Path 13 · Advanced
Introductory Advanced Pathways
Introductory looks at computer architecture, system administration and cybersecurity, and clear next steps for further study.
By the end you will be able to
- Explain how hardware, the operating system and applications fit together.
- Describe basic system administration tasks.
- Apply introductory threat modelling.
- Choose a realistic path for further study.
Before you start
- Recommended first: Linux and Command-Line Skills
- Recommended first: Networking
- Recommended first: Digital Safety and Privacy
Module 48: Computer architecture
How a computer is built in layers, from hardware through the kernel to applications, and how memory, storage and processes work together when you open a file.
- Hardware, operating system and applications as layers
See a computer as a stack of layers, understand what the kernel does and why programs ask it for help, and use that picture to explain everyday faults.
25 min · intermediate
- Memory, storage and processes working together
Follow a program from the disk to a running process, see how memory and caching speed things up, and trace the whole path of opening a file.
30 min · intermediate · Ubuntu/Linux · Windows
Module 49: Introductory system administration
The everyday duties of a system administrator: looking after accounts, updates and permissions, then watching services, logs, disk space and backups.
- Managing users, updates and permissions
Learn how an administrator decides who gets an account, how much power each account has, when updates are applied and how permissions are checked and tightened on your own practice files.
30 min · intermediate · Ubuntu/Linux · Windows
- Services, logs, storage and backups for administrators
Learn to check that background services are running, read logs to find out what happened, watch disk space before it runs out, and design a backup you have actually tested by restoring from it.
30 min · intermediate · Ubuntu/Linux · Windows
Module 50: Introductory cybersecurity
How to think about security as a defender: model threats to what matters, set safe defaults, understand authentication and network defence, and practise only where you have permission.
- Threat modelling and secure configuration
Learn a simple method for asking what you are protecting, who or what could harm it and what you will do about it, then apply it to a small home or shop setup and tighten its settings.
30 min · intermediate
- Authentication, network security and safe lab practice
Understand how systems check who you are and what you may do, how simple network defences work, and how to practise security skills legally and ethically on systems you own or are allowed to test.
30 min · intermediate
Module 51: Further study pathways
Honest, practical maps of six directions you can take next, with the skills each needs, small projects to build and a realistic idea of the time involved.
- Next steps: IT support, networking and Linux administration
See what IT support, networking and Linux administration involve day to day, which skills from this academy you already have, and which beginner projects and goals to choose next.
25 min · intermediate
- Next steps: programming, web development and data analysis
Understand what programmers, web developers and data analysts do, which parts of this academy already prepare you, and which small projects and three-month goals make a good start.
25 min · intermediate
- Next steps: cybersecurity and cloud computing
Learn what cybersecurity and cloud computing work involves, how your security and architecture lessons prepare you, and what beginner projects, goals and honest time expectations look like.
25 min · intermediate