Where to Find the Best Online Cryptography Courses, Classes, and Training

Cryptography consists of the study and maintenance of network security and public key encryption services for various companies. Online cryptography courses help students learn tech development skills and experience topics like front end development, foundational cryptography basic concepts, forms of encryption, and key encryption systems. 

Additionally, these popular cryptography courses are available for various skill levels, allowing students to connect in hands-on projects and even obtain professional certificates. Most of the courses listed in this article don’t require any previous programming experience, so don’t worry if you’re new to the game. 

While it can be challenging to grasp cryptography concepts on your own, this is a topic with lots of help available online to learn more skills and boost your resume. In this article, we’re going to give you an efficient introduction to cryptography and discuss the best courses, classes, and training methods to learn cryptography online. Keep reading to find out more. 

What Is Cryptography?

Cryptography is creating secret codes to make information available to suitable parties while eluding unwanted parties. This isn’t a new concept. The ancient Greeks used historical ciphers as early as 400 BC. Math and computer science have revolutionized modern cryptography, allowing companies to secure video files, important documents, and enforce cyber security. 

One example of using technology in modern cryptography is pseudo-randomness. Stanford University even wrote an article about this practice of using computers to create almost random sequences of numbers to protect sensitive information. 

It is also no coincidence that cryptography and cryptanalysis go hand in hand. The job of cryptographers is to encrypt something in plain text with ciphers and algorithms, while cryptanalysts take that encrypted data back to plain text, which is called decryption. Thus, both fields are referred to as cryptology.

Why Online Cryptography Courses Are Important for Professional Development

One of the best and most popular ways to learn cryptography is through asynchronous online courses. These courses provide a flexible learning option suited for many full-time workers, parents, and busy professionals. You don’t have to stop working in your current profession to become a cryptography expert.

Instructors have found an ideal balance between lessons and labs designed beforehand and distributed online for these online courses. Well-designed tutorials and well-constructed practice problems are incredibly valuable, combined with real industry expertise from professors, instructors, and mentors.

Should You Attend a Coding Bootcamp to Learn Cryptography?

Yes. Coding bootcamps are becoming increasingly popular among people interested in transitioning into a role in technology quickly. Unlike some colleges, which teach students about the theory of computer science and how computers work, bootcamps primarily focus on practical skills valued by employers, such as learning how to code. 

A lot of bootcamps have a self-paced learning format that will allow you to continue working at  your full-time job until you’re ready to start your new career in tech. Coding bootcamps also provide stronger sources of motivation and accountability for students. If you do not meet a deadline, a fellow student or a staff member will be there to check in and assist.

You’ll can also earn an official certificate to show employers that you’re prepared. The career support provided by many bootcamps is also a major bonus for students and helps them quickly find a job after graduation. In addition, these networks will help students develop connections with hiring managers and software engineers who are already employed in-field.

Overview: The Best Online Cryptography Courses, Classes, or Training

Provider	Course	Price	Length	Certificate
Coursera	Cryptography I	$79	23 hours	Yes
Coursera	Cryptography and Hashing Overview	$39 per month	10 Hours	Yes
Coursera	Introduction to Applied Cryptography Specialization	$49 per month	4 months	Yes
Coursera	Introduction to Blockchain Technologies	$79 per month	29 hours	Yes
edX	Unlocking Information Security I: From Cryptography to Buffer Overflows	$149	5 Weeks	Yes
edX	Unlocking Information Security II: An Internet Perspective	$149	7 weeks	Yes
edX	Quantum Cryptography University Courses	$50	10 Weeks	Yes
Evolve Academy	Cybersecurity Bootcamp	$12,500	20 weeks	Yes
Flatiron School	Cybersecurity Engineering	$16,900	15 weeks	Yes
LinkedIn Learning	IT Security Foundations: Operating System Security	$29.99	1 Hour and 38 Minutes	Yes
UC San Diego Extension	Cybersecurity Boot Camp	$13,495	24 weeks (full time)	Yes
Udacity	Applied Cryptography	Free	2 Months	No
Udemy	TOTAL: Conversation on Cryptography: w/ Mike Meyers	$49.99	2 Hours and 23 minutes	Yes
Udemy	Cryptography and Hashing Fundamentals in Python and Java	$119.99	13 hours and 54 minutes	Yes
Udemy	Master Mathematical Cryptography 2020: Crack Any Code	$19.99	5 Hours and 9 minutes	Yes

In Detail: The Best Online Cryptography Classes, Courses, or Training

Cryptography I | Coursera 

• Learning Format: Class
• Level: Beginner
• Subjects Covered: Stream Ciphers, Block Ciphers, Message Integrity, Authenticated Encryption, Public-Key Encryption

Coursera’s Cryptography I course will teach students the fundamentals of cryptography works and why it’s effective in protecting electronic information. They’ll analyze encryption techniques and learn ways to fix errors and make the process better. 

