The course introduces the main principles underlying distributed systems: processes, communication, naming, synchronization, consistency, fault tolerance, and security. Students will be familiar with some of the main paradigms in distributed systems: object-based systems, file systems, web-based and coordination-based systems. On the completion of the unit, students will understand the fundamentals of distributed computing and be able to design and develop distributed systems and applications.

The course covers theory and practice of network security giving detailed study of symmetric and asymmetric cryptography algorithms, pseudorandom functions and generators, hashing algorithms, message authentication codes, Key management through Diffie-hellman key agreement & Kerberos, entity authentication through CHAP. The course also provides the students with a closer look into security protocols at different network layers such as SSL/TLS, IP Sec, VPNs, network security devices and designing secure networks.