Cybersecurity Law, Policy and Ethics
Duration
- One Semester or equivalent
Contact hours
- 150 contact hours - Swinburne Online
On-campus unit delivery combines face-to-face and digital learning. For Online unit delivery, learning is conducted exclusively online.
2025 teaching periods
| Swinburne Online Teaching Period 1 |
Swinburne Online Teaching Period 3 | |
|---|---|---|
Dates: Last self enrolment: Census: Last withdraw without fail: |
Dates: Last self enrolment: Census: Last withdraw without fail: |
Aims and objectives
The unit aims to help students operate effectively in the cybersecurity governance arena implementing frameworks and developing policy responses to issues that arise. The unit introduces students to legal frameworks that govern cybersecurity in Australia and the key governance organisations. Students are also exposed to the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in the European Union and mandatory reporting of data breaches in Australia and the growing body of ICMS including ISO 27K. Students will learn about the changing nature of cybersecurity threats the requirement for managers to maintain an up-to-date tool kit in relation to cyber law and policy.
Unit Learning Outcomes (ULO)
Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:
Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:
1. Critically evaluate the legal and regulatory structure for dealing with cybersecurity both domestically and internationally
2. Analyse cybersecurity policy and law in Australia and their application to business
3. Research and analyse the international standards that support cybersecurity governance frameworks in Australia
4. Critically analyse ethics in relation to governance and policy in cybersecurity
2. Analyse cybersecurity policy and law in Australia and their application to business
3. Research and analyse the international standards that support cybersecurity governance frameworks in Australia
4. Critically analyse ethics in relation to governance and policy in cybersecurity
Unit information in detail
- Teaching methods, assessment and content.
Teaching methods
Swinburne Online
Type | Hours per week | Number of Weeks | Total |
| Online Directed Online Learning and Independent Learning | 12.5 | 12 | 150 |
TOTAL | 150 hours |
Assessment
Types | Individual/Group Role | Weighting | Unit Learning Outcomes (ULOs) |
| Assignment | Individual | 50-60% | 1,2,3,4 |
| Project | Individual | 40-50% | 1,2,3,4 |
Content
• Laws and legal frameworks that govern cybersecurity and cybercrime in Australia, including the key governance bodies of the internet
• Governance of cybercrime and the internet in Australia and other common law jurisdictions, including the United States, Canada and the European Union (EU)
• Understand the variety of national and international laws that have been enacted and proposed to deal with issues of data breaches, management of information, cyber attacks and online privacy
• Appreciate the ethical issues that relate to the investigation/prosecution of cybercrime and the formation of laws in this area
• Demonstrate an ability to identify some legal problems that may arise in business (e.g. privacy requirements, contractual relations and consumer protection) and some ability to predict how a legal problem might be solved.
• Privacy Act, ISO27,000(K)
• Continuous improvement principles
• Corporate policy
• Policy framework
• Risk acceptance, reduction, transfer and avoidance
• Research methods
• Appreciate the ethical issues that relate to the investigation/prosecution of cybercrime and the formation of laws in this area
• Demonstrate an ability to identify some legal problems that may arise in business (e.g. privacy requirements, contractual relations and consumer protection) and some ability to predict how a legal problem might be solved.
• Privacy Act, ISO27,000(K)
• Continuous improvement principles
• Corporate policy
• Policy framework
• Risk acceptance, reduction, transfer and avoidance
• Research methods
Study resources
- Reading materials.
Reading materials
A list of reading materials and/or required texts will be made available in the Unit Outline.