Southern Utah University

Course Syllabus

Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Summer Semester 2026

Defensive Security (Online)

CYBR 3450-30I

Course: CYBR 3450-30I
Credits: 3
Term: Summer Semester 2026
Department: CSIS
CRN: 20143

Course Description

This course provides a fundamental understanding of defensive security principles, technologies, and countermeasures, such as firewalls, vulnerability scanners, intrusion detection systems, and more. A variety of projects are assigned to reinforce concepts. Students will be prepared to sit for the CYSA+ certification exam. (Spring) [Graded (Standard Letter)] Prerequisite(s): CYBR 3400 - Prerequisite Min. Grade: C-

Required Texts

Chapters from multiple different defensive security books from the library's O'Reilly subscription, plus reading materials from NIST and other government and corporate sources will be assigned.  All are freely available.  Each will be assigned in the respective module, rather than listing all of them here.  

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

  1. Decide which firewall types would be best for a given scenario

  2. Implement basic host and network-based firewall rules
  3. Implement an IDPS system for a small business network
  4. Scan a network for vulnerabilities, and develop a strategy to mitigate them
  5. Harden an operating system

Course Requirements

Assignment Outline
Quizzes

You will have approximately 13-14 quizzes in this course. Each quiz will consist of 10-20 multiple-choice questions, and may also contain some fill-in-the blank, matching, or short essay style questions. You will have 20-30 minutes, depending on quiz length and question types, and one attempt to complete each quiz. Quizzes must be submitted no later than the assigned due date. You may use your textbook or notes to complete the quiz.
Homework

You will have approximately 6 homework assignments during the semester.  Each will focus on a different practical or theoretical aspect of defensive security.  Each will take about 1-2 hours to complete.
Hands-on Assessments

This course will not have typical exams.  Instead, two times during the semester, you will apply what you have learned to an essay or practical, hands-on demonstration of a set of skills. The topics below are some examples of topics that you may need to write about or demonstrate.  This list is only examples, not exhaustive.

    Write a set of firewall policies for a small network
    Implement a firewall
    Determine which rules should be enabled in an IDPS system to tune it
    Develop a checklist for hardening an operating system

Course Outline

 Sun May 18, 2025  | Quiz   Quiz 1 | due by 11:59pm
| Quiz  Quiz 2 | due by 11:59pm
| Assignment  HW1 | due by 11:59pm
 Mon May 19, 2025  | Quiz  Commenced Attendance Quiz | due by 11:59pm
 Sun May 25, 2025  | Quiz  Quiz 3 | due by 11:59pm
| Quiz  Quiz 4 | due by 11:59pm
| Assignment  HW2 | due by 11:59pm
 Sun Jun 1, 2025  | Quiz  Quiz 5 | due by 11:59pm
| Quiz  Quiz 6 | due by 11:59pm
| Assignment  Assessment 1 | due by 11:59pm
| Assignment  HW3 | due by 11:59pm
 Sun Jun 8, 2025  | Quiz  Quiz 7 | due by 11:59pm
| Quiz  Quiz 8 | due by 11:59pm
| Assignment  HW4 - IDPS | due by 11:59pm
 Sun Jun 15, 2025  | Quiz  Quiz 10 | due by 11:59pm
| Quiz  Quiz 11 | due by 11:59pm
| Assignment  HW5 - Honeypots | due by 11:59pm
 Sun Jun 22, 2025  | Quiz  Quiz 12 | due by 11:59pm
| Quiz  Quiz 9 | due by 11:59pm
| Assignment  HW6 - Hardening | due by 11:59pm
 Sun Jun 29, 2025  | Quiz  Quiz 15 | due by 11:59pm
| Quiz  Quiz 16 | due by 11:59pm
| Assignment  Assessment 2 | due by 11:59pm

Instructor's policies on late assignments and/or makeup work

Late Work Policy:

  • Quizzes are due at the date and time indicated on Canvas, no quizzes will be accepted after their due date. 
  • Homework assignments may be submitted up to 72 hours late, a 10% penalty will be assessed for each 24 hours or any fraction thereof that an assignment is late.
  • Hands-On Assessments may be submitted up to 72 hours late, a 10% penalty will be assessed for each 24 hours or any fraction thereof that an assignment is late. 
In truly exceptional situations, like medical emergencies/death in the family, I'm happy to work with you to change due dates, etc.  Contact me as soon as possible to let me know, and we'll work something out.  I reserve the right to request verification of such situations.  However, other things like a major project at work and similar issues that can be avoided by not waiting until right before the due date will not be acceptable excuses for late work.

There is no extra credit assignment available in this class; a few extra points are scattered throughout the assignments.

Attendance Policy

As an online course, no attendance is required.

Course Fees

Content for this section will be provided by the instructor.

ADA Statement

Students with medical, psychological, learning, or other disabilities desiring academic adjustments, accommodations, or auxiliary aids will need to contact the Disability Resource Center, located in Room 206F of the Sharwan Smith Center or by phone at (435) 865-8042. The Disability Resource Center determines eligibility for and authorizes the provision of services.

