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 Texas at Austin. If you enroll in this Try It, your learner data will not be shared with The University of Texas at Austin unless you enroll in the Cybersecurity Boot Camp.

What's inside

Learning objectives

-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.

-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

Provides a solid foundation for those with no prior experience in cybersecurity

Emphasizes the importance of confidentiality, integrity, and availability (CIA Triad) in cybersecurity

Introduces the fundamentals of cryptography, making it accessible to beginners

Engages learners with an asynchronous learning format, allowing for flexibility in study time

Offers a tailored experience for learners of all levels, providing a smooth entry point for those new to cybersecurity

Covers key concepts and terminologies essential for understanding cybersecurity principles

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Try It: Cybersecurity Basics with these activities:

Seek a Cybersecurity Mentor

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Accelerate your learning by connecting with a cybersecurity mentor, gaining valuable insights, guidance, and industry connections.

Browse courses on Cybersecurity

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Identify potential mentors
Reach out and introduce yourself
Attend industry networking events
Join online cybersecurity communities

Review the OSI Model

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Refresh your knowledge on the OSI Model to better comprehend the course material on network vulnerabilities.

Browse courses on OSI Model

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Participate in Cybersecurity Discussion Forum

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Connect with peers, share knowledge, and discuss cybersecurity issues to broaden your understanding and stay up-to-date.

Browse courses on Cybersecurity

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Join a cybersecurity discussion forum
Participate in discussions and ask questions
Read and respond to others' posts

Four other activities

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Cryptography Basics Practice Problems

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Engage with practice problems to reinforce your understanding of cryptography basics and encryption techniques.

Browse courses on Cryptography

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Solve encryption and decryption problems
Practice using different encryption algorithms

Write a Cybersecurity Blog Post

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Enhance your understanding and solidify your knowledge by writing a blog post on a cybersecurity topic, helping you internalize concepts and share your insights.

Browse courses on Cybersecurity

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Choose a cybersecurity topic
Research and gather information
Write the blog post
Publish the blog post

Contribute to Open Source Cybersecurity Projects

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Immerse yourself in practical cybersecurity by contributing to open source projects, gaining hands-on experience and staying at the forefront of security trends.

Browse courses on Cybersecurity

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Find an appropriate open source cybersecurity project
Review the project code and documentation
Identify and fix bugs
Propose and implement new features

Design and Implement a Simple Encryption Algorithm

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Apply your knowledge by designing and implementing a simple encryption algorithm, solidifying your grasp of encryption principles.

Browse courses on Encryption

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Design an encryption algorithm
Implement the algorithm in a programming language
Test and evaluate the effectiveness of your algorithm

Career center

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

Cybersecurity Analyst

Cybersecurity Analysts study computer systems, networks, and software to identify security vulnerabilities. They develop and implement security measures to protect against unauthorized access, use, disclosure, disruption, modification, or destruction of information. This course helps build a foundation in cybersecurity by introducing the CIA Triad, cryptography basics, and the daily responsibilities of cybersecurity professionals.

See salaries and explore the career path for Cybersecurity Analyst

Information Security Analyst

Information Security Analysts plan and implement security measures to protect an organization's computer networks and systems. This course provides an introduction to cybersecurity, including the CIA Triad, cryptography basics, and the daily responsibilities of cybersecurity professionals, which can help Information Security Analysts stay up-to-date on the latest security threats and trends.

See salaries and explore the career path for Information Security Analyst

Security Consultant

Security Consultants help organizations improve their security posture by identifying and mitigating risks. They may also develop and implement security policies and procedures. This course can help Security Consultants stay up-to-date on the latest security threats and trends, and it can also provide them with the skills and knowledge needed to develop and implement effective security solutions.

See salaries and explore the career path for Security Consultant

Security Analyst

Security Analysts monitor and analyze security events to identify and respond to threats. This course can help Security Analysts build a foundation in cybersecurity by introducing the CIA Triad, cryptography basics, and the daily responsibilities of cybersecurity professionals.

See salaries and explore the career path for Security Analyst

Penetration Tester

Penetration Testers assess the security of computer systems and networks by simulating cyberattacks. This course can help Penetration Testers build a foundation in cybersecurity by introducing the CIA Triad, cryptography basics, and the daily responsibilities of cybersecurity professionals.

See salaries and explore the career path for Penetration Tester

Security Engineer

Security Engineers design, implement, and maintain security systems to protect organizations from cyberattacks. This course can help Security Engineers build a foundation in cybersecurity by introducing the CIA Triad, cryptography basics, and the daily responsibilities of cybersecurity professionals.

See salaries and explore the career path for Security Engineer

Malware Analyst

Malware Analysts analyze malicious software to identify its purpose and behavior. This course can help Malware Analysts build a foundation in cybersecurity by introducing the CIA Triad, cryptography basics, and the daily responsibilities of cybersecurity professionals.

See salaries and explore the career path for Malware Analyst

Incident Responder

Incident Responders investigate and respond to security incidents. This course can help Incident Responders build a foundation in cybersecurity by introducing the CIA Triad, cryptography basics, and the daily responsibilities of cybersecurity professionals.

See salaries and explore the career path for Incident Responder

IT Auditor

IT Auditors assess the security of an organization's IT systems and processes. This course can help IT Auditors build a foundation in cybersecurity by introducing the CIA Triad, cryptography basics, and the daily responsibilities of cybersecurity professionals.

See salaries and explore the career path for IT Auditor

Risk Analyst

Risk Analysts identify and assess risks to an organization's security. This course can help Risk Analysts build a foundation in cybersecurity by introducing the CIA Triad, cryptography basics, and the daily responsibilities of cybersecurity professionals.

See salaries and explore the career path for Risk Analyst

Compliance Analyst

Compliance Analysts ensure that an organization's security practices comply with applicable laws and regulations. This course can help Compliance Analysts build a foundation in cybersecurity by introducing the CIA Triad, cryptography basics, and the daily responsibilities of cybersecurity professionals.

See salaries and explore the career path for Compliance Analyst

Forensic Analyst

Forensic Analysts investigate computer crimes and cyberattacks. This course can help Forensic Analysts build a foundation in cybersecurity by introducing the CIA Triad, cryptography basics, and the daily responsibilities of cybersecurity professionals.

See salaries and explore the career path for Forensic Analyst

Cryptographer

Cryptographers develop and implement cryptographic algorithms and protocols to protect sensitive information. This course can help Cryptographers build a foundation in cybersecurity by introducing the CIA Triad, cryptography basics, and the daily responsibilities of cybersecurity professionals.

See salaries and explore the career path for Cryptographer

Chief Information Security Officer (CISO)

CISOs are responsible for the overall security of an organization's IT systems and networks. This course can help CISOs build a foundation in cybersecurity by introducing the CIA Triad, cryptography basics, and the daily responsibilities of cybersecurity professionals.

See salaries and explore the career path for Chief Information Security Officer (CISO)

Security Manager

Security Managers oversee the security of an organization's IT systems and networks. This course can help Security Managers build a foundation in cybersecurity by introducing the CIA Triad, cryptography basics, and the daily responsibilities of cybersecurity professionals.

See salaries and explore the career path for Security Manager

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Cybersecurity Basics

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