Principles of Cryptography

E-commerce has made cryptography a cornerstone of modern information systems security. Cryptology is a core component of all recognized information security certifications; however, it may be the least understood of the information security disciplines. This course focuses on the terminology and concepts needed to understand how cryptographic techniques are used to protect sensitive information. Topics include different types of ciphers (substitution, transposition, block and stream), Digital Signatures and Message Authentication Codes, public key infrastructure (PKI), secure sockets layer (SSL), and network protocols for encryption, among others. Lecture and reading materials are reinforced by hands-on experimentation in a virtual lab environment focused on real-world uses of cryptography. Internet resources are used to tie the course material to current technology trends. No programming experience or advanced mathematical skills are required for this course. Recommended prerequisite: ICT 4605.