Data Encryption Mastery Deep Dive into Cybers #259010

Upon successful completion of this course, participants will be able to:

• Explain the core mathematical concepts (modular arithmetic, prime numbers, elliptic curves) that underpin modern cryptography.

• Differentiate between and implement symmetric, asymmetric, and hybrid cryptosystems, selecting the right tool for a given use case.

• Design and execute a robust cryptosystem with a secure Key Management Lifecycle (generation, storage, distribution, rotation, destruction).

• Analyze and break weak cryptographic implementations through hands-on cryptanalysis techniques.

• Implement encryption for data in transit (TLS) and data at rest (disk, database) in enterprise environments.

• Evaluate the security and trade-offs of various cryptographic standards (AES, RSA, ECC, SHA, Post-Quantum finalists).

This master-level course is designed for technical professionals who design, implement, audit, or manage systems that rely on encryption.

• Security Architects & Cryptographic Engineers

• DevSecOps Engineers & Software Developers building security-critical applications

• Cloud Security Specialists implementing encryption in IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS

• Senior System Administrators & Network Engineers responsible for PKI and TLS

• Security Consultants & Penetration Testers specializing in app security

• IT Auditors & GRC Professionals who need a deep technical understanding of crypto controls

Prerequisites: A strong comfort with technical concepts and logical reasoning is essential. Familiarity with programming (Python helpful but not mandatory), networking, and basic Linux command line is strongly recommended.

• Pre-assessment
• Live group instruction
• Use of real-world examples, case studies and exercises
• Interactive participation and discussion
• Power point presentation, LCD and flip chart
• Group activities and tests
• Each participant receives a binder containing a copy of the presentation
• slides and handouts
• Post-assessment

Day 1: Foundations of the Cryptographic Science

• Module 1: The History and Pillars of Security

  • Cryptography vs. Cryptanalysis, historical ciphers (Caesar, Vigenère), and the lessons learned.

  • The CIA Triad (Confidentiality, Integrity, Availability) and how cryptography serves them.

• Module 2: Core Mathematical Concepts

  • Modular arithmetic, prime numbers, entropy, and one-way functions.

  • Introduction to number theory for public-key crypto.

• Hands-On Lab: Breaking classical ciphers with Python scripts and frequency analysis.

Day 2: Symmetric Cryptography & Hashes

• Module 3: Stream and Block Ciphers

  • Operational modes (ECB, CBC, GCM), strengths, and weaknesses.

  • Deep dive into the AES algorithm.

• Module 4: Cryptographic Hash Functions

  • Properties of cryptographic hashes (SHA-2, SHA-3).

  • Applications: password hashing, digital fingerprints, HMAC.

• Hands-On Lab: Implementing AES in different modes; observing patterns in ECB; creating and breaking weak password hashes.

Day 3: Asymmetric Cryptography & Key Management

• Module 5: Public Key Infrastructure (PKI)

  • Deep dive into RSA and Elliptic Curve Cryptography (ECC).

  • Diffie-Hellman Key Exchange and the discrete log problem.

• Module 6: The Key to it All: Key Management

  • The full key management lifecycle: generation, exchange, storage, rotation, revocation, and destruction.

  • Introduction to HSMs (Hardware Security Modules) and cloud KMS (Key Management Services).

• Hands-On Lab: Generating RSA keys, performing encryption/signatures, and simulating a man-in-the-middle attack to break weak key exchange.

Day 4: Applied Cryptography in the Enterprise

• Module 7: Encryption for Data in Transit

  • Deconstructing the TLS handshake (1.2 vs. 1.3).

  • Cipher suite negotiation and common misconfigurations.

• Module 8: Encryption for Data at Rest

  • Full Disk Encryption (FDE) vs. File-Level Encryption.

  • Application-layer encryption and tokenization for databases.

• Hands-On Lab: Using tools like openssl and Wireshark to analyze TLS connections; configuring Apache/Nginx with strong cipher suites.

Day 5: Advanced Topics and the Future

• Module 9: Cryptanalysis and Common Vulnerabilities

  • Identifying and exploiting weak implementations: padding oracle attacks, weak randomness, side-channel attacks.

• Module 10: The Quantum Future

  • Introduction to Quantum Computing and its threat to current crypto (Shor’s Algorithm).

  • Overview of Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC) and NIST’s finalists.

• Capstone Challenge: A comprehensive lab where participants must audit, exploit, and then fix a vulnerable application that uses multiple layers of cryptography.

• Course Recap and The Path Forward