IY2S512 Critical Systems Infrastructure Assessment Brief 2026: MQTT Threat Analysis for a Welsh Healthcare CPS | University of South Wales
3 min read IY2S512 Critical Systems Infrastructure (University of South Wales): Practical Written Work 1 Brief 2026
| University | University of South Wales, Faculty of Computing, Engineering and Science |
| Module | IY2S512 Critical Systems Infrastructure |
| Assessment | Practical Written Work 1: Threat analysis and mitigation of a given CPS domain |
| Weighting | 50% |
| Word Count | 2,000 words |
| Submission | 2 November 2026, 12pm, via Blackboard |
| Referencing | USW Harvard |
This IY2S512 coursework asks students to write a security report on a cyber-physical system (CPS) in Welsh healthcare, such as Digital Health and Care Wales (DHCW) or another healthcare domain. The focus is the MQTT protocol, which relays patient metric alerts from medical IoT devices to electronic medical record systems, and the vulnerabilities, regulations and mitigations that apply to it.
Assessment Description
Cyber-physical systems are the technological frameworks that power, monitor and control many essential services within Critical National Infrastructure (CNI). They integrate computation, communication and physical processes across sectors such as DHCW or other healthcare domains. Message Queuing Telemetry Transport (MQTT), an Internet of Things (IoT) communications protocol, is used within hospitals to relay patient metric alerts from medical devices to Electronic Medical Record (EMR) systems, and this falls under the CPS domain.
The assignment examines potential vulnerabilities and attacks linked to the MQTT protocol that could pose security threats to DHCW or another healthcare CPS in Wales, and explores suitable mitigation strategies. The mitigations should increase cyber security in the chosen Welsh healthcare CPS domain and include governance and legislative considerations. The report should use a wide range of sources (books, journals, legislation and online resources) and be presented in academic format.
Report Structure and Marking Scheme
| Section | Marks |
| 1. Introduction and outline of the report | 10 |
| 2. Description of the MQTT protocol and the DHCW (or other healthcare) CPS domain within Wales | 10 |
| 3. Outline of current MQTT threats and vulnerabilities that might affect the chosen CPS domain | 30 |
| 4. Overview of relevant regulatory frameworks, laws and policies that govern healthcare cyber-physical systems in Wales | 10 |
| 5. Recommendations for securing the Welsh healthcare CPS domain, including legal and compliance governance considerations, with a concise conclusion | 30 |
| 6. Clarity, structure and presentation of the report | 5 |
| 7. References to USW Harvard standard | 5 |
| Total | 100 |
Learning Outcomes
- Evaluate and demonstrate knowledge of IoT and Industrial Control Networks, standards and systems.
- Demonstrate a critical knowledge of security threats and mitigations in the context of IoT and Industrial Control Systems.
Rules and Submission
- The brief is set at Level 1 of the USW AI in Assessment Scale: no generative AI use is permitted.
- The report is submitted on the module’s Blackboard page by 12pm on the submission date, without the assessment brief attached.
- Late work is accepted for five working days but capped at the pass mark (usually 40%).
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