In the second part of the course, students will discuss public-key cryptography and learn how secret keys are created. Coursera offers programming projects that students can complete if they wish. Not only will public-key techniques be covered, but students will also learn cryptographic tasks such as symmetric encryption to encrypt and decrypt communications. 

Key Takeaway: Participants in the course will learn the basics of cryptography and figure out how to fix common errors within this practice. 

Cryptography and Hashing Overview | Coursera 

• Learning Format: Class
• Level: Beginner
• Subjects Covered: Cryptography, blockchain technology, hashing

This course will teach you everything about blockchain technology. In this lecture, you will get a detailed understanding of ownership and how the blockchain can be used to decentralize transaction handling. Authenticating users and guaranteeing transaction privacy are also covered through the course, which are essential topics for understanding hashing applications.

Key Takeaway: This course is a great introductory course into cryptography fundamentals, as well as hashing. By the end of the course, you’ll be able to understand authentication systems and cryptosystems.

Introduction to Applied Cryptography Specialization | Coursera 

• Learning Format: 4-Part Course Specialization 
• Level: Beginner
• Subjects Covered: Classical Cryptosystems and Core Concepts, Mathematical Foundations for Cryptography, Symmetric Cryptography, Asymmetric Cryptography and Key Management 

Coursera’s online four-part cryptography specialization course is offered through the University of Colorado and gives students an in-depth look at all the components of cryptography. As part of this unique specialization, students learn about digital signatures, classic cryptographic algorithms, publi- key authentication, symmetric keys, and basic principles of computer security. 

This program focuses on beginners, so the tutors explain every topic in detail from scratch. Additionally, past students and faculty have provided many positive reviews and ratings for this course. You’ll learn the art of cryptography, or secret writing, from some of the top cryptographers in the business. 

Key Takeaway: A certificate will be awarded to you once you complete every course and your hands-on project. Students can share their credentials with upcoming employers and professional networks.

Introduction to Blockchain Technologies | Coursera 

• Learning Format: Class (part of a specialization course)
• Level: Beginner
• Subjects Covered: Cryptography, hashing, blockchain technology

This course explores how blockchain technology can revolutionize the industry in the future. The course will give you the analytical skills necessary to explain blockchain, how it works, and why it is revolutionary. You’ll learn public-key cryptography and how it protects private information. 

This is one course in a four-part series from the Blockchain Revolution specialization. You’ll earn your certificate when you complete all of the courses in the specialization. 

Key Takeaway: Students will learn critical topics related to cryptography and blockchain technologies in this online course.

Unlocking Information Security I: From Cryptography to Buffer Overflows | edX

• Learning Format: Course
• Level: Intermediate
• Subjects Covered: Cryptography, hashing, buffer overflow, symmetric ciphers

This is the first course in the Unlocking Information Security specialization. It addresses the fundamental definitions, terminology, and concepts of information security. Using famous design flaws, implementation bugs, and social engineering samples, you will explore different types of vulnerabilities.

You’ll also learn about ancient ciphers and hash functions. Passwords, challenge-response systems, and biometrics will be examined very closely in the second half of the course. In the final section of this course, you’ll learn about buffer overflows, which are arguably the biggest vulnerability of all time. 

Key Takeaway: Learn how systems are hacked and defended with the most popular techniques used by today’s tech companies. 

Unlocking Information Security II: An Internet Perspective | edX 

• Learning Format: Course
• Level: Intermediate
• Subjects Covered: Cryptography, viruses, Internet security

You will learn about the inherent weaknesses found in the Internet’s platform layers and then meet the first line of Internet defenses. Afterward, you’ll examine the modern cryptographic concepts that make up the backbone of Internet security and discover how they evolved.

Key Takeaway: This is the second part of the Unlocking Information Security specialization. You’ll gain in-depth knowledge of cybersecurity systems upon completion of the online course.

Quantum Cryptography University Courses | edX 

• Learning Format: Course
• Level: Advanced
• Subjects Covered: Cryptography, Quantum Key Distribution 

Learners who wish to learn the basics of modern quantum cryptography will find this online program an excellent choice. You can audit this program for free, but you won’t get the certificate. This helpful online program covers various ideas of quantum cryptography concepts, including security, privacy amplification, and minimum entropy. 

The amount of time required for your weekly work is six to eight hours. You can learn about quantum cryptography in this program, which uses quantum effects to encrypt information. In addition, you will learn from outstanding tutors who are interested in making sure you truly know and understand foundational concepts.

