Instructions
• This assessment must be completed individually
• This assessment is self-paced but recommended to be completed as detailed in the Unit Guide
• Plagiarism is not tolerated. You must acknowledge sources of information you use in your writing
• You should work through the Assessment Task 3 template and provide responses to all tasks
• The responses for each main section (3.1, 3.2, 3.3, and 3.4) should start on a separate page, with a heading including
the section number and title
• Screenshots should incorporate a caption detailing what it is intended to illustrated
• Once completed you are to save your work as a PDF file and submit it via VU Collaborate
Resources required
PC with Microsoft Word or similar and Internet Access
Time Allocation
See VU Collaborate for due date
Overview
In this assessment you demonstrate your understanding of various topics related to IT broadly and Cyber-Security
specifically:
• Computer hardware and architecture
• Operating Systems and software architecture
• Computer networking and standard protocols
• Cyber-Security concepts and issues
• Cyber Security incidents and responses.
VU Polytechnic Page 2 of 11
22334VIC Cert IV in Cyber-Security Asst 3 Cyber Networking Research And Written Responses V4.3 (1)
Student Name: Student ID Number:
3.1 Computer Hardware and Architecture
1. List the main hardware components of a PC and explain their individual as well as their interrelated functioning,
from power-on through to the display of an operating system interface

2. In this activity you will select computer hardware components suitable for inclusion in a PC running multiple virtual
instances. The PC is a host running Windows 10. It should be capable of efficiently running two simultaneous virtual
instances of the Windows 10 operating system as well as the host operating system.
• You will select RAM of a suitable storage capacity
• You will select a CPU with at least two dedicated cores for each instance, and two for the host
• You will select two internal drives. Drive 1 is to be used for the operating system installation and should be
chosen to optimize performance. Drive 2 is to be used for applications and data and is to be chosen to
optimize storage capacity. Looking at the characteristics of these two drives, there should be a clearly
defined difference between performance factors and storage capacity
 

3. Create a block diagram showing the main components and interconnecting bus structure found on a modern PC
motherboard. Correctly label each component and each bus
For this task you can use an editing program such as Microsoft Paint, or use the flowchart/symbols provided in
Microsoft Word
 

4. Choose three structural components of the Windows 10 operating system and compare them with the same
structural components found in Linux. What similarities/differences are there?
Examples of structural components includes but is not limited to file system, memory management, process
management, device management, networking, I/O management, kernel, applications, command line.
 

5. What preventative maintenance tasks should be undertaken on a regular basis for the operating system and also the
hardware? Why are these important?
 

6. What is meant by the term Cloud Computing? How does it differ from more traditional approaches? What are its
advantages and disadvantages? Define each of the following IaaS, PaaS, SaaS, and SECaaS
 

3.2 Computer Networking
1. Describe the purpose and structure of the OSI Networking Model, the advantages of using such a layered model,
and the purpose of each layer of the model. Include a list of the common protocols found at each layer.
 

2. Describe the purpose and structure of the TCP/IP Networking Model, the advantages of using such a model,
and the purpose of each layer of the model. Include a list of the common protocols found at each layer.
 

3. Describe how the layers of the OSI and TCP/IP models align, and how the roles of each layer may
differ between the two models’ layer?
 

4. List five IoT protocols and for each protocol briefly explain its purpose
The TCP/IP suite of protocols is not to be referenced
 

5. List four Internet-of-Things (IOT) devices and briefly describe the use of each.
At least two of the devices must be dedicated for use outside of the home (e.g. Industrial/enterprise use)
 

6. Describe two ISP connection technologies and the protocols used by those technologies
 

7. Explain the purpose and function of the following network devices and note at which OSI layer each function
 

8. How does the Internet differ from the World Wide Web?
 

9. List and explain the purpose of four command-line troubleshooting tools commonly used to investigate and
diagnose TCP/IP networking problems?
 

3.3 Cyber-Security
1. Define the following terms and also explain how they differ from each other:
• Network Security
• Cyber-Security
 

2. List and describe five general challenges of Cyber Security?
IoT is not to be referenced and note that this question is not asking about specific attack types such as DoS
 

3. List and describe four security challenges that IoT devices pose?
 

4. List and describe the role of four peripherals relevant to security.
Refer to no more than one biometric device. Firewalls and anti-virus software are not to be regarded as
peripherals.
 

5. Define the following terms
• DoS
• DDoS
• Ransomware
Box Hill Institute

CYBER SECU 22334VIC Asst 3 Cyber networking Research and Written Responses v4.3 (1)

3.4 Individual Research
1. Research one current example each of the following cyber-attacks. Describe the specific attacks in general and
include the affected organisation, the attack vector and the vulnerabilities/flaws that enabled the attack to
succeed.
• DDoS
• Ransomware
 

2. List three public information resources that provide information about Network or Cyber security. Summarise
the sorts of information each resource provides
 

3. Describe how a business’s finances, operation, reputation and legal aspects may be impacted by cyber security
breaches.
 

4. List four main areas that are likely to be found in an organisation’s cyber security policy.