Preface

This document includes one of several possible ideas for the HDplus Project. There is no requirement for

your project proposal to follow any of these ideas, instead they provide examples of potential topics from

which you can build a project proposal. You may use any of these idea directly, modified, as inspiration for

your own project proposal, or not at all. Completion of any tasks$/$steps indicated below does not guarantee

any particular grade is awarded, they are only provided as a basis to stimulate your own thoughts $$ it is

your project. You are responsible for ensuring the project you provide adequately demonstrates mastery

of the Unit Learning Outcomes for the unit.

Project Idea

The focus of the studies in this unit are on the various protocols and how they work and may be affected by

particular cyberattacks, however it is also possible to consider the various network components and how

they use these protocols. For example, consider some of the common protocols used: email protocols, web

protocols $($HTTP$),$ and DNS$.$ All of these examples protocols were also developed many years ago, with

HTTP being the youngest dating back to the $1990$s$.$ Improvements have been made to each of them over

the years, however they each still suffer numerous problems.

In this project concept you would consider how to improve and$/$or replace some of the protocols

developed for the Internet over the years. Some examples of current protocols have been mentioned

above, but there are also protocols that are no longer in use or their use is declining. There are multiple

directions you could take this project in:

$$ You could develop improved clients and$/$or servers for the above protocols, these could begin by

interacting with the existing clients$/$servers and then you could extend the programs to implement

new functionality or improve security.

$$ You could develop or research formal designs to entirely replace the existing clients, servers,

and$/$or protocols.

$$ You could modify existing tools to incorporate newer approaches, such as implementing

multifactor authentication into an existing network service, or improving the visibility of the

service$$s performance $($custom code, Nagios plugin, etc.$).$

You could complete any development work in any programming language and$/$or framework. Like any

project, the key is to identify a topic of interest and consider how to emphasise the ULOs in the work you

complete.

SIT$716$ Computer Networks and Security

HDplus Project Idea

Build$-$Your$-$Own Network Service