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 San Antonio. If you enroll in this Try It, your learner data will not be shared with The University of Texas at San Antonio 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

Introduces core skills and knowledge needed to launch into a new career field

Aimed at beginners, the course content is accessible and easy to understand

Covers fundamental concepts and practices in cybersecurity, including the CIA Triad and cryptography

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 information security basics

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Refresh your understanding of information security concepts to better grasp the more advanced topics covered in this course.

Browse courses on Information Security

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Review notes or textbooks from previous information security courses.
Read articles or blog posts on current information security trends.
Take practice quizzes or mock exams to test your knowledge.

Explore cryptography tutorials

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Supplement your understanding of cryptography by following guided tutorials that provide step-by-step instructions and examples.

Browse courses on Cryptography

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Identify reputable online platforms or resources offering cryptography tutorials.
Select tutorials that align with your learning objectives and skill level.
Follow the instructions and complete the exercises provided in the tutorials.
Apply the concepts learned in the tutorials to practical scenarios.

Practice solving cryptography puzzles

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Strengthen your cryptography skills by engaging in regular practice drills that challenge your problem-solving abilities.

Browse courses on Cryptography

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Find online platforms or resources that provide cryptography puzzles.
Start with easier puzzles and gradually increase the difficulty level.
Analyze the puzzles, identify patterns, and apply cryptography techniques to solve them.
Review your solutions and learn from any mistakes.

Five other activities

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Create a cybersecurity glossary

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Enhance your understanding and retention of cybersecurity terminology by creating a comprehensive glossary of key terms.

Browse courses on Cybersecurity

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Identify the most important and commonly used cybersecurity terms.
Define each term clearly and concisely.
Include examples and real-world scenarios to illustrate the concepts.
Organize the glossary alphabetically or by topic for easy reference.

Participate in cybersecurity discussion forums

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Engage with other learners and professionals in online discussion forums to exchange knowledge, ask questions, and stay up-to-date on industry trends.

Browse courses on Cybersecurity

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Identify and join relevant cybersecurity discussion forums.
Actively participate in discussions, sharing your insights and asking for help when needed.
Follow industry experts and thought leaders to stay informed about the latest developments.
Contribute to the community by answering questions and providing support to other members.

Participate in cybersecurity capture-the-flag events

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Test your cybersecurity skills and knowledge in a fun and challenging environment by participating in capture-the-flag events.

Browse courses on Cybersecurity

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Find and register for appropriate capture-the-flag events.
Team up with other learners or work independently to solve challenges.
Analyze vulnerabilities, exploit systems, and defend against attacks.
Learn from the experience and improve your cybersecurity skills.

Volunteer at a cybersecurity organization

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Gain practical experience and contribute to the cybersecurity community by volunteering your skills at a relevant organization.

Browse courses on Cybersecurity

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Identify cybersecurity organizations or events in your area.
Contact the organizations and inquire about volunteer opportunities.
Offer your skills and expertise to support their mission.
Attend events, assist with projects, and share your knowledge.

Attend cybersecurity workshops

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Enhance your cybersecurity knowledge and skills by attending workshops led by experts in the field.

Browse courses on Cybersecurity

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Identify and register for relevant cybersecurity workshops.
Attend the workshops and actively participate in the activities.
Take notes, ask questions, and engage with the instructors and other attendees.
Apply the knowledge and skills gained to your own cybersecurity practices.

Career center

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

Security Consultant

Security Consultants help organizations to protect their computer networks and systems from security breaches. They assess an organization's security needs and recommend and implement security solutions. Taking this course can help you build a strong foundation in cybersecurity concepts and can help you develop the skills you need to be successful in this role.

See salaries and explore the career path for Security Consultant

Security Engineer

Security Engineers design, implement, and maintain security systems for organizations. They work to protect an organization's computer networks and systems from security breaches. Taking this course can help you build a strong foundation in cybersecurity concepts and can help you develop the skills you need to be successful in this role.

