CS3524: Distributed Systems and Security

CS3524: DISTRIBUTED SYSTEMS AND SECURITY (2024-2025)

Last modified: 20 Jun 2025 15:06

Course Overview

This course discusses core concepts of distributed systems, such as programming with distributed objects, multiple threads of control, multi-tire client-server systems, transactions and concurrency control, distributed transactions and commit protocols, and fault-tolerant systems. The course also discusses aspects of security, such as cryptography, authentication, digital signatures and certificates, SSL etc. Weekly practical sessions cover a set of techniques for the implementation of distributed system concepts such as programming with remote object invocation, thread management and socket communication.

Course Details

Study Type	Undergraduate	Level	3
Term	Second Term	Credit Points	15 credits (7.5 ECTS credits)
Campus	Aberdeen	Sustained Study	No
Co-ordinators	Professor Felipe Meneguzzi Dr Mingjun Zhong

Qualification Prerequisites

Either Programme Level 3 or Programme Level 4

What courses & programmes must have been taken before this course?

Any Undergraduate Programme (Studied)
Computing Science (CS)

What other courses must be taken with this course?

None.

What courses cannot be taken with this course?

CS3534 Distributed Systems (Studied)

Are there a limited number of places available?

Course Description

Introduction to Distributed Systems.
Programming with Distributed Objects: Java RMI; Object Serialization; Managing Multiple Threads of Control; Security Policies; Multi-Tier Client-Server Systems.
Programming with Distributed Data Sources: Transactions and Concurrency Control; Distributed Transactions; Replication; Fault-Tolerant Systems.
Security in Distributed Systems: Cryptography, Authentication, Digital Signatures and Certificates, SSL, Firewalls.

Contact Teaching Time

Information on contact teaching time is available from the course guide.

Teaching Breakdown

More Information about Week Numbers

Details, including assessments, may be subject to change until 21st September 2026 for Term 1 and Full Year courses and 8th January 2027 for Term 2 courses.

Summative Assessments

Class Test - Multiple Choice Questions

Assessment Type	Summative	Weighting	10
Assessment Weeks		Feedback Weeks		Look up Week Numbers
Feedback	1-hour MCQ Test (on campus)

Learning Outcomes

Sorry, we don't have this information available just now. Please check the course guide on or with the Course Coordinator
Knowledge Level	Thinking Skill	Outcome

Computer Programming Exercise

Assessment Type	Summative	Weighting	30
Assessment Weeks		Feedback Weeks		Look up Week Numbers
Feedback	Carried out as groupwork.

Learning Outcomes

Sorry, we don't have this information available just now. Please check the course guide on or with the Course Coordinator
Knowledge Level	Thinking Skill	Outcome

Exam

Assessment Type	Summative	Weighting	50
Assessment Weeks		Feedback Weeks		Look up Week Numbers
Feedback	2-hour Exam (on campus)

Learning Outcomes

Sorry, we don't have this information available just now. Please check the course guide on or with the Course Coordinator
Knowledge Level	Thinking Skill	Outcome

Class Test - Multiple Choice Questions

Assessment Type	Summative	Weighting	10
Assessment Weeks		Feedback Weeks		Look up Week Numbers
Feedback	1-hour MCQ Test (on campus)

Learning Outcomes

Sorry, we don't have this information available just now. Please check the course guide on or with the Course Coordinator
Knowledge Level	Thinking Skill	Outcome

Formative Assessment

There are no assessments for this course.

Resit Assessments

Resubmission/resit of failed elements (pass marks carried forward)

Assessment Type	Summative	Weighting
Assessment Weeks		Feedback Weeks	Look up Week Numbers
Feedback

Learning Outcomes

Sorry, we don't have this information available just now. Please check the course guide on or with the Course Coordinator
Knowledge Level	Thinking Skill	Outcome

Course Learning Outcomes

Knowledge Level	Thinking Skill	Outcome
Factual	Remember	ILOs for this course are available in the course guide.

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