Try It: Cybersecurity Basics from edX

Cybersecurity as a profession is projected to grow much faster than the national average for all occupations.1 Want to break into the field?

This beginner-friendly and asynchronous course will help you jumpstart your cybersecurity career. Engage in an online learning experience tailored to your experience level.

In it, you will learn to think like a cyber pro, at your own pace. Study the key elements of the CIA Triad, cryptography basics, and the daily responsibilities of cybersecurity professionals working in the field today.

Key concepts covered in this course include: -Cybersecurity -CIA Triad -Cryptography -Plaintext -Ciphertext -Encryption -Decryption -Cipher -Key -Caesar Cipher -Symmetric encryption

No prior experience or technical installations is required to join or complete this course.

Footnote: 1 Occupational Outlook Handbook: Information Security Analysts. (2022). U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. March 14, 2023.

This Try It is offered in support of the Cybersecurity Boot Camp with the University of Kansas. If you enroll in this Try It, your learner data will not be shared with the University of Kansas unless you enroll in the Cybersecurity Boot Camp.

What's inside

Learning objective

-recognize the basics and the importance of cybersecurity. -define and apply the cia triad to different scenarios. -examine cryptography basics and how they apply to cybersecurity.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Examines the CIA Triad, which is foundational knowledge for those interested in cybersecurity

Develops cryptography skills, which are highly relevant to cybersecurity and data protection

Provides a strong foundation in cybersecurity for beginners

Builds on the foundational concepts of plaintext, ciphertext, encryption, and decryption

Employs a flexible asynchronous learning model, allowing for a self-paced approach

Offers interactive materials, such as labs to enhance comprehension

Career center

Learners who complete Try It: Cybersecurity Basics will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Information Security Analyst

Information Security Analysts plan and implement security measures to protect an organization's computer networks and systems. They analyze security risks to these resources, develop and maintain security controls, and monitor and test computer systems for vulnerabilities. This course, Try It: Cybersecurity Basics, may be useful for someone looking to become an Information Security Analyst, as it provides a basic understanding of cybersecurity concepts, including the CIA Triad, cryptography, and symmetric encryption. Understanding these concepts can help an Information Security Analyst better protect an organization's computer networks and systems from cyberattacks.

See salaries and explore the career path for Information Security Analyst

Security Analyst

Security Analysts monitor and analyze computer systems and networks for security breaches and vulnerabilities. They investigate security incidents and make recommendations for corrective action. This course, Try It: Cybersecurity Basics, may be useful for someone looking to become a Security Analyst, as it provides a basic understanding of cybersecurity concepts, including the CIA Triad, cryptography, and symmetric encryption. Understanding these concepts can help a Security Analyst better monitor and analyze computer systems and networks for security breaches and vulnerabilities.

See salaries and explore the career path for Security Analyst

Network Security Engineer

Network Security Engineers design, implement, and maintain security measures for computer networks. They work to prevent, detect, and respond to cyberattacks. This course, Try It: Cybersecurity Basics, may be useful for someone looking to become a Network Security Engineer, as it provides a basic understanding of cybersecurity concepts, including the CIA Triad, cryptography, and symmetric encryption. Understanding these concepts can help a Network Security Engineer better design, implement, and maintain security measures for computer networks.

See salaries and explore the career path for Network Security Engineer

Security Consultant

Security Consultants provide security advice and guidance to organizations. They help organizations assess their security risks, develop and implement security plans, and respond to security incidents. This course, Try It: Cybersecurity Basics, may be useful for someone looking to become a Security Consultant, as it provides a basic understanding of cybersecurity concepts, including the CIA Triad, cryptography, and symmetric encryption. Understanding these concepts can help a Security Consultant better provide security advice and guidance to organizations.

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Incident Responder

Incident Responders investigate and respond to security incidents. They work to contain the damage caused by security breaches and restore normal operations. This course, Try It: Cybersecurity Basics, may be useful for someone looking to become an Incident Responder, as it provides a basic understanding of cybersecurity concepts, including the CIA Triad, cryptography, and symmetric encryption. Understanding these concepts can help an Incident Responder better investigate and respond to security incidents.

See salaries and explore the career path for Incident Responder

Cybersecurity Engineer

Cybersecurity Engineers design, implement, and maintain security measures to protect computer networks and systems. They work to prevent, detect, and respond to cyberattacks. This course, Try It: Cybersecurity Basics, may be useful for someone looking to become a Cybersecurity Engineer, as it provides a basic understanding of cybersecurity concepts, including the CIA Triad, cryptography, and symmetric encryption. Understanding these concepts can help a Cybersecurity Engineer better protect computer networks and systems from cyberattacks.

