CIS 195 Security in Amazon Web Services
Semester: Spring 2023
Class CIS 195 – Online – No Set Scheduled Meetings
Student Time Commitment: 6 to 9 hours per week
Office Hours: Thursdays, 4:00pm-6:00pm
Class Numbers: 17334/17335
Class Introduction
Welcome to Cloud Security with Amazon Web Services
We strive to create a learning community here — one where you learn from myself, the material and your fellow students through engaging and educational activities each and every week. Although we cannot be physically together, we can still create a feeling of connection to each other through a shared experience with the assignments, labs, and discussions. Here, you along with everyone else in class are valued members of this learning community. During this Covid-19 life we are living, there are additional challenges and responsibilities in life to family, friends and work. Sometimes, because we are human, we can get sick or just become overloaded. So, if you have reached a point where you can’t meet an assignment deadline, please contact me–we will work together to make a path to success. We are in this together.
If you are a student with a disability, please do not hesitate to let me know at the beginning of the semester, if you like to. You can access the Student Services Online for assistance; access to campus is closed due to the pandemic. The telephone number there is (818) 722-6752.
If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to me. I am here to help. The best way to contact me is through Canvas Private Message (Inbox). I will get back to you within 24 hours, Monday thru Friday. Over the weekend it might be 48 hours.
I am excited to be guiding this class, I love working with Amazon Web Services and I hope you will, too.
–George
Class Description and Overview
Protecting the confidentiality, integrity and availability of computing systems and data is of utmost importance to all organizations. In this hands-on introductory class, students learn how Amazon Web Service (AWS) uses redundant and layered controls, continuous validation and testing, and a substantial amount of automation to ensure the underlying infrastructure is continuously monitored and protected. Students examine the AWS Shared Responsibility Model and access the AWS Management Console to learn more about security tools and features provided by the AWS platform.
Introducing the Instructor
Hi, I’m George McKinney, a Software Developer based in Los Angeles. For 17 years, I have worked on projects for many companies including Acura, Disney, Samsung, LG, Kraft and numerous medium-sized firms and startups. My journey as a professional developer began at Los Angeles Community College where I studied C/C++, Java and Macromedia Flash. I learned computer science and applied it in marketing, sales, automation and communication solutions. I absolutely love what I do and sharing it. As I became more experienced, I went from attending workshops and conferences to presenting at them. I co-founded a mobile user group, organized meetups, conferences and travelled the world for “fun and profit.” Along the way, I taught software for the US Navy, City National Bank, Starwood Hotels, Stanford University, Cisco Systems, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratories, and other places. I have an MBA from the University of Southern California and my undergraduate degree was in History at Stanford University.
Nine years ago, I started using Amazon Web Services because I had heard something about Cloud Computing and I thought I could use it to put a website on it… something about S3 and a lot of EC2 and I figured I should have a look. At the time, I wasn’t much interested because mobile apps was in high gear and I focused my attention there. Five years years later, I began to see more job announcements come out requesting AWS from companies like Disney, Fox and others and I told myself to pay more attention to this. Around the same time, I got an Amazon Alexa and discovered that it was programmable and I was hooked. I reopened my AWS console and saw cobwebs on my S3 buckets and went straight writing Lambda functios with Node.JS and I haven’t looked back. Today, I work on large value projects building call centers, event rooms and communications platforms. I feel great when I see my work in people’s hands.
Instructor Contact Information
Please use the Canvas Inbox to send me an email so I receive push notification to my mobile phone and can respond to you faster. It will also keep all our course-related correspondence together.
I respond to emails and private messages within 24 hours, during the hours of 9:00 am to 9:00 pm, Monday through Friday, and 48 hours on weekends. My office hours are Wednesday and Friday afternoons, 2 to 4 pm. I can also meet with you individually but contact me in advance to set a day and time.
Accommodation Statement for Students with Disabilities
The college and I are commited to your success here in this course. If you were not already aware we have resources described below for you. Please contact me if I can be of help or you need accomodation.
Disabled Student Programs and Services (DSP&S)
If you are a student with a disability and require classroom accommodations, please contact me to discuss arrangements. The sooner I am aware that you are eligible for accommodations, the quicker I will be able to provide them. If you have not done so already, you may also wish to contact the DSP&S Office in Instruction Building 1018 (phone 818-364-7732 / TTD (818) 364-7861 ) and ask them to contact me with a letter stating the accommodations that are needed.
Students requesting academic accommodations should first contact them online or by email , otherwise use the following procedure:
Step 1: Obtain documentation of your disability from a licensed professional. You may contact DSPS to request a Disability Verification Form.
Step 2: Make an appointment to meet with a DSPS Specialist to review your documentation and discuss reasonable accommodations.
To schedule a meeting, please call DSPS at (818) 364-7732.
Step 3: Bring your disability documentation to your DSPS appointment. The DSPS office is located in room 1018 of the Instructional Building.
Step 4: Each semester, reach written accommodation agreement with the DSPS Specialist and your instructor.
To be most effective, students should complete this process by the end of the 3rd week of the semester. Tests with required accommodations must be taken at the DSPS office. Since this course is completely online, you can take tests where it is most comfortable for you.
Student Learning Outcomes
Student Learning Outcomes
- The student will develop an understanding of AWS Identity Access Management, event logging and system monitoring.
- The student will demonstrate an understanding of how to implement AWS networking and firewall configurations.
