COMP 5480 Cryptography and Protocols

Examines encryption algorithms, public key infrastructure, and secure communication protocols for data protection.

About this course

Cryptography and Protocols explores the mathematical and practical foundations of modern data protection. You will examine encryption algorithms, public key infrastructure, and secure communication protocols for data protection. The course moves from theoretical concepts to hands-on implementation, ensuring you can secure real-world systems against sophisticated threats.

Topics include symmetric and asymmetric encryption, hash functions, digital signatures, certificate authorities, and secure network protocols. You will also study common cryptographic attacks and how to design protocols that resist them.

Who takes this course

This course is part of the Cybersecurity program.

Credits: 3 · Hours: 45

Prerequisites

• COMP 1790 Network Infrastructure Basics
• COMP 5250 Penetration Testing Methods

Learning outcomes

• Apply symmetric and asymmetric encryption algorithms to secure data at rest and in transit.
• Evaluate public key infrastructure (PKI) components and certificate management processes.
• Implement secure communication protocols such as TLS, SSH, and IPsec.
• Analyze cryptographic weaknesses and propose mitigations against common attacks.
• Design secure protocol flows for authentication and key exchange.
• Document cryptographic implementations and security policies for technical and non-technical audiences.

Evaluation