Government Pavilion, C/ Padre Herrera s/n
Post Office Box 456
38200, San Cristobal de La Laguna
Santa Cruz de Tenerife - Spain
Switchboard Tel.: (+34) 922 31 90 00
Hours: Mon, 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Cryptography and Digital Security
Cryptography and Digital Security
Overview
This microcredential provides a solid foundation in the fundamental principles of cryptography and its essential role in information security. Through a hands-on approach, students will learn to implement symmetric (AES) and asymmetric (RSA, Diffie-Hellman) encryption algorithms in Python, as well as use hash functions and digital signatures to ensure integrity, authentication, and non-repudiation. Furthermore, emphasis is placed on adopting cryptographic best practices in key management, parameter initialization, and secure storage, fostering the responsible and robust use of cryptographic techniques in real-world environments.
- Understand the fundamental principles of cryptography and its relationship to information security.
- Implement in Python symmetric (AES) and asymmetric (RSA, Diffie-Hellman) encryption algorithms, and apply hash functions and digital signatures to guarantee integrity, authentication and non-repudiation.
- Adopt good cryptographic practices in key handling, initialization, and secure storage.
If you do not hold a bachelor's degree, students enrolled in undergraduate or master's degree programs will be accepted, preferably those in the fields of Engineering and Architecture and Science, as these provide the necessary technical and analytical foundation for understanding the course content. Undergraduate degrees at the University of La Laguna considered particularly relevant include:
Engineering and Architecture Branch
- Bachelor's Degree in Computer Engineering
- Bachelor's Degree in Industrial Electronics and Automation Engineering
- Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering
- Bachelor's Degree in Industrial Chemical Engineering
- Bachelor's Degree in Civil Engineering
- Degree in Technical Architecture
- Bachelor's Degree in Marine Technologies
- Degree in Nautical Studies and Maritime Transport
Branch of Sciences
- Bachelor's Degree in Mathematics
- Bachelor's Degree in Physics
- Bachelor's Degree in Chemistry
- Bachelor's Degree in Biology
- Bachelor's Degree in Environmental Sciences
Students and graduates from other fields of study, such as Social Sciences and Law, Health Sciences, or Arts and Humanities, may also apply, provided they demonstrate interest or experience in areas related to technology, data analysis, programming, or digital innovation.
Academic program
Block 1 – Fundamentals and Classical Ciphers
● Basic principles: confidentiality, integrity, authentication.
● Caesar cipher, Vigenère cipher and transposition.
● Practical implementation.
● Brief self-assessment questionnaire.
Block 2 – Modern Cryptography and Applications
● Symmetric encryption: AES and CBC, GCM modes.
● Asymmetric encryption: RSA, Diffie-Hellman.
● Hash and digital signatures: SHA-256, signature and verification.
● Practical exercises and mini-projects:
○ Encrypt/sign messages.
○ Secure key exchange.
○ Comparison of algorithms.
Block 3 – Good Practices and Real Security
● Real-world use cases: passwords, certificates, secure storage.
● Cryptographic good practices: IV, padding, seeds, key management.
● Practical exercise: for example, the implementation of a simple chat or encrypted system.
Block 4 – Final Project
● Development in Python of a functional cryptographic application.
● Documentation in notebook and recorded presentation (5–7 minutes).
● Examples: encrypted chat, digital signature simulator, performance comparator.
The organizational format will follow the following:
- Lectures/expository method: presentation or explanation by the teaching staff.
- Seminars: completing exercises, solving problems or practical cases, others.
- Individual work.
- Tutoring: instruction period in which teachers and students interact with the aim of reviewing and discussing materials and topics presented in class.
- Exhibitions, debates and presentation of works and projects: activities supervised by the teaching staff.
- Active methodologies: cooperative learning, project-based learning, flipped classroom, service learning, game-based learning, case studies, problem solving aimed at making learning a participatory process.
Based on the following assessment tests:
- Objective tests (true/false, multiple choice, test-type, fill-in-the-blank, ordering, etc.) will allow for the evaluation of knowledge, skills, performance, aptitudes, etc. The answers will be closed-ended, and objectivity will be favored during the grading process.
- Case studies, exercises and problems: tests in which students must solve, in a reasoned manner, within a certain time, and according to the established criteria, the cases, exercises or problems posed by the teaching staff, with the aim of applying the knowledge acquired.
- Works, memoirs, internship reports, written reports and projects: documents prepared on a topic or activity carried out, following the instructions established by the teaching staff.
- Oral presentation and defense of topics, works, etc.
General information
Credits: 2 ECTS
Duration: 27/01/2026 -10/02/2026
Teaching modality: On-line
Location: On-line
Registration
Short courses available in various formats (in-person, online, or hybrid). Ideal for learning without interrupting your professional life.
Content created and delivered by professionals and experts in the field, designed for immediate application.
Endorsed by the University of La Laguna. You will receive an official ECTS certificate, valid in the European Higher Education Area.
Teaching staff
Tuition
Registration link
Tuition fee
Tuition fees subsidized by the Cybersecurity Chair of the University of La Laguna C065/23, financed by the National Cybersecurity Institute (INCIBE) and funds from the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan – Next Generation EU funds.
