and pivotal cyberattacks against individuals.
Block 2 provides the students with the basic competence for managing cybersecurity as part of an organization’s operations. It covers topics such as: information systems and networks, pivotal cyber-attacks against organizations, cybercrime, and cybersecurity culture.
As all citizens and organizations operate in particular societies, block 3 summarizes and discusses the national arrangements for cybersecurity in Norway. It covers topics such as: digitalization and cybersecurity policies, actors in societal cybersecurity, pivotal cyber-attacks against societies,cyber and information operations, and critical infrastructure protection.
Finally, block 4 introduces the students with transnational cybersecurity politics and diplomacy. It covers topics such as: internet governance, resource competition and trade politics, cyber diplomacy, and international law.
Objectives of the course
Knowledge:
The student …
- understands the interconnections between digitalization, cybersecurity, societal security, national security, and organizational resilience.
- can explain the main approaches to cybersecurity and illustrate their different effects on organizations and society in general.
- can summarize the main cybersecurity threats to individuals, organizations, and society at large and advice protection against these threats.
- can summarize the national cybersecurity arrangements in Norway and discuss them critically.
- can identify different spheres of cybersecurity politics.
Skills:
The student …
- can illustrate security threats and risks in the digitalized society and apply this knowledge to situations e.g. at workplace.
- can recognize risks to his or her personal safety and security in the digitalized society and can solve occurring cybersecurity situations in his or her best interest.
- can break down different cyber threats against organizations and society at large and simplify the attack processes in order to explain them to others.
- can present systematic analysis of national arrangements and dimensions of cybersecurity politics.
General competences:
The student …
- has gained civic cybersecurity competence to protect him- or herself in the digitalized society, including inter alia the ability to recognize different cyber-attacks and to apply the learned knowledge and practical skills to these situations.
- can plan cybersecurity policies in organizations that meet both organizational and societal.
- cybersecurity requirements and justify these policies to others.
- can recognize and can analyse related threat depictions such as breaches of digital rights and different forms of cybercrime.
- becomes acquainted with complex transnational cybersecurity politics.
Teaching methods
Lectures/seminars (altogether 30 hours), individual assignment, and group work.
Lectures and seminars are utilized interchangeably, depending on the week, over the entire course period.
Group work is divided over the whole course period i.e. the task description is given at the beginning of the course and the group work report is to be handed in a week before the last seminar in which group presentations and peer reviews will take place.
Schedule
Examination
Examination: | Duration: | Grade scale: |
---|---|---|
Off campus exam | 7 Days | A–E, fail F |
Coursework requirements:To take an examination, the student must have passed the following coursework requirements: |
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Participation | Approved – not approved | |
Individual assignment | Approved – not approved | |
Group assignment | Approved – not approved |
- About the course
- Campus: Tromsø |
- ECTS: 10
- Course code: SVF-2109
- Responsible unit
- Department of Technology and Safety
- Earlier years and semesters for this topic