Tasks and Duties
Task Objective
This task aims to develop a comprehensive risk assessment report coupled with a mitigation strategy plan. Students will simulate the process of evaluating potential cyber security risks and formulate strategies to mitigate them, aligning the task with advanced cyber security concepts taught in a Post Graduate Program in Cyber Security course.
Expected Deliverables
- A DOC file containing a detailed risk assessment report.
- A mitigation strategy plan outlining specific changes and contingencies.
- Executive summary, detailed findings, prioritization of risks, and action plans.
Key Steps to Complete the Task
- Research & Data Collection: Use publicly available frameworks and guidelines such as NIST or ISO 27001. Analyze common vulnerabilities and threats relevant to modern cyber environments.
- Risk Identification: Identify potential risks associated with network security, data breaches, and internal threats. Document your findings in a structured format.
- Risk Analysis & Prioritization: Evaluate the impact and likelihood of each risk. Use qualitative methods to rank the risks, and illustrate your reasoning with a risk matrix.
- Mitigation Strategies: Propose specific strategies to reduce each risk. Consider aspects like technology upgrades, policy changes, and staff training.
- Document Preparation: Compile your research, analysis, and recommendations into a well-organized DOC file formatted with headlines, subheadings, bullet points, and graphics if needed.
Evaluation Criteria
- Clarity and completeness of risk identification.
- Depth of analysis and logical structuring of the mitigation plan.
- Proper use of cyber security frameworks and best practices.
- Professional presentation and adherence to the provided document structure.
- Originality and critical analysis of mitigation approaches.
This task should take approximately 30 to 35 hours, ensuring a thorough exploration of cyber risk management fundamentals and strategic planning in cyber security.
Task Objective
The goal of this task is to design a robust network security architecture and perform a vulnerability analysis of a simulated network environment. Interns will focus on identifying weaknesses, proposing improvements, and ensuring a secure network infrastructure. This aligns with the core cybersecurity principles taught in a Post Graduate Program in Cyber Security course.
Expected Deliverables
- A DOC file presenting a network security design.
- In-depth vulnerability analysis report that includes methodologies and findings.
- Diagram archives depicting network topology and security measures.
Key Steps to Complete the Task
- Initial Research: Review standard network security protocols, design models, and vulnerability assessment tools available publicly.
- Design Phase: Create a conceptual network security architecture that includes components like firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and segmentation. Use diagram tools to represent the design clearly.
- Vulnerability Identification: Analyze the proposed network system to identify potential security gaps. Refer to common vectors such as open ports, outdated protocols, and misconfigurations.
- Risk Assessment: Prioritize the vulnerabilities based on potential impact and likelihood of exploitation. Document your analysis with supporting diagrams and tables.
- Recommendations: Draft detailed strategies for remediating identified vulnerabilities, ensuring policy and technical changes are addressed.
- Documentation: Compile all stages into a DOC file ensuring clarity, logical flow, and well-structured sections.
Evaluation Criteria
- Quality and feasibility of the proposed network security design.
- Depth of the vulnerability analysis and use of current security assessment practices.
- Clarity in recommendations and associated justification.
- Visual presentation with clear diagrammatic representations.
- Overall professionalism and adherence to task guidelines.
This comprehensive task is designed to be completed in approximately 30 to 35 hours.
Task Objective
This task requires students to simulate the implementation of cyber security controls and evaluate the adherence to best practices. The challenge focuses on applying theoretical knowledge to design and implement effective security measures. It is intended to reflect real-world scenarios encountered in a cyber security environment.
Expected Deliverables
- A DOC file detailing the implementation process of various cyber security controls.
- Step-by-step documentation including configuration settings, policies, and control verification results.
- Comparison with industry best practices and standards (e.g., CIS Controls or ISO/IEC guidelines).
Key Steps to Complete the Task
- Requirements Analysis: Identify core security controls such as access controls, authentication, encryption, and monitoring systems. List out their importance in a high-security environment.
- Research Best Practices: Gather publicly available guidance on best practices from recognized sources like CIS, NIST, or ISO.
- Implementation Simulation: Create a detailed plan simulating how these security controls would be implemented in a system infrastructure. Explain configuration details and considerations necessary for a secure implementation.
- Verification Methods: Propose methods and tools for verifying the effectiveness of the implemented controls. Include testing protocols and audit checklists.
- Documentation: Assemble a comprehensive DOC file that includes planning, implementation simulation, best practice comparisons, and verification strategies. Ensure the document is structured with clear headings, sub-sections, and visual aids where applicable.
Evaluation Criteria
- Level of detail and accuracy in describing security controls and implementation steps.
- Alignment with industry best practices and cybersecurity standards.
- Clarity and coherence of the DOC file presentation.
- Innovativeness in control implementation and proposed verification methods.
This exercise is designed to be completed in approximately 30 to 35 hours, offering a practical application of theoretical cyber security practices in a controlled simulation environment.
Task Objective
This task focuses on developing a cyber security monitoring and incident response plan. The intern will simulate the creation of a proactive monitoring strategy and a detailed incident management procedure. Emphasis is placed on immediate incident detection, quick response, and post-incident analysis, all vital in current cybersecurity operations.
