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FINN44215: Cybersecurity in Finance

It is possible that changes to modules or programmes might need to be made during the academic year, in response to the impact of Covid-19 and/or any further changes in public health advice.

Type Tied
Level 4
Credits 15
Availability Available in 2024/2025
Module Cap
Location Durham
Department Finance

Prerequisites

  • None

Corequisites

  • None

Excluded Combinations of Modules

  • None

Aims

  • Provide students with a thorough understanding of cybersecurity principles and practices as they apply specifically to the financial sector and evolving threats.
  • Familiarise students with the regulatory frameworks governing cybersecurity in the financial industry.
  • Equip students with practical skills that they can apply in real-world scenarios within the financial sector; this includes hands-on experience in risk assessment, incident response planning and security architecture design.
  • Students do not require any specific programming experience or cybersecurity management systems knowledge. This course will be self-contained in this respect and does not assume any prior knowledge.

Content

  • Cybersecurity for Finance is a diverse, contemporary and evolving area for research and innovation. Therefore, specific lecture content will be updated with respect to current trends and the expertise of the module team. The following is an indicative list of potential topics:
  • Overview of Cybersecurity and in particular Cybersecurity for financial services.
  • Cybersecurity Regulations in Finance.
  • Models of returns on information security and the difficulty of measurement.
  • Incident response and strategies for recovery.
  • Losses and cyber insurance.
  • Financial innovation, Fintech and the evolution of security threats.
  • Optimal risk management and security investment.
  • Case studies on financial services and cyber security.

Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific Knowledge:

  • By the end of the module, students should have a critical understanding of the principles and practice of some of the diverse set of cybersecurity regulations and compliance requirements applicable to financial institutions.
  • Students will have explored, understood and appreciated the complexity and contradictions of the current academic literature and its implications for professional practice, and be able to identify open questions for their own research;
  • Students will have demonstrated an ability to learn and work independently in this area, exercising critical judgement and discrimination in the resolution of complex problematic situations.

Subject-specific Skills:

  • Written Communication;
  • Planning and organizing;
  • Problem solving and analysis;
  • Initiative;
  • Numeracy;
  • Computer Literacy.

Key Skills:

  • Cost benefit and insurance analysis.
  • Group work.
  • Cybersecurity threat modelling and strategy design.

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

  • Blended teaching model, with some in person lectures, video-based discussions and presentations.
  • Synchronous class blended in person and virtual classrooms with group discussions and presentations.
  • Seminar teaching in person or online with potentially asynchronous delivery.
  • Flipped classroom using the prepared materials to deliver summaries of strategies, cybersecurity designs and their implementation.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

ActivityNumberFrequencyDurationTotalMonitored
Lectures101 per week2 hours20 
Workshop41 hour4Yes
Preparation and Reading126 
Total150 

Summative Assessment

Component: AssignmentComponent Weighting: 100%
ElementLength / DurationElement WeightingResit Opportunity
Assignment2500 words100same

Formative Assessment

In-class quizzes during practical sessions

More information

If you have a question about Durham's modular degree programmes, please visit our Help page. If you have a question about modular programmes that is not covered by the Help page, or a query about the on-line Postgraduate Module Handbook, please contact us.

Prospective Students: If you have a query about a specific module or degree programme, please Ask Us.

Current Students: Please contact your department.