- Cyber security
About me
Dr Ayman El Hajjar is a Senior Lecturer and Course Leader for the BSc Cyber Security and Forensics programme at the University of Westminster, where he also leads the Cyber Security research group. He previously served as Course Leader for the MSc Cyber Security and Forensics programme, during which the course achieved NCSC accreditation.
He holds an MSc in Wireless Networks from Queen Mary University of London and a PhD in Cryptography for the Internet of Things from Birkbeck, University of London, and is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. His research focuses on the security of the Internet of Things, smart infrastructures, and the use of cryptography to secure connected systems. Together with his PhD students, he explores new approaches to strengthen trust and resilience in connected systems.
Teaching
I am involved in teaching several modules for both undergraduate and postgraduate level.
Undergraduate:
- Cyber Security - (6COSC019W Level 6 Semester 2): This module examines various aspects of computer security and forensics giving a sound introduction to theoretical and practical areas such as network security, cryptography, security architecture and operations security.
- Network Security - (5CSEF002W Level 5 Semester 2): The module covers the fundamental concepts relating to network security, such as the CIA (Confidentiality, Integrity and Availability) paradigm. A broad range of vulnerabilities and threats in a network system are analysed including networking infrastructure and networking protocols. Corresponding mitigating techniques are scrutinised and investigations are conducted relating the material to current security trends. The UK legislation relating to malicious computer-based activity and what constitutes a violation is covered.
Postgraduate:
- Principles of Cyber Security- (7CSEF006W, term 1) This module examines various aspects of network security, including theoretical and practical areas. A substantial amount of work will be laboratory based involving the deployment of network security tools, the analysis of network data, identifying security threats to networked computer and devices, their consequences and methods of dealing with such threats. It provides an overview of security issues for networked systems.
Research
Dr Ayman's research focuses on looking at how existing security protocols can be used on infrastructure-less decentralized networks such as blockchain networks and the Internet of Things.
My main research activities are on the following topics:
- Internet of Things security
- Blockchain technologies for security
Smart cities and smart applications
- IPv6 and security
- Digital forensics
PhD Supervision:
Jose Maria Alonso India, active, topic "NFC implementation in IIoT/Cloud" role -Director of studies
Zahra Asghari, active, topic "Using blockchain to ensure integrity of data during transit in Internet of Things" role -Director of studies
Zeena Radwan, active, topic "Using blockchain to ensure integrity of data during transit in Internet of Things", role- Director of studies
Cihan Ucar, active, topic "Performance Analysis of Cellular IoT Systems and Networks" role- Second supervisor
Nargiza Akramova, active, topic "Securing IoT traffic against Timing based Side-Channel Attacks" role- Director of studies
He is also interested to hear from potential PhD students in the domain of Cyber Security and Forensics. Feel free to contact me for an informal chat.
Publications
For details of all my research outputs, visit my WestminsterResearch profile.