Fundamentals of Network Security and Cryptography

Overview

Updated in May 2025. This course now features Coursera Coach! A smarter way to learn with interactive, real-time conversations that help you test your knowledge, challenge assumptions, and deepen your understanding as you progress through the course. Dive into the critical field of network security and cryptography, where you'll gain essential skills to protect systems and data in a digital world. This course equips you with the tools and knowledge to combat modern threats, vulnerabilities, and attacks in on-premise and cloud environments while exploring cryptographic principles that form the backbone of secure communications. The journey begins with an introduction to key security concepts, including threats, mitigations, and cryptographic basics. You'll explore common vulnerabilities, attack methodologies, and practical mitigation techniques. From understanding modern cryptographic solutions to mastering Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) and learning to protect against social engineering attacks, the course covers the essentials of securing a network environment. Building on foundational knowledge, delve into advanced security techniques such as intrusion prevention, firewall deployment, network segmentation, and the use of tools like NetFlow. Hands-on modules cover key configuration practices like DHCP snooping, port security, and private VLANs, giving you practical expertise to implement security protocols effectively. This course is ideal for IT professionals, network administrators, and anyone keen to strengthen their cybersecurity knowledge. While no prior cryptography knowledge is required, basic IT and networking understanding will enhance your learning experience. Suitable for intermediate learners, this program will prepare you to tackle real-world security challenges.

Syllabus

Network Security and Cryptography Fundamentals

In this module, we will lay the groundwork for understanding the essentials of network security and cryptography. You will explore key concepts such as threats, vulnerabilities, and mitigations, while gaining insights into on-prem and cloud-based attack vectors. Additionally, this section introduces modern cryptographic techniques, PKI, and VPN technologies, emphasizing their importance in safeguarding sensitive information.

Advanced Network Security and Configuration Techniques

In this module, we will delve into advanced network security techniques and configuration strategies. You will learn about specialized tools like Intrusion Prevention Systems, Flexible NetFlow, and segmentation techniques to bolster your network’s defenses. The section also covers critical Layer 2 and Layer 3 features such as DHCP Snooping, Port Security, and VLAN Hopping protection, equipping you with hands-on skills to safeguard complex network environments.