CSTC — Information and Communication Technology — Trade Test Level 3
About This Course
Course purpose
This CSTC course provides a structured pathway in Information and Communication Technology — Trade Test Level 3, combining instructor-led teaching, hands-on activities, knowledge checks, evidence-led troubleshooting and a portfolio. Advanced level: design and review systems, evaluate risk, reason from evidence, control change and prepare professional operational handover.
Intended learners
CSTC learners on the ICT trade-test pathway. Complete computer-lab induction, use only approved accounts and practice data, protect credentials, and obtain authorisation before installing software or changing shared systems.
Learning outcomes
- Use digital systems safely and responsibly
- Create accurate digital documents and data outputs
- Follow a repeatable troubleshooting process
- Protect information and apply access controls
- Document work and communicate technical findings
- Communicate technical findings and reflect on improvements using accurate evidence.
Curriculum structure
- Systems architecture and cloud services: Requirements, client/server, virtualisation, capacity, storage, identity, cloud models, availability and operations.
- Advanced networks and security design: Address planning, subnetting, segmentation/VLANs, routing, firewalls, secure Wi-Fi, threat modelling and risk treatment.
- Database and automation fundamentals: Data modelling, keys, normalisation concepts, transactions, controlled scripting, validation, logging and error handling.
- Cybersecurity operations and incident management: Log analysis, monitoring, incident lifecycle, evidence, containment, restoration, communication and review.
- Project delivery, governance and capstone: Technical documentation, change control, cost/benefit, testing, rollback, service support, access control and handover.
Delivery and assessment
Practical digital task, troubleshooting record, data-quality check, scenario questions, portfolio evidence and capstone presentation.
- Diagnostic questions and digital safety induction.
- Formative knowledge checks and practical activities after each unit.
- Integrated project requiring planning, implementation or troubleshooting, verification and handover.
- Formal trade-test/certification decisions must use authorised criteria; this course alone is not a formal TEVETA award.
Resources and equipment
Workstations, office software, safe practice datasets, network diagrams/simulators, approved support tools, backup exercises, ticket templates and access-control checklists.
Information security and learner responsibilities
Protect personal data and passwords, use approved systems and practice data, follow acceptable-use policies and escalate suspected compromise. Do not change production configuration without authorisation. Never place passwords or confidential live information in course assignments or screenshots.
Results and progression
Course participation, practical competence and formal examination results are separate records. Results remain Pending / not supplied until an authorised result is received.
Curriculum alignment notice
Content provenance: CSTC-developed material, not a verbatim copy or claim of TEVETA endorsement. Before formal assessment, instructors must map units, outcomes, tasks, assessment methods and weighting to the current TEVETA-approved curriculum/chart, centre requirements and relevant security and data-protection rules.
Curriculum
01 — Systems architecture and cloud services
Unit overview
This unit develops competence in Systems architecture and cloud services: Requirements, client/server, virtualisation, capacity, storage, identity, cloud models, availability and operations.
Expected competence
- Explain the main principles and workflow.
- Use digital tools and data safely.
- Validate results against the required outcome.
- Record evidence, errors and corrective actions.
Level expectation: Advanced level: design and review systems, evaluate risk, reason from evidence, control change and prepare professional operational handover.
Learning sequence
- Translate requirements into system design
- Server, cloud and service operations
Practical activity
The instructor briefs learners, demonstrates the workflow, supplies an approved sandbox/data sample and observes practice. Learners verify outputs, protect private information and seek permission before changing shared or production resources.
Evidence
- Worksheet or support ticket.
- Verified output or diagnostic evidence.
- Privacy/security and quality checks.
- Correction, escalation and reflection.
Resources: Workstations, office software, safe practice datasets, network diagrams/simulators, approved support tools, backup exercises, ticket templates and access-control checklists.
Translate requirements into system design
Server, cloud and service operations
02 — Advanced networks and security design
Unit overview
This unit develops competence in Advanced networks and security design: Address planning, subnetting, segmentation/VLANs, routing, firewalls, secure Wi-Fi, threat modelling and risk treatment.