Key Takeaway: In this course, you will learn how to use quantum effects, such as quantum entanglement and uncertainty, to implement cryptographic systems with levels of security that are impossible to achieve classically.

Cybersecurity Bootcamp | Evolve Academy

• Learning Format: Course
• Level: Beginner
• Subjects Covered: Networking, Threat Landscape, Cryptography, Threat Hunting and Incident Response

With this part-time bootcamp, you’ll be ready to start your job working with cryptography faster than ever. You will learn how important it is to know which mistakes commonly happen when trying to encrypt data. You’ll practice hacking using brute force and rainbow tables, as well as a ton of other tools commonly used by hackers.  

In the last part of the bootcamp, you’ll get a chance to practice what you’ve learned by completing an apprenticeship at a non-profit organization. The school even helps with job preparation, from mock interviews and practicing network strategies to meeting with employer partners. 

Key Takeaway: Evolve Academy helps prepare you with theoretical knowledge of cryptography, as well as preparing you to work in the real world. 

Cybersecurity Engineering | Flatiron School 

• Learning Format: Course
• Level: Beginner
• Subjects Covered: Network Security, System Security, Python, Logs and Detection, Threat Intelligence, Application Security, Applied Cryptography 

In this 15-week course, you’ll spend several weeks specifically on the subject of cryptography. You will learn how to attack encryptions, and through that, you’ll learn how to defend them. Because this is a bootcamp program, you have the chance to choose from a shorter full-time program, or a longer program where you can learn at your own pace. If you are interested in this coding bootcamp, check out our Flatiron School review.  

Key Takeaway: You can learn to use cryptography at your own pace so you can start working when it’s the right time for you.  

IT Security Foundations: Operating System Security | LinkedIn Learning

• Learning Format: Course
• Level: Beginner
• Subjects Covered: Cryptography, network security, authentication, OS administration

You’ll learn the basics of modern cryptography techniques and how to build secure cryptosystems that are near impossible to crack. The course instructor Lisa Bock offers an in-depth look into how an operating system is secured. During this lecture, Lisa reviews user authentication and Active Directory structure. 

She also discusses permissions and audit policies. She will explain how to protect your email address and website servers as well as different ways for creating a cryptosystem.

Key Takeaway: This course features a rigorous introduction to modern cryptography including topics related to pseudo-randomness and public-key encryption, as well as various other opportunities to boost your resume.

Cybersecurity Boot Camp | UC San Diego Extension

• Learning Format: Bootcamp program
• Level: Beginner
• Subjects Covered: Cryptography, Wireshark, Cloud security, risk management, penetration testing

In the UC San Diego Extension’s bootcamp program, you’ll learn how cryptography can help keep important private information safe from prying eyes. Cryptography is one of the main ways we’ve used to keep information private since the dawn of writing. You’ll also work with tools such as Burp Suite, Kali Linux, and Metasploit to become an expert in cyber security. 

Key Takeaway: You’ll use cutting-edge programs and tools to become an expert in cryptography and cyber security. 

Applied Cryptography | Udacity

• Learning Format: Course
• Level: Advanced
• Subjects Covered: Perfect Ciphers, Symmetric Encryption, Key Exchange, Asymmetric Encryption, Public-Key Protocols, Using Cryptographic Primitives, Secure Computation

The financial and communication industries are becoming increasingly dependent on cryptography. Due to its importance in our everyday lives, it is becoming an increasingly important skill to know. 

Professionals can benefit significantly from this free advanced-level course. Coding, algorithm analysis, and computation theory are the necessary skills for learners to complete this course. This program will teach you how to protect your information by sharing and creating coded messages. You will learn what can happen when you misuse or misinterpret these techniques.

Key Takeaway: Explore how secrets are written and shared and what can go wrong when cryptography is misused or poorly implemented.

TOTAL: Conversation on Cryptography: w/ Mike Meyers | Udemy 

• Learning Format: Class
• Level: Beginner
• Subjects Covered: Caesar and Vigenere ciphers, binary, hashing, asymmetric and symmetric cryptography, public-key infrastructure

Mike Meyers and Bill Saichek have partnered and come up with an excellent cryptography crash course that anyone can learn from. This course can be used as a stepping stone for beginners and as a refresher for cryptographers with more experience.

You’ll learn everything about the basics of cryptography, including how to define the term and the importance of cryptography for data security. Additionally, the course will teach you how websites use cryptography techniques to secure passwords, usernames, emails, and credit card information. 

Key Takeaway: This course is presented by Mike Meyers and Bill Saichek, who are well-known experts in the data science field. They offer students a crash course in cryptography and its many uses.