Expected Deliverables
- A DOC file containing a detailed incident response plan and monitoring strategy.
- Flowcharts and timelines for incident detection and response stages.
- Clear guidelines for escalation, communication, and resolution phases.
Key Steps to Complete the Task
- Research and Framework Review: Analyze industry-standard incident response frameworks such as NIST SP 800-61 and identify the key components essential for an effective response plan.
- Monitoring Strategy: Develop a strategy for continuous monitoring of a simulated network or system. Outline necessary tools and techniques for real-time threat detection.
- Incident Response Plan Development: Design a comprehensive response plan that includes detection, analysis, containment, eradication, and recovery steps. Provide detailed flowcharts and timelines illustrating the process.
- Communication Protocols: Define clear communication protocols for internal and external stakeholders during an incident, ensuring legal and regulatory compliance.
- Documentation: Compile a DOC file presenting all components of the plan. Ensure that the document is logically structured with clear sections, headers, and supporting diagrams.
Evaluation Criteria
- Comprehensiveness of monitoring and response strategies.
- Practicality and adherence to industry incident response frameworks.
- Effectiveness of the documented communication and escalation protocols.
- Professional layout and clarity of the report.
This task is designed to engage the student for approximately 30 to 35 hours, emphasizing the blend of both strategic planning and practical implementation in cyber security incident management.
Task Objective
This task requires the student to simulate a vulnerability assessment and penetration testing (VAPT) exercise, emphasizing the identification and exploitation of potential vulnerabilities in a theoretical system. Students will apply advanced cyber security concepts to assess a virtual environment comprehensively, in line with Post Graduate Program level studies.
Expected Deliverables
- A DOC file detailing the complete VAPT process.
- A step-by-step report that includes reconnaissance, scanning, vulnerability identification, and a simulated exploitation phase.
- Recommendations and remediation strategies based on the findings.
Key Steps to Complete the Task
- Information Gathering: Start by researching publicly available VAPT methodologies including tools and techniques commonly used. Define the scope of your simulated environment.
- Vulnerability Scanning: Use simulated tools and methodologies (conceptually described) to perform vulnerability scans. Explain the rationale behind chosen tools and techniques.
- Exploitation Simulation: Describe how identified vulnerabilities could be exploited without real-world execution. Include hypothetical scenarios and potential impacts.
- Risk Analysis & Prioritization: Analyze the vulnerabilities, rating them based on risk, potential damage, and ease of exploitation.
- Remediation Plan: Propose detailed remediation steps and long-term security improvements for each vulnerability identified.
- Report Writing: Consolidate the entire assessment into a DOC file. The report should have an introduction, methodology, findings, impact analysis, and recommendations sections, supported by diagrams or flowcharts where beneficial.
Evaluation Criteria
- Depth and completeness of vulnerability assessment processes.
- Logical and clear explanation of the penetration testing simulation.
- Practicality and relevance of the remediation strategies suggested.
- Overall clarity, structure, and professional presentation of the final document.
This task is designed to be completed in approximately 30 to 35 hours, engaging students in a realistic and thorough exploration of VAPT processes while reinforcing cyber security theory with practical application.
Task Objective
This final task focuses on developing a comprehensive report for a cyber security compliance audit. Students will simulate the process of auditing an organization’s cyber security posture against relevant standards and regulatory frameworks. The task requires identifying gaps in compliance, documenting the audit process, and proposing actionable recommendations for improvement.
Expected Deliverables
- A DOC file containing the complete compliance audit report.
- A detailed analysis of compliance gaps based on publicly available standards such as GDPR, HIPAA, or ISO/IEC 27001.
- Recommendations and an improvement roadmap with gradated steps.
Key Steps to Complete the Task
- Audit Scope Definition: Clearly define the scope of the audit for a hypothetical organization. Identify which standards or frameworks will be used as benchmarks.
- Data Collection and Research: Research publicly available compliance frameworks and guidelines. Collect the necessary information regarding best practices for data protection, incident management, and overall cyber security governance.
- Gap Analysis: Perform a simulated evaluation of the organization’s security controls against the selected compliance standard. Identify key areas that require improvement and document findings.
- Recommendations Development: Develop detailed recommendations for closing the compliance gaps. Propose both immediate and long-term actions to achieve full compliance.
- Report Compilation: Compose a detailed DOC file report that includes an introduction, methodology, findings, gap analysis, and recommendations. Use clear section headings, bullet lists, and tables where appropriate to enhance clarity and readability.
Evaluation Criteria
- Thoroughness of audit scope and gap identification.
- Relevance and practicality of the recommendations provided.
- Clarity and organization of the final DOC report.
- Alignment with current compliance and regulatory standards in cyber security.
This final task is designed to encapsulate the comprehensive skills acquired over the internship, and it should take approximately 30 to 35 hours to complete. The exercise is intended to simulate a realistic compliance audit scenario and strengthen strategic planning, analytical, and reporting capabilities in cyber security.