Course Objectives
Upon satisfactory completion of the course, students will be able to:
- Describe the AWS Shared Responsibility Model.
- Describe security best practices employed with AWS applications.
- Manage security groups, access control lists, users, roles and permissions.
- Create secure websites using SSL/TLS certificates.
- Support multi-factor authentication in their AWS applications.
- Monitor and log security events using AWS tools.
Basis for Grading, Late Policy and Extra Credit
Homework Assignments
During the semester, assignments must be completed, by the scheduled date. You will be dropped from the class if you fail to turn in two assignments.
Homework is to be submitted by the due date (Friday midnight). Late homework will not receive full credit, but will be accepted until Sunday midnight for 10% penalty. Homework must be submitted using the blue Submit button on the assignment’s page.
If there are extenuating circumstances, send me a canvas message with the name of the assignment you wish to make a past due submission, and I will consider your request.
Threaded Discussions
Participation in the weekly discussion group online through Canvas is required. Threaded discussions account for 10% of your total grade, marks are rewarded on participation vs. non-participation.
Quizzes
Each of the 8 weeks there will be a quiz to assess that week’s module.
Final Exam
A comprehensive final exam is at the end of the semester. It will cover most topics presented during the course.
Final Project
During the term, you will complete a class project. The project will consist of analyzing the design and development of a system which could utilize the cloud services discussed in class. You may either choose a system of your own or I will provide one that you can use that you will be familiar with if you cannot think of one from your own experience. You will be dropped from the class if you fail to complete the class project.
| Category | Percent |
| Homework Assignments | 30% |
| Discussion Participation | 10% |
| Quizzes | 20% |
| Final Exam | 20% |
| Final Project | 20% |
Final Letter Grade
Total Percentage
A = 90% -100%
B = 80% – 89%
C = 70% – 79%
D = 60% – 69%
F = 0% – 59%
Textbook and Class Materials
Required Text Book
There are no required text books for this course. I hope you will find all the course content and the videos in the Canvas shell to be sufficient material to succeed in this course.
Optional Reference Material
- O’Neill, Mark. Web Services Security, 2 ed. McGraw-Hill, 2014, ISBN: 978-0072224719.
- Hartman, Bret, Flinn, Donald, Beznosov, Konstantin. Mastering Web Services Security, 1 ed. Wiley, 2014, ISBN: 0471267163.
- Williams, Walter. Security for Service Oriented Architectures, 1 ed. Auerbach Publications, 2014, ISBN: 1466584025.
Assignments
Advice for Class Success
Canvas
This course was created using the Course Management System (CMS) called Canvas. For instructions on how to use it, I recommend reviewing their training videos. This knowledge will be beneficial for you in other courses you take in the California Community College system.
Communication
If you have not used the Canvas mobile app for you phone, try it out. You can participate in discussions, view assignments and send messages enabling you to stay on top of the course. See Contacting the Instructor for more information.
Software
In order to access Amazon Web Services, you will need to use a supported web browser. At the present time, Amazon supports the following browsers:
- Google Chrome: latest 3 versions
- Mozilla Firefox: latest 3 versions
- Microsoft Explorer: version 11 and higher Microsoft Edge: version 12 and higher
- Apple Safari: version 7, 8 and 9
Please use one of these supported products. Install this product on the computer you plan to use to access Amazon Web Services and the Canvas course shell.
Assessments
To do well in the course it is important that you complete the course work. For more detailed information, see the Basis for Grading page.
Class Attendance/Drop Policy
Attendance
Please contact me as early as possible if you will not be connected to the class longer for more than 3 days. I monitor the assignment submissions, discussions and conversations inbox for your participation. You are a valuable member of our learning community and we need you. Let me work with you to help keep you moving forward in your studies.
As per college policy, if a student is inactive for more than a week (if 8 week session) or two weeks (if 16 week session), the instructor may exclude the student from the class. For online class, this occurs when a student has not submitted assignments due that week. For materials covered in the class, refer to the schedule on Canvas. If a student misses two weeks in a row of assignments, they will be dropped.
Campus and Class Rules
STANDARDS FOR STUDENT CONDUCT:
Dishonesty, such as cheating or knowingly furnishing false information to instructors and college personnel, turning in work that is not one’s one will be grounds for disciplinary action at LAMC according to the Standards of Student Conduct as described on the LAMC Catalog. The penalty may range from no credit for the assignment up to an “F” grade and disciplinary action. Students are expected to adhere to all school policies, and to abide by the standards of student conduct as described in the Los Angeles Mission College Catalog. Any infringement upon the rights of other students in the class will not be tolerated. Please refer to LACCD Board Rul 9800 for further information.
Please read and be aware of the Student Code of Conduct for Los Angeles Mission College.
Los Angeles Mission College Honor Code
9803.12 Academic Dishonesty: Dishonesty, such as cheating, or knowingly furnishing false information to colleges.
This generally means violations of academic integrity which include, but are not limited to, the following actions: cheating on an exam, plagiarism, working together on an assignment, paper or project when the instructor has specifically stated students should not do so, submitting the same term paper to more than one instructor, or allowing another individual to assume one’s identity for the purpose of enhancing one’s grade.
Plagiarism Statement
All students must comply with the policies that regulate all forms of academic dishonesty, or academic misconduct, including plagiarism, self-plagiarism, fabrication, deception, cheating, and sabotage.
