Course overview
Duration: 8 weeks
Total hours: 24 hours (3 hours per week)
Level: Beginner
Target group: Grades 7 to 10
Course content: Download the course flyer (PDF)
Students explore cybersecurity concepts using Microsoft Windows, Linux and Amazon Web Services.
Course structure (8 weeks)
Week 1: Introduction to cybersecurity and operating systems
Topics
What is cybersecurity?
CIA Triad (Confidentiality, Integrity, Availability)
Overview of Microsoft Windows and Linux; types of hackers (white, gray, black hat)
Activities
Explore Windows security settings
Compare the Windows and Linux interfaces
Mini lab: create strong vs weak passwords
Mini project: Create a personal cyber safety checklist. Quiz: basic cybersecurity terms.
Week 2: Network security and firewalls
Topics
What is a network?
How firewalls work
Types of firewalls
Introduction to the Zero Trust security model
Activities
Simulate a firewall rule using classroom role-play
Draw a simple home network diagram
Mini project: Design a secure home network plan. Quiz: identify safe vs unsafe network practices.
Week 3: Malware and types of attacks
Topics
What is malware? (virus, worm, trojan, ransomware, spyware)
Phishing and social engineering
DDoS attacks
Brute force attacks
Activities
Phishing email identification game
Watch and analyze a ransomware case study
Mini project: Create a cyber threat awareness poster. Quiz: identify attack types from real-life examples.
Week 4: Antivirus, protection and detection strategies
Topics
How antivirus software works
Signature-based vs behavior-based detection
Protection strategies (updates, backups, MFA)
Detection and incident response basics
Activities
Run a safe demo malware simulation (educational example)
Create a backup plan for a fictional company
Mini project: Develop a personal device protection plan. Quiz: match security tools to threats.
Week 5: Security architecture and layers
Topics
What is security architecture?
Data security
Application security
Platform security
User security
Network security
Activities
Design layered security for a school system
Group discussion: what happens if one layer fails?
Mini project: Build a layered security diagram. Quiz: identify security layers in real-world scenarios.
Week 6: Cloud security and AWS basics
Topics
What is cloud computing?
Introduction to Amazon Web Services
Shared Responsibility Model
Basics of cloud data protection
Activities
Simulate cloud storage access permissions
Design secure login policies
Mini project: Create a secure cloud storage plan. Quiz: cloud vs local storage security questions.
Week 7: Cyber laws, privacy and compliance
Topics
What is PII (Personally Identifiable Information)?
PCI (Payment Card Industry security standards)
GDPR principles
COPPA child data protection
Why compliance matters
Activities
Identify PII in sample forms
Debate: should companies collect personal data?
Mini project: Create a privacy policy for a school app. Quiz: identify compliance violations in scenarios.
Week 8: Final project and review
Final capstone project: Build a cybersecurity protection plan. Students (individual or teams) will:
Choose a scenario (school, small business, gaming company, hospital)
Identify possible threats
Design security architecture (data, network, user, platform)
Include firewall rules, antivirus plan, detection strategy
Include cloud security (if using AWS)
Present the solution (5 to 7 minutes)
Requirements
Threat analysis
Protection strategy
Detection plan
Compliance considerations (PII/PCI/GDPR/COPPA)
Visual diagram
Tools and technologies
Microsoft Windows
Linux
Amazon Web Services
Diagram tools (Canva / Draw.io)
Web browser
Presentation software