See salaries and explore the career path for Security Engineer

Information Security Analyst

Information Security Analysts identify and assess the security risks that organizations face. They develop and implement security plans to protect against these risks. Taking this course can help you build a strong foundation in cybersecurity concepts and help you develop the skills you need to be successful in this role.

See salaries and explore the career path for Information Security Analyst

Cybersecurity Analyst

Cybersecurity Analysts plan and carry out security measures to protect an organization's computer networks and systems. They monitor networks for suspicious activity, and they investigate and respond to security breaches. Taking this course can help you build a foundation in cybersecurity concepts such as the CIA Triad and cryptography. This knowledge can help you be more effective in your role and can help you advance your career.

See salaries and explore the career path for Cybersecurity Analyst

Cyber Threat Intelligence Analyst

Cyber Threat Intelligence Analysts collect and analyze information about cyber threats. They use this information to identify and assess threats to an organization's computer networks and systems. Taking this course can help you build a strong foundation in cybersecurity concepts and can help you develop the skills you need to be successful in this role.

See salaries and explore the career path for Cyber Threat Intelligence Analyst

Malware Analyst

Malware Analysts analyze malware to understand how it works and how to protect against it. Taking this course can help you build a strong foundation in cybersecurity concepts and can help you develop the skills you need to be successful in this role.

See salaries and explore the career path for Malware Analyst

Chief Information Security Officer (CISO)

The Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) is responsible for overseeing an organization's cybersecurity program and for developing and implementing security policies and procedures. Taking this course can help you build a strong foundation in cybersecurity concepts and can help you develop the skills you need to be successful in this role.

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

Cybersecurity Manager

Cybersecurity Managers oversee an organization's cybersecurity program. They are responsible for developing and implementing security policies and procedures, and for managing the organization's cybersecurity team. Taking this course can help you build a strong foundation in cybersecurity concepts and can help you develop the skills you need to be successful in this role.

See salaries and explore the career path for Cybersecurity Manager

Cryptographer

Cryptographers develop and implement cryptographic solutions to protect data from unauthorized access. Taking this course can help you build a strong foundation in cybersecurity concepts and can help you develop the skills you need to be successful in this role.

See salaries and explore the career path for Cryptographer

Cloud Security Architect

Cloud Security Architects design and implement security solutions for cloud-based systems. They work to protect an organization's cloud-based data and applications from security breaches. Taking this course can help you build a strong foundation in cybersecurity concepts and can help you develop the skills you need to be successful in this role.

See salaries and explore the career path for Cloud Security Architect

Database Administrator

Database Administrators manage and maintain an organization's databases. They are responsible for the security of the database and its data. Taking this course can help you build a strong foundation in cybersecurity concepts and can help you develop the skills you need to be successful in this role.

See salaries and explore the career path for Database Administrator

Cryptanalyst

Cryptanalysts analyze cryptographic systems to find weaknesses and exploits. This information can be used to improve the security of cryptographic systems or to break encrypted messages. Taking this course can help you build a strong foundation in cybersecurity concepts and can help you develop the skills you need to be successful in this role.

See salaries and explore the career path for Cryptanalyst

IT Auditor

IT Auditors assess the security of an organization's computer networks and systems. They identify and report on security risks and make recommendations for improvements. Taking this course can help you build a strong foundation in cybersecurity concepts and can help you develop the skills you need to be successful in this role.

See salaries and explore the career path for IT Auditor

Network Administrator

Network Administrators manage and maintain an organization's computer networks. They are responsible for the security of the network and its data. Taking this course can help you build a strong foundation in cybersecurity concepts and can help you develop the skills you need to be successful in this role.

See salaries and explore the career path for Network Administrator

Systems Administrator

Systems Administrators manage and maintain an organization's computer systems. They are responsible for the security of the system and its data. Taking this course can help you build a strong foundation in cybersecurity concepts and can help you develop the skills you need to be successful in this role.

See salaries and explore the career path for Systems Administrator