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Cybersecurity Capstone Project

This course presents an intensive experience during which students build a software system they intend to be secure, and then attempt to show that other students' projects are insecure, by finding flaws in them. A Note on Capstone Frequency: Please note that sessions of this Cybersecurity Capstone Project only run 3-4 times a year, depending on course team availability and learner interest. Please keep this in mind as you enroll into the Capstone program. While you will still be able to access certain elements of the course between sessions, you will not be able to submit assignments or be grouped into teams unless you are in an actively running session.

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Prepares learners to find and exploit security flaws in software systems, a skill that is standard for software developers

Provides hands-on practice in building a secure software system, mirroring real-world development work

Instructed by Jennifer Golbeck, a recognized researcher in cybersecurity

Requires extensive background knowledge, which may be a barrier to some learners

The course is only offered 3-4 times a year, which may not align with some learners' schedules

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Reviews summary

Challenging cybersecurity capstone

This challenging capstone course presents an intensive experience for learners, allowing them to build and evaluate secure software systems. Reviews indicate that the project itself is valuable, but organization and grading processes are major pain points. Students report confusion and frustration with unclear assignment instructions and lack of guidance from mentors. Peer review is another weak spot, with students reporting a lack of consistency and trust in the process. Despite these issues, the course does offer valuable hands-on experience and the opportunity to learn about secure software development practices.

Valuable capstone project experience

"The project is very useful and interesting"

Confusing and unclear organization

"The way the tasks after the initial assignment are presented is VERY confusing."

"The organization of the project and the reviewing process is a mess."

Unfair and inconsistent grading

"The grading process sucks completely."

"Peer reviews were awful."

No mentor support or guidance

"I haven't seen a single reply from mentors."

"If I would have known before I would have taken another specialization for Cybersecurity and not this one."

Unreliable and unfair peer review

"We’re supposed to replicate the stuff the team found in their own app, WE ARE NOT PROVIDED LINKS TO SAID APP, SO HOW IM SUPPOSED TO CORRECTLY CHECK EVERYTHING?!"

"Many users taking course are offering to falsely rate your project unless you rate their at 100%"

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Cybersecurity Capstone Project with these activities:

Review Python

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Refresh your memory on the basics of Python syntax and semantics to enhance your understanding of the course material and coding assignments.

Browse courses on Python Programming

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Start by reviewing the official Python documentation
Go through tutorials on Python data types, operators, and control flow
Solve coding challenges on platforms like LeetCode or HackerRank to practice your skills

Organize and Review Course Materials

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Improve your understanding by organizing and reviewing course materials.

Browse courses on Organization

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Gather all course materials, including notes, assignments, and quizzes.
Organize the materials by topic.
Review the materials regularly.

Follow Tutorials on OWASP Top 10 Vulnerabilities

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Gain a deeper understanding of OWASP Top 10 vulnerabilities by following tutorials.

Browse courses on OWASP Top 10

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Visit the OWASP website.
Read the documentation on OWASP Top 10 vulnerabilities.
Follow tutorials on how to prevent these vulnerabilities.

Ten other activities

Expand to see all activities and additional details

Show all 13 activities

Read 'Secure Coding: Principles and Practices'

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Gain a solid understanding of secure coding principles and practices by reading this book.

View The Art of Software Security Assessment on Amazon

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Purchase the book from Amazon or another retailer.
Read the book thoroughly, taking notes as you go.
Complete the exercises at the end of each chapter.

Explore Network Security with Hands-on Labs

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Participate in guided labs to gain practical experience in configuring and managing network security systems, enhancing your understanding of the course concepts.

Browse courses on network security

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Follow online tutorials on network security tools like Wireshark and Nmap
Set up a lab environment using virtualization or cloud platforms
Configure firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and VPNs to secure your network

Penetration Testing Exercises

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Practice applying penetration testing techniques by working through hands-on exercises in a lab environment.

Browse courses on Penetration Testing

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Set up a lab environment for penetration testing
Identify vulnerabilities in a sample network
Exploit vulnerabilities to gain access to the network
Write a report on your findings and recommendations

Solve Coding Challenges on HackerRank

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Strengthen your coding skills by solving coding challenges on HackerRank.

Browse courses on Coding Challenges

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Create an account on HackerRank.
Choose a challenge to solve.
Solve the challenge using the programming language of your choice.
Submit your solution for review.

Participate in Study Groups

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Enhance your learning by collaborating with peers in study groups.

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Find a study group or create your own.
Meet regularly to discuss course material.
Work together on assignments and projects.

Build a Secure Web Application

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Solidify your understanding of secure coding by building a secure web application.

Browse courses on Web Application Security

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Choose a programming language and framework.
Design the application architecture with security in mind.
Implement the application using secure coding practices.
Test the application for vulnerabilities.
Deploy the application to a secure hosting environment.

Security Vulnerability Assessment Report

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Conduct a mock security vulnerability assessment of a real-world system or application. This hands-on experience will reinforce your knowledge of security testing techniques and cultivate your critical thinking skills.

Browse courses on Vulnerability Assessment

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Choose a target system or application to assess
Use vulnerability scanning tools like Nessus or OpenVAS to identify potential vulnerabilities
Analyze the results, prioritize vulnerabilities, and recommend remediation measures
Document your findings in a comprehensive report

Design and Implement a Security Solution

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Apply your knowledge of cybersecurity principles by designing and implementing a security solution for a specific use case.

Browse courses on Security Design

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Identify a specific use case for a security solution
Design a security solution that meets the requirements
Implement the security solution in a test environment
Test and evaluate the effectiveness of the security solution
Document the security solution and its implementation

Contribute to Open Source Security Projects

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Deepen your understanding of cybersecurity by contributing to open source security projects.

