Please follow the marking criteria and answer the questions and referencing should be intext and APA referencing style. Use the below underlined links for an ease.and if you like use NIST.GOV website for the topic or atleast use it in the referencing
Lecturer requirements:
As I discussed last Friday, imagine you are working for a firm and the manager asks you to write a report for them to evaluate 3 technologies that can solve a security problem/threat/headache the firm is experiencing. So define the problem and provide a solution in your report, the 3 technologies should be evaluated against the criteria you describe as appropriate for your problem, I suggest you use a comparison matrix like the one below. Don’t be scared you only have to evaluate 3 similar technologies…
http://www.daptechnology.com/fileadmin/images/Familes/FireSpy_Comparison_Table_V2C.png
Don’t be fooled by the marketing jargon, be rational and critical of the claims so research both positive and negative aspects about the products you selected.
I have two useful resources for your assignment available under the additional material folder on Interact. Including a sample commercial database comparison report which evaluates database security features and the ASD threats and mitigation strategies that can be used as topics for your report.
https://interact2.csu.edu.au/webapps/blackboard/content/listContentEditable.jsp?content_id=_558648_1&course_id=_7008_1&content_id=_603161_1
Assignment - 2
Value: 15%
Due date: 21-Sep-2015
Return date: 13-Oct-2015
Length: 1700 words
Submission method options
Alternative submission method
Task
Task:
Choosing the correct security solutions is of utmost importance in today's organizations. Consider an area of information technology (IT) security, such as, network security, e-mail security, database security and so on. Identify and research three different commercial (you may also consider solutions/products that are available with a -public- license) IT security solutions/products for the chosen security area. The three products must target the same security issues. [Note: Instead of IT security specific products such as antivirus software etc. you may also choose to research the security features of products such as database management systems, operating systems and so on.]
Prepare a report providing categorical feature comparison for the three products in the chosen category and make recommendations about the products to assist purchasing decision.

Your report may include the following sections:
• Executive overview.
• Introduction.
• Product description.
• Detailed feature comparison.
• Conclusions and recommendations.
• Reference list
• Appendices (if any)
Length of the report:1500~2000 words, excluding references and appendices.

Rationale
This assessment item is aligned with the following learning outcome of the subject:
• be able to justify security goals and the importance of maintaining the secure computing environment against digital threats;
Depending on the IT security area chosen, the assessment item also relates to one or more of the following learning outcomes of the subject:
• be able to explain the fundamental concepts of cryptographic algorithms;
• be able to examine malicious activities that may affect the security of a computer program and justify the choice of various controls to mitigate threats;
• be able to compare and contrast the security mechanisms of a trusted operating system with those used in a general purpose operating system;
• be able to investigate and justify the use of the access control mechanisms and user authentication processes;
• be able to compare and contrast foundational security policies and models that deal with integrity and confidentiality.
Marking criteria
Assessment criteria
Assessable Components HD
100% - 85% DI
84% - 75% CR
74% - 65% PS
64% - 50% FL
49% - 0
Selection of products.
(8 marks) IT security products with highly significant applications. IT security products with significant applications. Relevant IT security product with appropriate applications. IT security product with limited applications. Fails to satisfy the minimum requirements as stated in the assessment.
Possible Marks 8.0 – 6.8 6.7 – 6.0 5.9 – 5.2 5.1 – 4.0 3.9 – 0
Executive summary
(10 marks) A professionally written executive summary providing a quick overview or synopsis of the report, summarising the essential parts, such as:
-the purpose of the report
-the methods used to conduct the research
-the result of the research
-the conclusions drawn from the research
-recommendations for future actions. A professionally written executive summary providing a quick overview or synopsis of the report, summarising the essential parts, such as:
•the purpose of the report
•the methods used to conduct the research
•the result of the research
•the conclusions drawn from the research
•recommendations for future actions.
Minor omissions only. A professionally written executive summary providing a quick overview or synopsis of the report, summarising the essential parts, such as:
•the purpose of the report
•the methods used to conduct the research
•the result of the research
•the conclusions drawn from the research
•recommendations for future actions.
Some omissions. An executive summary providing a quick overview or synopsis of the report, summarising the essential parts.

Major omissions. Fails to satisfy the minimum requirements of an executive summary.
Possible Marks 10.0 – 8.5 8.4 – 7.5 7.4 – 6.4 6.4 – 5 4.9 – 0
Product description. (8 marks) Comprehensive description of the products including all relevant features. Comprehensive description of the products including relevant features. Minor omissions only. Good description of the products including relevant features. Some omissions. Limited description of the products and their relevant features. Fails to satisfy the minimum requirements of describing the products.
Possible Marks 8.0 – 6.8 6.7 – 6.0 5.9 – 5.2 5.1 – 4.0 3.9 – 0
Feature comparison. (40 marks) All relevant features have been considered. Method of comparison appropriate in the context of the research. Appropriate level of details. All relevant features have been considered. Method of comparison appropriate in the context of the research. Appropriate level of details. Minor omissions only. Mostly all relevant features have been considered. Method of comparison appropriate in the context of the research. Some omissions. Some of the relevant features have been considered. Method of comparison mostly appropriate in the context of the research. Lacking in details. Fails to satisfy the minimum requirements of feature comparison.

Possible Marks 40.0 – 34 33.6 – 30 29.6 – 26 25.6 – 20 19.6 – 0
Recommend ations (24 marks)
Presents comprehensive findings and recommendations, grounded in thorough feature analysis. Presents comprehensive findings and recommendations, grounded in thorough feature analysis.
Minor omissions only. Presents mostly complete findings and recommend ations, grounded in thorough feature analysis. Some omissions. Presents some findings and recommend ations, based on the feature analysis.
Some omissions. Fails to satisfy the minimum requirements of presenting recommend ations.
Possible Marks 24.0 – 20.4 20.16 – 18 17.76 – 15.6 15.36 – 12 11.76 – 0
Presentation; referencing using APA referencing system including in text citations. (10 marks)
Professionally presented report including all relevant sections as stated in the assessment. Faultless referencing, including reference list and in text citations. High quality references. Professionally presented report including all relevant sections as stated in the assessment. Minor omissions only.
Very good referencing, including reference list and in text citations.
High quality references. Professionally presented report including all relevant sections as stated in the assessment. Some omissions.
Good referencing, including reference list and in text citations.
Good quality references. Average presentation.
Evidence of rudimentary referencing skills.
Mix of good and poor quality references. Major omissions in presentation.
Sub-standard referencing.
Poor quality references.
Possible Marks 10.0 – 8.5 8.4 – 7.5 7.4 – 6.5 6.4 – 5.0 4.9 – 0