How to Prepare a High-Impact Discussion Paper and Executive Video Briefing in Cybersecurity

Assessment Overview

You will develop a discussion paper on a chosen topic and provide a video briefing summarising your findings. The discussion paper will be in the style of a traditional academic essay focused on exploring their chosen cyber security practice, technology, or trend.

• Assessment weight: 35%
• Discussion paper word limit: 2500 words (+/- 10% excluding references)
• Video Briefing: 5-minute recorded presentation (+/- 10%)

Discussion paper topics

Your organisation is grappling with a range of different topics. You've been asked to research one of the topics and prepare a discussion paper and present your findings back to your team:

• Identity is the new security perimeter. Do you agree or disagree with this statement? Justify your response.
• What are the requirements for a zero-trust security architecture? Describe at least three requirements and identify the types of controls and/or security practices required to satisfy the requirements.
• How can organisations prepare for the threat of cryptographically relevant quantum computers today? Describe at least two unique methods and assess how difficult they are to implement; how economical they are, and any other factors you think are relevant to adoption.
• Will artificial intelligence replace humans in the SOC? Justify your response and consider supporting and opposing arguments.
• Deception in cyber defence - what it is, how it relates to modern cybersecurity, its current state and its future.
• The current and emerging state of cyber defence in specific industries. These may include areas such as critical infrastructure (power, gas, electrical distribution, mining, manufacturing), banking, education and training etc. Other areas by negotiation with the course convenor.
• Threat Intelligence Sharing. What it is, how it works and the different communities that have been created. There are multiple communities, services, and commercial platforms that might need to be discussed in this way. What is the future of such services? Are they effective? What are their limitations?
• The increasing role of machine learning in cyber defence. What is it, what are the advantages and disadvantages, and what is the future of this space?
• The changing role of fog and cloud in cyber defence. What are these, how do they work and what does this mean for organisations?
• The changing nature of ransomware. This would need to include a small historic aspect but would need to focus on the most recent changes and expected changes going forward.
• Antisec and the security underground, historically and in modern times.
• Bug bounties and the exploit purchase ecosystem. Considerations might include how this works, are they effective and mature, and what are the advantages and disadvantages to their use. There is a lot of anecdotal discussion around these so it will require some good analysis.
• A historic cyber-attack. Consider the attack, impact, pathways, attacker, controls that would have changed the outcome, changes made after the attack, official outcomes. What changed in the short term and what were the long-term effects? Please make sure you have enough information and diversity of sources in your choice. Also, when choosing a case study do not use a case study you have used in another course.

Instructions

You will complete the following:

1. Choose a topic:
   • You may propose an alternative topic to your course convenor. Any proposed alternative topic must be pre-approved before the end of week 4. Give yourself plenty of time.
2. Research and prepare a discussion paper: This is an opportunity to expand on a topic related to the field and research it in a more in-depth way. This work needs to go beyond just reviewing the works that have been done in the chosen topic but to show a critical argument or novelty.
   • Note – this is not a personal opinion but needs to be framed in an academic way, providing a logical argument with facts and references.
   • We expect the discussion paper to follow the structure of a traditional essay in that you are to introduce your topic, present your findings, take a position and argue your points, and provide a conclusion.
   • Your references should be of a high quality (not LinkedIn, blog posts or social media). Good sources include:
     • Academic papers (Journals or Conferences)
     • Books
     • Standards organisations (like NIST or ISO)
     • Government organisations (like ASD)
     • Legal Proceedings (if looking at cyber incidents)
     • Primary sources (Like press releases from organisations involved in an incident)
     • Reputable media outlets
     • Sources like blog post can be relevant when from established experts, however use these sparingly. 
3. Summarise your findings and position in your video briefing:
   • This presentation is your opportunity to demonstrate your understanding of the chosen topic. 
   • We expect your video to be a narrated slide deck; submitted as an MP4.
     • Powerpoint is a good tool to create your recording. 
   • Tailor your presentation for a non-technical executive audience, as though you are briefing your senior leadership.
   • Synthesise the discussion paper down to its key points; do not try to fit your entire essay into the presentation.

Discussion Paper & Video Briefing on Cybersecurity Topic

Assessment Components:

1. Discussion Paper

   • Weight: 35% of final grade

   • Word limit: 2500 words (+/- 10%, excluding references)

   • Style: Academic essay

   • Objective: Critically explore a chosen cybersecurity topic, trend, or practice with evidence-based arguments.

2. Video Briefing

   • Duration: 5 minutes (+/- 10%)

   • Format: Narrated slide deck (MP4 submission)

   • Objective: Summarise discussion paper findings in a clear, concise way for a non-technical executive audience.

Key Requirements:

• Choose a topic from the provided list or propose an alternative (pre-approved by week 4).

• Conduct thorough research using high-quality sources: journals, books, standards, government publications, legal documents, reputable media.

• Present a logical argument in the discussion paper, not a personal opinion.

• Structure the essay traditionally: introduction, literature/findings review, critical discussion, conclusion.

• Video should condense the essay into key points, avoiding technical jargon for executives.

Guidance from an Academic Mentor

Step 1: Topic Selection

• Review the list of suggested topics and identify one that aligns with your interests and has sufficient academic sources.

• Mentor Guidance: Consider relevance, availability of literature, and potential for critical analysis.

• Example: “Identity is the new security perimeter” could be chosen for its current relevance in zero-trust architectures.

Step 2: Research Planning

• Identify primary and secondary sources: academic journals, NIST/ISO standards, government reports, case studies.

• Mentor Guidance: Create a research matrix summarizing key findings, source credibility, and relevance to your topic.

Step 3: Outline Development

• Introduction: Define the topic, scope, and importance.

• Literature Review / Background: Summarize existing research or standards.

• Critical Discussion: Present evidence, analyze perspectives, evaluate effectiveness, and form a position.

• Conclusion: Synthesize findings, state your position clearly, and highlight implications.

Step 4: Writing the Discussion Paper

• Mentor Guidance: Use formal academic writing, cite sources consistently, and ensure arguments are logical.

• Include:

  • Facts and data supporting your position

  • Analysis of trends, technologies, or practices

  • Identification of challenges and opportunities

Step 5: Preparing the Video Briefing

• Condense the paper into 5 slides (max 6–7) with key points.

• Use clear visuals, minimal text, and narrative that explains the points in simple terms.

• Mentor Guidance: Practice presenting as if briefing senior executives; emphasize implications and actionable insights.

Step 6: Review & Finalization

• Proofread paper and slides for clarity, accuracy, and flow.

• Ensure all references are correctly formatted.

• Submit discussion paper and MP4 video within deadlines.

Assessment Outcome & Learning Objectives Achieved

Outcome:

• A well-structured discussion paper demonstrating critical understanding of a cybersecurity topic.

• A concise, professional video briefing suitable for executive audiences.

Learning Objectives Covered:

1. Ability to conduct in-depth research using credible sources.

2. Critical analysis and synthesis of cybersecurity trends, practices, or technologies.

3. Academic writing skills with structured argumentation.

4. Professional communication skills through a video briefing.

5. Application of cybersecurity knowledge to real-world scenarios.

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