Operating Systems: Overview, Administration, and Security Course Syllabus

Overview (80-120 words) describing structure and time commitment. This beginner-friendly course provides a practical foundation in operating systems with an emphasis on real-world administration and security practices. Over six modules, learners will gain hands-on experience through demonstrations and walkthroughs covering both Windows and Linux environments. Each module takes approximately one week to complete, with 3–5 hours of learning per week. The course concludes with a final project that reinforces key concepts in system administration and security. No full lab environment is provided—activities focus on guided demos and command-line tools. Ideal for those pursuing IT support, system administration, or cybersecurity roles.

Module 1: Introduction to Operating Systems

Estimated time: 4 hours

• Role and functions of an operating system
• Types of operating systems: desktop, server, mobile
• Basic system architecture and components
• Conceptual walkthroughs and OS demos

Module 2: Processes and Memory Management

Estimated time: 4 hours

• Understanding processes and multitasking
• Process scheduling fundamentals
• RAM and memory usage concepts
• Virtual memory and paging mechanisms

Module 3: File Systems and Storage Management

Estimated time: 4 hours

• Disk partitions and storage organization
• Common file systems: FAT, NTFS, ext4
• File permissions and ownership basics
• Using CLI tools to inspect disk space

Module 4: User Management and Permissions

Estimated time: 4 hours

• User accounts and groups
• Privilege levels and access control
• Creating and managing user accounts
• Setting file and directory permissions

Module 5: Operating System Security

Estimated time: 4 hours

• Security updates and patch management
• Firewall configuration and usage
• Data encryption fundamentals
• Identifying and mitigating OS-level threats

Module 6: Admin Tools and Best Practices

Estimated time: 4 hours

• Task automation with scripts
• System monitoring tools and techniques
• Remote access methods and security
• Best practices for OS administration

Prerequisites

• Familiarity with basic computer operations
• No prior OS administration experience required
• Access to a web browser for demos and videos

What You'll Be Able to Do After

• Explain core operating system components and functions
• Perform basic administrative tasks on Windows and Linux
• Manage users, permissions, and file systems
• Apply essential OS security principles and tools
• Use command-line utilities for monitoring and automation