Filter by keyword, subject, or both. Updates live as new model answers are added to our portal.
Computer Networks / Network Security / Cloud and Software Defined Networking
3,500 words
Network Systems and Security: Ad Hoc, Cloud and Software Defined Networking Emulation
This Network Systems and Security coursework requires students to design, implement and critically evaluate a series of practical network-emulation environments covering wireless Ad Hoc networking, cloud services and Software Defined Networking (SDN). The project combines Python-based network configuration with practical connectivity testing, cloud deployment, controller-based networking and theoretical evaluation of contemporary network-security technologies. The first task involves designing an Ad Hoc wireless network representing an emergency-response scenario. Students configure at least three wireless stations using Mininet-WiFi, assign appropriate network parameters and demonstrate connectivity through ICMP communication. The task requires discussion of the design and implementation together with the Python script used to configure the emulated environment. 7COM1076+ref+def+CW+2025+26+ The second task focuses on cloud-service emulation. Students develop a simple static website, deploy it through Render.com and GitHub, and access the hosted service from a Mininet-emulated network. Required evidence includes the Python implementation, cloud configuration screenshots, commands used to provide internet connectivity, webpage access through an xterm environment and the associated HTML code. 7COM1076+ref+def+CW+2025+26+ The third practical component examines Software Defined Networking using the ONOS controller. Students construct an emulated topology containing hosts, servers and programmable switches, demonstrate complete ICMP connectivity and perform a TCP transmission lasting 600 seconds. Evidence must include the network-emulation script, ONOS graphical interface and connectivity results. 7COM1076+ref+def+CW+2025+26+ The final analytical section critically evaluates whether Software Defined Networking and Network Functions Virtualisation (NFV) complement one another and examines security algorithms used within cloud computing. Students compare two selected cryptographic approaches, evaluating their respective advantages and disadvantages. 7COM1076+ref+def+CW+2025+26+ Overall, the coursework integrates network modelling, wireless networking, cloud deployment, SDN control, Python scripting, connectivity testing and security analysis. The marking scheme gives substantial weight to system modelling, cloud and SDN implementation, ICMP/TCP functionality, technical analysis and overall report quality. 7COM1076+ref+def+CW+2025+26+
Read Model Answer →
Networking and Security Practice
Networking and Security Practice – Recorded Demonstration
This assessment for the MSc Cyber Security module Networking and Security Practice is a practical recorded-demonstration coursework designed to assess students' ability to configure, secure, troubleshoot and monitor a virtualised sandbox network. The assessment contributes 60% of the module mark and consists of four recorded demonstration videos, with each video limited to a maximum of five minutes. The completed videos are submitted through a Moodle quiz as video files or accessible links. The practical environment uses virtual machines running Ubuntu Server and Ubuntu Desktop on VirtualBox or UTM. Students deploy a four-machine architecture consisting of a Gateway, Webserver, Workstation and Zabbix-Server. The Gateway acts as the router, firewall and NAT gateway; the Webserver hosts an Nginx web server; the Workstation is used for administration and testing; and the Zabbix-Server provides network monitoring. The architecture requires appropriate network interfaces, IP addresses, routing and communication between the different internal networks. The coursework develops practical networking and system administration skills through several phases. Students install and configure operating systems, allocate virtual machine resources, configure static IP addresses, enable IP forwarding and NAT masquerading, and implement firewall rules using iptables. They also develop command-line proficiency using networking, DNS, security, remote-access and web tools including ping, traceroute, ss, nslookup, dig, nmap, Wireshark, netcat, SSH, SCP, rsync, curl and wget. Students must also configure secure remote access and deploy an Nginx web server. SSH must be hardened by disabling password authentication and root login, while key-based authentication is used for secure access. The Webserver must contain a customised landing page showing the student's name and student ID, which is accessed from the Workstation. The monitoring component requires installation and configuration of Zabbix, deployment of agents across the virtual machines, host monitoring, a customised dashboard containing at least five live-data widgets and configured alerts or triggers. Students must explain what their selected monitoring elements measure and why they are operationally useful. The traffic-analysis component uses Wireshark to capture and examine HTTP, ICMP and DNS traffic. Students apply appropriate filters, identify protocols using the Protocol Hierarchy and discuss the security implications of unencrypted HTTP traffic, including secure alternatives such as HTTPS and DNS over TLS. The security-evaluation component uses Nmap within the isolated virtualised sandbox to identify open ports and services, assess vulnerabilities and recommend mitigations. Students must also demonstrate iptables forwarding and NAT masquerading rules. The four videos cover Network Infrastructure, Network Monitoring, Traffic Analysis and Security Evaluation. The assessment is marked out of 100, with 35 marks allocated to Network Infrastructure, 25 to Network Monitoring, 20 to Traffic Analysis and 20 to Security Evaluation. Students are expected to provide clear voice narration, explain commands and outputs, demonstrate technical understanding and critically relate their work to network security. The assessment develops employability skills in Linux administration, remote system management, network troubleshooting, security hardening, packet analysis, port and service scanning, virtualisation and network monitoring. It also requires students to conduct security testing ethically within their own isolated virtualised environment and prohibits unauthorised scanning of university networks, public websites or other systems.