If your instructor requires attendance, you may need to seek an ADA accommodation to request an exception to this attendance policy. Please contact the Disability Resource Center to determine what, if any, ADA accommodations are reasonable and appropriate.

Academic Credit

According to the federal definition of a Carnegie credit hour: A credit hour of work is the equivalent of approximately 60 minutes of class time or independent study work. A minimum of 45 hours of work by each student is required for each unit of credit. Credit is earned only when course requirements are met. One (1) credit hour is equivalent to 15 contact hours of lecture, discussion, testing, evaluation, or seminar, as well as 30 hours of student homework. An equivalent amount of work is expected for laboratory work, internships, practica, studio, and other academic work leading to the awarding of credit hours. Credit granted for individual courses, labs, or studio classes ranges from 0.5 to 15 credit hours per semester.

Academic Freedom

SUU is operated for the common good of the greater community it serves. The common good depends upon the free search for truth and its free exposition. Academic Freedom is the right of faculty to study, discuss, investigate, teach, and publish. Academic Freedom is essential to these purposes and applies to both teaching and research.

Academic Freedom in the realm of teaching is fundamental for the protection of the rights of the faculty member and of you, the student, with respect to the free pursuit of learning and discovery. Faculty members possess the right to full freedom in the classroom in discussing their subjects. They may present any controversial material relevant to their courses and their intended learning outcomes, but they shall take care not to introduce into their teaching controversial materials which have no relation to the subject being taught or the intended learning outcomes for the course.

As such, students enrolled in any course at SUU may encounter topics, perspectives, and ideas that are unfamiliar or controversial, with the educational intent of providing a meaningful learning environment that fosters your growth and development. These parameters related to Academic Freedom are included in SUU Policy 6.6.

Academic Misconduct

Scholastic honesty is expected of all students. Dishonesty will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent (see SUU Policy 6.33). You are expected to have read and understood the current SUU student conduct code (SUU Policy 11.2) regarding student responsibilities and rights, the intellectual property policy (SUU Policy 5.52), information about procedures, and what constitutes acceptable behavior.

Please Note: The use of websites or services that sell essays is a violation of these policies; likewise, the use of websites or services that provide answers to assignments, quizzes, or tests is also a violation of these policies. Regarding the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), you should check with your individual course instructor.

Emergency Management Statement

In case of an emergency, the University's Emergency Notification System (ENS) will be activated. Students are encouraged to maintain updated contact information using the link on the homepage of the mySUU portal. In addition, students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Emergency Response Protocols posted in each classroom. Detailed information about the University's emergency management plan can be found at https://www.suu.edu/emergency.

HEOA Compliance Statement

For a full set of Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) compliance statements, please visit https://www.suu.edu/heoa. The sharing of copyrighted material through peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing, except as provided under U.S. copyright law, is prohibited by law; additional information can be found at https://my.suu.edu/help/article/1096/heoa-compliance-plan.

You are also expected to comply with policies regarding intellectual property (SUU Policy 5.52) and copyright (SUU Policy 5.54).

Mandatory Reporting

University policy (SUU Policy 5.60) requires instructors to report disclosures received from students that indicate they have been subjected to sexual misconduct/harassment. The University defines sexual harassment consistent with Federal Regulations (34 C.F.R. Part 106, Subpart D) to include quid pro quo, hostile environment harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking. When students communicate this information to an instructor in-person, by email, or within writing assignments, the instructor will report that to the Title IX Coordinator to ensure students receive support from the Title IX Office. A reporting form is available at https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?SouthernUtahUniv

Non-Discrimination Statement

SUU is committed to fostering an inclusive community of lifelong learners and believes our university's encompassing of different views, beliefs, and identities makes us stronger, more innovative, and better prepared for the global society.

SUU does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex (including sex discrimination and sexual harassment), sexual orientation, gender identity, age, ancestry, disability status, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, military status, veteran status, or other bases protected by applicable law in employment, treatment, admission, access to educational programs and activities, or other University benefits or services.

SUU strives to cultivate a campus environment that encourages freedom of expression from diverse viewpoints. We encourage all to dialogue within a spirit of respect, civility, and decency.

For additional information on non-discrimination, please see SUU Policy 5.27 and/or visit https://www.suu.edu/nondiscrimination.

Pregnancy

Students who are or become pregnant during this course may receive reasonable modifications to facilitate continued access and participation in the course. Pregnancy and related conditions are broadly defined to include pregnancy, childbirth, termination of pregnancy, lactation, related medical conditions, and recovery. To obtain reasonable modifications, please make a request to title9@suu.edu. To learn more visit: https://www.suu.edu/titleix/pregnancy.html.

Disclaimer Statement

Information contained in this syllabus, other than the grading, late assignments, makeup work, and attendance policies, may be subject to change with advance notice, as deemed appropriate by the instructor.