Expected competence
- Explain the main principles and workflow.
- Use digital tools and data safely.
- Validate results against the required outcome.
- Record evidence, errors and corrective actions.
Level expectation: Advanced level: design and review systems, evaluate risk, reason from evidence, control change and prepare professional operational handover.
Learning sequence
- Network design and segmentation
- Security controls and risk treatment
Practical activity
The instructor briefs learners, demonstrates the workflow, supplies an approved sandbox/data sample and observes practice. Learners verify outputs, protect private information and seek permission before changing shared or production resources.
Evidence
- Worksheet or support ticket.
- Verified output or diagnostic evidence.
- Privacy/security and quality checks.
- Correction, escalation and reflection.
Resources: Workstations, office software, safe practice datasets, network diagrams/simulators, approved support tools, backup exercises, ticket templates and access-control checklists.
03 — Database and automation fundamentals
Unit overview
This unit develops competence in Database and automation fundamentals: Data modelling, keys, normalisation concepts, transactions, controlled scripting, validation, logging and error handling.
Expected competence
- Explain the main principles and workflow.
- Use digital tools and data safely.
- Validate results against the required outcome.
- Record evidence, errors and corrective actions.
Level expectation: Advanced level: design and review systems, evaluate risk, reason from evidence, control change and prepare professional operational handover.
Learning sequence
- Data architecture and integrity
- Automation and controlled scripting
Practical activity
The instructor briefs learners, demonstrates the workflow, supplies an approved sandbox/data sample and observes practice. Learners verify outputs, protect private information and seek permission before changing shared or production resources.
Evidence
- Worksheet or support ticket.
- Verified output or diagnostic evidence.
- Privacy/security and quality checks.
- Correction, escalation and reflection.
Resources: Workstations, office software, safe practice datasets, network diagrams/simulators, approved support tools, backup exercises, ticket templates and access-control checklists.
04 — Cybersecurity operations and incident management
Unit overview
This unit develops competence in Cybersecurity operations and incident management: Log analysis, monitoring, incident lifecycle, evidence, containment, restoration, communication and review.
Expected competence
- Explain the main principles and workflow.
- Use digital tools and data safely.
- Validate results against the required outcome.
- Record evidence, errors and corrective actions.
Level expectation: Advanced level: design and review systems, evaluate risk, reason from evidence, control change and prepare professional operational handover.
Learning sequence
- Log review and security monitoring
- Incident response and service continuity
Practical activity
The instructor briefs learners, demonstrates the workflow, supplies an approved sandbox/data sample and observes practice. Learners verify outputs, protect private information and seek permission before changing shared or production resources.
Evidence
- Worksheet or support ticket.
- Verified output or diagnostic evidence.
- Privacy/security and quality checks.
- Correction, escalation and reflection.
Resources: Workstations, office software, safe practice datasets, network diagrams/simulators, approved support tools, backup exercises, ticket templates and access-control checklists.
05 — Project delivery, governance and capstone
Unit overview
This unit develops competence in Project delivery, governance and capstone: Technical documentation, change control, cost/benefit, testing, rollback, service support, access control and handover.
Expected competence
- Explain the main principles and workflow.
- Use digital tools and data safely.
- Validate results against the required outcome.
- Record evidence, errors and corrective actions.
Level expectation: Advanced level: design and review systems, evaluate risk, reason from evidence, control change and prepare professional operational handover.
Learning sequence
- Design review, cost and change management
- Capstone service plan and professional review
Practical activity
The instructor briefs learners, demonstrates the workflow, supplies an approved sandbox/data sample and observes practice. Learners verify outputs, protect private information and seek permission before changing shared or production resources.
Evidence
- Worksheet or support ticket.
- Verified output or diagnostic evidence.
- Privacy/security and quality checks.
- Correction, escalation and reflection.
Resources: Workstations, office software, safe practice datasets, network diagrams/simulators, approved support tools, backup exercises, ticket templates and access-control checklists.
Systems Administration and Support Planning
Networking and Cybersecurity Practice
Databases and Applied Development
Project Delivery, Testing and Handover
Your Instructors