Cryptography and Hashing Fundamentals in Python and Java| Udemy 

• Learning Format: Course
• Level: Intermediate
• Subjects Covered: Cryptography, Private and Public-Key Cryptosystems, Cryptanalysis, Elliptic Curve Cryptography, Hashing

This cryptography course from Udemy focuses explicitly on building students’ skills in Python and Java, in addition to cryptography and hashing. This ensures students receive foundational computer science skills before diving into more complex network security topics, so it’s an excellent class to learn from.

In this course, professional instructors will guide you through the process of understanding the main concepts of private-key (symmetric) and public-key (asymmetric) cryptography. Learn the theory of encryption and cryptographic algorithms and how you can crack these systems.

Key Takeaway: You’ll learn cryptography and additional core topics like private and public-key cryptosystems, cryptanalysis, elliptic curve cryptography, and hashing.

Master Mathematical Cryptography 2020: Crack Any Code  | Udemy 

• Learning Format: Course
• Level: Beginner
• Subjects Covered: Cryptography, Advanced Mathematical Techniques, Public-Key Cryptosystems, Advanced Encryption Standards

This course will introduce you to all kinds of new and old security systems and address their strengths, weaknesses, and modern-day implications. In addition to understanding the foundational mechanism behind the software, you’ll also learn how to hack it.  According to this program, RSA, AES, and ECC are the three main modern cryptographic systems used today.

If you are interested in learning about security techniques and evolutions over the decades, then this course is perfect for you. As long as you understand the fundamental concepts of basic algebra and probability, you’ll be ready for this course. 

Key Takeaway: Master every major cryptosystem, including RSA, AES, and Elliptic Curve Cryptography

Online Cryptography Classes, Training, or Courses: Which Is the Right Option?

The best online learning platforms for people looking to advance professionally are those that offer accessible programs, such as those provided through edX or Coursera. You can also look for platforms aimed at basic-level explanations and learning. You can learn artificial intelligence, coding, or even ethical hacking from anywhere with online programs. 

How to Choose the Right Online Cryptography Course, Class, or Training Program

The majority of states still encourage residents to isolate themselves through stay-at-home orders, so people across the country are getting creative with their at-home occupations. If you’re looking to learn new skills or sharpen those you already have, online courses may be the answer. You don’t need to be a software engineer to learn cryptography.

However, you should consider some critical factors before picking an online Cryptography program. We’ve listed some of those factors below.

The Provider

There are numerous online cryptography programs on the Internet. Like in the real world, there are reputable, popular websites that deliver educational programs better than most of their competitors. Be sure to check the provider’s credential and rating information before purchasing or registering for an online class because they might not match your professional needs.

The Length

If you’re a working professional or a full-time student, chances are you won’t have a lot of free time to dedicate to extra online courses. It’s essential to check the length of the cryptography program before enrolling. If the program is a two-week crash course in cryptography, it might be a better option than a six-month, full-time course.

The Cost

The cost of the program is another essential factor in choosing a cryptography program. Some online courses are entirely free, while others have a week-long free trial. Deciding on the program’s cost is important, as some programs might offer lifetime access to the course materials at a specific price.

Cryptography Course Certificates vs Certifications

With some good cryptography and cryptanalysis tutorials and courses, you can learn cryptography much more efficiently. Cryptography has become more prevalent than ever, with companies needing specialists in this technical field to ensure security at their companies.

There are a lot of courses and online classes that can teach you everything you need to know, but you have to remember that certificates and certifications are different. A certificate is what you can earn after finishing a course to show that you completed the course. A certification is a test given through a third party to make sure you’re proficient in industry-standard practices. 

Importance of Cryptography Certifications

Having experience in real-world projects and teams is vital for standing out in this digital era. Certification proves such experience to potential employers. We recommend including certifications in your applications to display additional knowledge and expertise in cryptography so that hiring managers can see that you’ve taken the time to learn everything you can.

Overall, a certification boosts your skills as both a cryptographer and a working professional. In addition, it teaches you the technical skills necessary to thrive in the profession and how to troubleshoot issues effectively. It shows employers that you took the time to get a strong foundation in advanced topics in the field of cryptography. 

Why You Should Take Online Cryptography Courses or Classes

Learning cryptography expands your knowledge of computer systems and other related subjects. With the popularity of so many different messaging systems, you should get hands-on experience in areas like public-key systems, secure communication, and symmetric-key cryptography to keep your information safer. 

If you want to learn cryptography faster, take a cryptography course. Modern cryptography is mainly independent of formal institutional structures, despite its ancient origins. Some universities might include cryptography in their computer science departments, but the most consistent training with real-world applications is online. 

Education in the highest levels of cryptography is available online with a few clicks. No matter where you are in your learning process, you can find a cryptography class or course that satisfies your needs.