The popularity of Cyber security certification has increased significantly in the last 5 years. For a beginner to cybersecurity, a cryptography course is probably the best choice at a time when data security is a major concern for both individuals and organizations. If you are a beginner in the field of cryptography and network security, a free course might be the best way to start. Simplilearn offers a free introductory course to learn cryptography and the art of encryption.
The free cryptography course includes 3 hours of self-paced video lessons that can be learned for up to 90 days. After completing the course, you will receive a certification and be prepared to employ your cryptography knowledge in the real world. This article will provide you with more details about the course and the career opportunities associated with it.
What’s included in the free Cryptography course?
The introductory course in cryptography is valuable for the following people:
- Programmers
- IT security professionals
- Data scientists
- Software developers
- Engineers
- Coders
- Cyber security enthusiasts
No prerequisites are involved in making you eligible for the free cryptography course. Moreover, the course material is designed by industry leaders and mentors with vast experience in the field. Let’s figure out the different lessons included in the course.
- Introduction to Cryptography
Cryptography involves securing communication and information with the help of different codes. A basic cryptography course will provide you with knowledge about the technique, its different types, and more.
- Symmetric and Asymmetric Key Cryptography
While a symmetric key uses one key, an asymmetric key uses a pair. Learn more about their differences from a cryptography course.
- Hashing
Hashing involves the transformation of a string or character, or key into a different value. Enroll in a basic cryptography course to learn more about it.
- DES and AES Algorithm
With its short length of 56 bits, DES is used for encrypting digital data. AES can be used for the encryption of sensitive data on both software and hardware. A free cryptography course will help you figure out the differences between these two algorithms.
- Rivest-Shamir-Adleman Encryption
It is one of the oldest public-key cryptosystems for securing data transmission. Once you enroll in a cryptography course, you will be able to learn more about the encryption algorithm.
- MD5 Algorithm
MD5 algorithm or message-digest algorithm can change a message of any length into a fixed length of 16 bytes. The process delivers the message digest through five steps. A free course in cryptography will help you discover more details about them.
- Secure Hash Algorithm
The Secure Hash Algorithm is used for hashing data and certificates since it is a modified version of MD5. The free course in cryptography will expand your knowledge about secure hash algorithms and their application.
- SSL Handshake
The SSL handshake refers to the establishment of secret keys with which clients and servers can communicate. A beginner-friendly cryptography course will provide you with knowledge about the steps involved in SSL handshake and more.
- Common Interview Questions
At the end of the free cryptography course, you will learn about some common interview questions associated with this field. Employers are highly likely to ask these questions to anyone looking forward to building a stable career in cryptography.
Check out this video to enhance your knowledge about cryptography:
Career opportunities to pursue after a Cryptography course
The obvious career option after completing the cryptography course is that of a cryptographer.
The salary of a cryptographer ranges from $102,000 to $195,500. The day-to-day responsibilities of a cryptographer can include the following:
- Detecting and securing weaknesses in existing cryptography solutions
- Implementing cryptography theories according to the organization’s needs
- Improving data security through more robust encryption technologies
- Developing and maintaining the encryption technology of an organization
- Prototyping the latest security solutions
- Decrypting information to detect vulnerabilities that hackers might leverage
- Training other staff to build safe and secure systems for handling encryption data
But with the growth of employment opportunities in the cyber security field, you will be able to enjoy pursuing multiple roles. The top jobs to look for after completing a course in cryptography are as follows:
- Security Analyst
A cyber security analyst deals with the planning, implementation, and upgradation of security measures and controls. These professionals are required to constantly monitor security access and perform external and internal security audits to help get rid of loopholes. They will have to perform a risk analysis, vulnerability testing, security assessment, network management, and more. A cryptography course will familiarize you with some of the best practices to avoid security breaches and excel as a security analyst.
- Security Consultant
As a cyber security consultant, you will have to work independently with businesses and deal with their security issues. To excel in this job, you must have industry experience and professional certifications to validate your skills in front of employers. Cybersecurity consultants are often hired by top organizations on a contractual basis.
- Security Architect
A cyber security architect designs the computer and network security infrastructure of an organization. They help with planning, researching, and developing different security elements. An organization needs a security architect to prevent its network system from being vulnerable to frequent attacks.
A security architect understands the requirements of an organization and creates a network design. They usually work together with the programming team to build the final structure. They also focus on developing policies regarding how security systems should be used to avoid attacks.
- Ethical Hackers
A cryptography course also prepares you to develop a career in ethical hacking. This profession requires a lot of intuitive knowledge to think in terms of hackers and how they can attack an organization’s security system. Ethical hackers often perform security tests at frequent intervals as per organizational needs. These professionals are becoming in high demand as they can prevent high-level security threats. After completing your cryptography free course, you can further expand your knowledge in the field. Opting for the CISSP course by Simplilearn is a prudent choice after earning your certification from the free course. It will ensure that you become fully prepared for high-paying jobs in the field of cyber security.