See salaries and explore the career path for Cybersecurity Engineer

Cloud Security Engineer

Cloud Security Engineers design and implement security measures for cloud computing environments. They work to protect cloud-based data and applications from cyberattacks. This course, Try It: Cybersecurity Basics, may be useful for someone looking to become a Cloud Security Engineer, as it provides a basic understanding of cybersecurity concepts, including the CIA Triad, cryptography, and symmetric encryption. Understanding these concepts can help a Cloud Security Engineer better design and implement security measures for cloud computing environments.

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Digital Forensics Analyst

Digital Forensics Analysts investigate and analyze digital evidence to support legal investigations. They recover and analyze data from computers, mobile devices, and other electronic devices. This course, Try It: Cybersecurity Basics, may be useful for someone looking to become a Digital Forensics Analyst, as it provides a basic understanding of cybersecurity concepts, including the CIA Triad, cryptography, and symmetric encryption. Understanding these concepts can help a Digital Forensics Analyst better recover and analyze data from computers, mobile devices, and other electronic devices.

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Penetration Tester

Penetration Testers conduct authorized simulated cyberattacks on computer systems and networks to identify vulnerabilities and weaknesses. They provide recommendations for corrective action. This course, Try It: Cybersecurity Basics, may be useful for someone looking to become a Penetration Tester, as it provides a basic understanding of cybersecurity concepts, including the CIA Triad, cryptography, and symmetric encryption. Understanding these concepts can help a Penetration Tester better conduct simulated cyberattacks and identify vulnerabilities and weaknesses in computer systems and networks.

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Malware Analyst

Malware Analysts analyze malicious software (malware) to understand how it works and how to protect against it. They develop and implement malware detection and prevention measures. This course, Try It: Cybersecurity Basics, may be useful for someone looking to become a Malware Analyst, as it provides a basic understanding of cybersecurity concepts, including the CIA Triad, cryptography, and symmetric encryption. Understanding these concepts can help a Malware Analyst better analyze malicious software and develop and implement malware detection and prevention measures.

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Cybersecurity Manager

Cybersecurity Managers oversee the security of an organization's computer networks and systems. They develop and implement security policies and procedures, and manage a team of cybersecurity professionals. This course, Try It: Cybersecurity Basics, may be useful for someone looking to become a Cybersecurity Manager, as it provides a basic understanding of cybersecurity concepts, including the CIA Triad, cryptography, and symmetric encryption. Understanding these concepts can help a Cybersecurity Manager better oversee the security of an organization's computer networks and systems.

See salaries and explore the career path for Cybersecurity Manager

Data Security Analyst

Data Security Analysts protect an organization's data from unauthorized access, use, disclosure, disruption, modification, or destruction. They develop and implement data security policies and procedures, and monitor and analyze data for security breaches. This course, Try It: Cybersecurity Basics, may be useful for someone looking to become a Data Security Analyst, as it provides a basic understanding of cybersecurity concepts, including the CIA Triad, cryptography, and symmetric encryption. Understanding these concepts can help a Data Security Analyst better protect an organization's data from unauthorized access, use, disclosure, disruption, modification, or destruction.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data Security Analyst

Software Security Engineer

Software Security Engineers design and implement security features into software applications. They work to prevent, detect, and respond to security vulnerabilities in software. This course, Try It: Cybersecurity Basics, may be useful for someone looking to become a Software Security Engineer, as it provides a basic understanding of cybersecurity concepts, including the CIA Triad, cryptography, and symmetric encryption. Understanding these concepts can help a Software Security Engineer better design and implement security features into software applications.

See salaries and explore the career path for Software Security Engineer

Cybersecurity Architect

Cybersecurity Architects design and implement security solutions for organizations. They work to protect organizations from cyberattacks and ensure the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of their data and systems. This course, Try It: Cybersecurity Basics, may be useful for someone looking to become a Cybersecurity Architect, as it provides a basic understanding of cybersecurity concepts, including the CIA Triad, cryptography, and symmetric encryption. Understanding these concepts can help a Cybersecurity Architect better design and implement security solutions for organizations.

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Web Security Analyst

Web Security Analysts protect websites and web applications from cyberattacks. They develop and implement security measures to prevent, detect, and respond to web-based threats. This course, Try It: Cybersecurity Basics, may be useful for someone looking to become a Web Security Analyst, as it provides a basic understanding of cybersecurity concepts, including the CIA Triad, cryptography, and symmetric encryption. Understanding these concepts can help a Web Security Analyst better protect websites and web applications from cyberattacks.

See salaries and explore the career path for Web Security Analyst