Read Model Answer →
Network Systems and Administration
3,500 words
Network Systems and Administration – Linux System and Network Administration Portfolio
This assessment is an individual portfolio for the Network Systems and Administration unit. It consists of two quizzes and a report based on a case study involving the development, implementation, configuration, testing, maintenance, and evaluation of a network solution using an industry-standard network operating system. The report requires students to justify their design and implementation decisions, provide a detailed testing strategy, develop a maintenance and disaster recovery plan, and critically evaluate the completed solution. The case study concerns Piranha, a small organisation in which the business owner has been maintaining a server containing information relating to finance, management, production, and sales. The student is required to undertake the role of Network Systems Administrator and configure an appropriate Linux-based network environment. The practical work includes creating a new user account with root access, confirming root privileges, verifying access to company files, and configuring group-based access controls for finance, management, production, and sales directories. Students must then establish a client-server network by installing a Linux distribution on a separate virtual machine in VirtualBox. SSH connections are required to verify user access and the configured file permissions. The assessment also requires students to use Wireshark to observe network traffic during SSH sessions, report on packet types and encryption, identify potential security vulnerabilities, and recommend improvements such as SSH keys and unique passwords. A maintenance schedule and a brief disaster recovery or backup strategy must also be proposed. The final report must document the practical work with clear explanations and screenshots showing commands, user accounts, and results. The report should be between 1,500 and 3,500 words. The assessment also includes Linux Essentials and Networking Essentials final grades. The marking criteria cover system and network administration, the maintenance plan, reflection and report writing, screenshots, references, and Harvard referencing.
Read Model Answer →
Computer Networks and Network Engineering
3,500 words
Wireless, Cloud and Software Defined Networking: Network Modelling, Emulation and Evaluation
This technical networking assignment focuses on the design, implementation, emulation and evaluation of wireless, cloud and Software Defined Networking environments. It combines practical network modelling with analytical discussion and requires students to demonstrate their understanding of modern networking architectures through Mininet-WiFi, Mininet, cloud deployment technologies and an ONOS Software Defined Networking controller. The first task involves creating an ad-hoc wireless network for an emergency-response scenario. A minimum of three wireless stations must be configured using specified parameters such as transmission range, antenna height, antenna gain, SSID and wireless capabilities. Students are required to explain the network design and implementation, provide the Python configuration script used with Mininet-WiFi, and demonstrate connectivity using ICMP communication between appropriate stations. The second task examines cloud-service emulation. Students must construct a Mininet topology containing a switch and two hosts and deploy a simple static website using Render.com. The task requires evidence of cloud configuration, GitHub repository integration, commands used to provide internet access to the emulated host, webpage access through Xterm, screenshots of the resulting webpage and the associated HTML code. The third task addresses Software Defined Networking (SDN). Students create an emulated environment involving three hosts and three servers, implement the required network topology and use the ONOS controller to provide control-plane programmability. Evidence must include the Python emulation script, ONOS GUI output, host-to-server connectivity testing and TCP transmission testing. The final analytical component requires students to critically evaluate the relationship between Software Defined Networking and Network Functions Virtualisation (NFV) and assess security algorithms used in cloud computing, including a comparison of the advantages and disadvantages of two selected algorithms. The coursework therefore integrates practical network configuration, connectivity testing, cloud deployment, programmable networking and academically referenced technical evaluation. Overview word count: approximately 335 words. Important: the brief explicitly states that AI-generated report or code content is prohibited, so this Reference Library description should be treated only as catalogue/metadata content, not as coursework material for submission.
Read Model Answer →
Cyber Security / Digital Forensics
3,500 words
Digital Forensics Portfolio: Disk Image, Memory and Windows Registry Investigation
This Level 7 Digital Forensics portfolio requires students to conduct a structured forensic investigation across disk, memory and Windows Registry evidence. The assessment develops practical investigative skills alongside professional forensic reporting and requires students to preserve evidence integrity, document methodology, interpret technical artefacts and communicate findings clearly. The portfolio is equivalent to 3,500 words and forms 60% of the module assessment. The first part involves analysing a seized USB forensic image in the context of a suspected insider involved in video piracy and potentially more serious criminal activity. Students must follow ACPO digital forensic best practice, verify image integrity before and after examination, maintain a clear chain of custody, identify significant device properties and artefacts, and justify conclusions using evidence. Tools such as FTK Imager and Autopsy may be used, alongside other appropriate forensic utilities. The scenario also requires examination of an encrypted VeraCrypt container discovered within the evidence. The second part focuses on memory forensics using a Windows memory dump. Students are expected to reconstruct process execution timelines, examine suspicious processes including PowerShell, Notepad and AtomicService, identify process owners and SIDs, extract relevant memory artefacts and produce an executive summary suitable for a non-technical audience. The third part requires an extensive Windows Registry and system artefact investigation. Students examine operating-system information, users, network configuration, login activity, suspicious files, executable and DLL creation, BAM records, Prefetch artefacts, scheduled tasks, persistence mechanisms and evidence of potentially malicious activity. Findings must be supported with screenshots, extracted artefacts or other appropriate evidence. The assignment must use the university's official portfolio template and be submitted as a PDF. The template organises the work into forensic image analysis, memory investigation and Windows Registry investigation sections. For a public Reference Library entry, this title is better than simply “Digital Forensics Coursework” because it clearly communicates the three major technical components of the work.
Read Model Answer →