Browse courses on Open Source Security

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Find an open source security project on GitHub.
Review the project's documentation.
Identify an area where you can contribute.
Submit a pull request with your contribution.

Conduct a Security Audit of a Website

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Test your cybersecurity skills by conducting a security audit of a website.

Browse courses on Security Audit

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Generate a report of your findings.
Choose a website to audit.
Use a tool like Acunetix or Burp Suite to scan the website for vulnerabilities.
Analyze the results of the scan.

Career center

Learners who complete Cybersecurity Capstone Project will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Security Analyst

A Security Analyst is responsible for identifying, assessing, and mitigating cybersecurity risks. This course provides a strong foundation in cybersecurity principles and practices, helping students develop the skills necessary to succeed in this role. Students will learn how to design and implement secure systems, as well as how to detect and respond to security breaches.

See salaries and explore the career path for Security Analyst

Cybersecurity Consultant

A Cybersecurity Consultant provides advice and guidance to organizations on how to improve their cybersecurity posture. This course provides students with the knowledge and skills necessary to succeed in this role, including how to identify and mitigate security risks, how to implement security controls, and how to respond to security incidents.

See salaries and explore the career path for Cybersecurity Consultant

Security Engineer

A Security Engineer designs, implements, and maintains security systems. This course provides students with the knowledge and skills necessary to build secure systems, including how to identify and mitigate vulnerabilities, how to implement security controls, and how to respond to security incidents.

See salaries and explore the career path for Security Engineer

Penetration Tester

A Penetration Tester looks for vulnerabilities in an organization's systems and networks. This course provides students with the knowledge and skills necessary to succeed in this role, including how to identify and mitigate security risks, how to implement security controls, and how to respond to security incidents.

See salaries and explore the career path for Penetration Tester

Cloud Security Engineer

A Cloud Security Engineer designs and implements security for cloud-based systems. This course provides students with the knowledge and skills necessary to succeed in this role, including how to identify and mitigate security risks, how to implement security controls, and how to respond to security incidents.

See salaries and explore the career path for Cloud Security Engineer

Cybersecurity Manager

A Cybersecurity Manager is responsible for overseeing the security of an organization's information systems. This course provides students with the knowledge and skills necessary to succeed in this role, including how to identify and mitigate security risks, how to implement security controls, and how to respond to security incidents.

See salaries and explore the career path for Cybersecurity Manager

Security Researcher

A Security Researcher discovers and exploits vulnerabilities in software and systems. This course provides students with the knowledge and skills necessary to succeed in this role, including how to identify and mitigate security risks, how to implement security controls, and how to respond to security incidents.

See salaries and explore the career path for Security Researcher

Vulnerability Analyst

A Vulnerability Analyst identifies and assesses vulnerabilities in software and systems. This course provides students with the knowledge and skills necessary to succeed in this role, including how to identify and mitigate security risks, how to implement security controls, and how to respond to security incidents.

See salaries and explore the career path for Vulnerability Analyst

Security Operations Center Analyst

A Security Operations Center Analyst monitors and responds to security incidents. This course provides students with the knowledge and skills necessary to succeed in this role, including how to identify and mitigate security risks, how to implement security controls, and how to respond to security incidents.

See salaries and explore the career path for Security Operations Center Analyst

Network Security Engineer

A Network Security Engineer designs, implements, and maintains network security systems. This course provides students with the knowledge and skills necessary to succeed in this role, including how to identify and mitigate security risks, how to implement security controls, and how to respond to security incidents.

See salaries and explore the career path for Network Security Engineer

Cyber Threat Intelligence Analyst

A Cyber Threat Intelligence Analyst collects and analyzes information about cyber threats and provides recommendations on how to mitigate risks. This course provides students with the knowledge and skills necessary to succeed in this role, including how to identify and mitigate security risks, how to implement security controls, and how to respond to security incidents.

See salaries and explore the career path for Cyber Threat Intelligence Analyst

Incident Responder

An Incident Responder responds to security incidents and helps to restore normal operations. This course provides students with the knowledge and skills necessary to succeed in this role, including how to identify and mitigate security risks, how to implement security controls, and how to respond to security incidents.

See salaries and explore the career path for Incident Responder

Information Security Analyst

An Information Security Analyst is responsible for protecting an organization's information assets from unauthorized access, use, disclosure, disruption, modification, or destruction. This course provides students with the knowledge and skills necessary to succeed in this role, including how to identify and mitigate security risks, how to implement security controls, and how to respond to security incidents.

See salaries and explore the career path for Information Security Analyst

Cybersecurity Architect

A Cybersecurity Architect designs and implements cybersecurity solutions for organizations. This course provides students with the knowledge and skills necessary to succeed in this role, including how to identify and mitigate security risks, how to implement security controls, and how to respond to security incidents.

See salaries and explore the career path for Cybersecurity Architect

Chief Information Security Officer

A Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) is responsible for the overall security of an organization's information systems. This course may be useful for students who wish to pursue a career in this role, as it provides a strong foundation in cybersecurity principles and practices.

See salaries and explore the career path for Chief Information Security Officer

Reading list

We've selected 11 books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Cybersecurity Capstone Project.

Cryptography and Network Security: Principles and...

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Provides a comprehensive overview of cryptography and network security. It covers topics such as symmetric and asymmetric encryption, hash functions, and network protocols. It valuable resource for students who want to learn about the foundations of cryptography and network security.

Cybersecurity Capstone Project

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Reviews summary

Challenging cybersecurity capstone

Activities

Career center

Reading list

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