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 Case Western Reserve University. If you enroll in this Try It, your learner data will not be shared with Case Western Reserve University 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

Explores cybersecurity basics, which is standard in industry

Develops skills for a career in cybersecurity, which is highly relevant to industry

Examines key cybersecurity concepts, which are core skills for cybersecurity professionals

Teaches cryptography basics, which are essential for cybersecurity

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:

Review articles and videos on current cybersecurity trends

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Learn about the latest threats and trends in cybersecurity so that the foundational knowledge you gain in this course is up-to-date.

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Identify sources for articles and videos
Review and summarize key findings

Review binary encoding and decoding

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Review the curriculum from a previous course on the fundamentals of computer science to ensure that you are ready to engage in this beginner-friendly, asynchronous course in cybersecurity.

Browse courses on Binary

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Review lecture notes.
Practice converting numbers to and from binary.

Form a study group

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Meet once a week with 2 or 3 classmates to review the coursework and help each other prepare for quizzes and the final exam.

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Reach out to potential group members
Establish meeting time and place
Determine roles and responsibilities within the group

Four other activities

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Design a series of posters

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Create a visual representation of the key concepts covered in this course that can serve as a helpful study tool.

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Identify key concepts
Research and gather visual aids
Design and create posters

Practice solving cryptography puzzles

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Applying what you have learned through hands-on practice will strengthen your understanding of cryptography and help you to retain the information better.

Browse courses on Cryptography

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Find online cryptography puzzles
Solve puzzles and check your answers
Review solutions and learn from mistakes

Explore cybersecurity certification prep courses

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Prepare for a possible next step in your cybersecurity career by exploring certification prep courses and getting a sense of the content that is covered in them.

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Identify certification prep courses
Review curriculum and requirements
Consider online or in-person prep courses

Participate in a cybersecurity hackathon

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Practical experience in cybersecurity is an excellent way to immediately apply the principles and concepts you will learn in this course.

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Find a cybersecurity hackathon
Form or join a team
Practice solving cybersecurity challenges

Career center

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

Ethical Hacker

An Ethical Hacker is responsible for testing an organization's computer systems and networks for vulnerabilities. This course may be useful for someone who wants to become an Ethical Hacker because it provides a foundation in cybersecurity basics, including the CIA Triad and cryptography.

See salaries and explore the career path for Ethical Hacker

Cryptographer

A Cryptographer is responsible for developing and implementing cryptographic algorithms. This course may be useful for someone who wants to become a Cryptographer because it provides a foundation in cryptography.

See salaries and explore the career path for Cryptographer

Cybersecurity Manager

A Cybersecurity Manager is responsible for overseeing an organization's cybersecurity program. This course may be useful for someone who wants to become a Cybersecurity Manager because it provides a foundation in cybersecurity basics, including the CIA Triad and cryptography.

See salaries and explore the career path for Cybersecurity Manager

Incident Responder

An Incident Responder is responsible for responding to and mitigating security incidents. This course may be useful for someone who wants to become an Incident Responder because it provides a foundation in cybersecurity basics, including the CIA Triad and cryptography.

See salaries and explore the career path for Incident Responder

Compliance Analyst

A Compliance Analyst is responsible for ensuring that an organization's computer systems and networks comply with applicable laws and regulations. This course may be useful for someone who wants to become a Compliance Analyst because it provides a foundation in cybersecurity basics, including the CIA Triad and cryptography.

See salaries and explore the career path for Compliance Analyst

Penetration Tester

A Penetration Tester is responsible for testing an organization's computer systems and networks for vulnerabilities. This course may be useful for someone who wants to become a Penetration Tester because it provides a foundation in cybersecurity basics, including the CIA Triad and cryptography.

See salaries and explore the career path for Penetration Tester

Malware Analyst

A Malware Analyst is responsible for analyzing malware and developing countermeasures. This course may be useful for someone who wants to become a Malware Analyst because it provides a foundation in cybersecurity basics, including the CIA Triad and cryptography.

See salaries and explore the career path for Malware Analyst

Security Architect

A Security Architect is responsible for designing and implementing security measures for an organization's computer systems and networks. This course may be useful for someone who wants to become a Security Architect because it provides a foundation in cybersecurity basics, including the CIA Triad and cryptography.

See salaries and explore the career path for Security Architect

Cybersecurity Consultant

A Cybersecurity Consultant helps organizations to identify and mitigate cybersecurity risks. This course may be useful for someone who wants to become a Cybersecurity Consultant because it provides a foundation in cybersecurity basics, including the CIA Triad and cryptography.

See salaries and explore the career path for Cybersecurity Consultant

Vulnerability Manager

A Vulnerability Manager is responsible for identifying and mitigating vulnerabilities in an organization's computer systems and networks. This course may be useful for someone who wants to become a Vulnerability Manager because it provides a foundation in cybersecurity basics, including the CIA Triad and cryptography.

See salaries and explore the career path for Vulnerability Manager

Forensic Analyst

A Forensic Analyst is responsible for investigating cybercrimes and recovering evidence. This course may be useful for someone who wants to become a Forensic Analyst because it provides a foundation in cybersecurity basics, including the CIA Triad and cryptography.

See salaries and explore the career path for Forensic Analyst

Information Security Analyst

An Information Security Analyst is responsible for protecting an organization's computer systems and networks from cyberattacks. This course may be useful for someone who wants to become an Information Security Analyst because it provides a foundation in cybersecurity basics, including the CIA Triad and cryptography.

See salaries and explore the career path for Information Security Analyst

SOC Analyst

A SOC Analyst is responsible for monitoring an organization's security systems and responding to security incidents. This course may be useful for someone who wants to become a SOC Analyst because it provides a foundation in cybersecurity basics, including the CIA Triad and cryptography.

See salaries and explore the career path for SOC Analyst

Risk Analyst

A Risk Analyst is responsible for assessing and managing cybersecurity risks. This course may be useful for someone who wants to become a Risk Analyst because it provides a foundation in cybersecurity basics, including the CIA Triad and cryptography.

See salaries and explore the career path for Risk Analyst

Security Engineer

A Security Engineer is responsible for implementing and maintaining security measures for an organization's computer systems and networks. This course may be useful for someone who wants to become a Security Engineer because it provides a foundation in cybersecurity basics, including the CIA Triad and cryptography.

See salaries and explore the career path for Security Engineer