ISO/IEC Course in Cryptography Applied to Defence
Online 300-hour course in ISO/IEC in cryptography applied to defence. 6 modules covering ISO/IEC 18033-3 (block ciphers), ISO/IEC 19790 (security requirements for cryptographic modules) and OpenSSL. Assigned tutor and open enrolment.
ISO/IEC Course in Cryptography Applied to Defence — studying from Ireland
Ireland maintains a small defence force, the Defence Forces, which operates its own engineering corps and equipment maintenance capabilities. Defence procurement and development are handled through the Department of Defence, while much of the wider defence-related industrial activity involves dual-use technologies, electronics and communications systems supplied by domestic and international firms. Engineers in this area typically work on land vehicle maintenance, military communications, protective equipment and systems integration. Policy and procurement are governed by national and European frameworks, including EU defence initiatives.
Fees for Ireland: €797 (Euro), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in Ireland
Typical roles
Questions from Ireland
Which Irish bodies oversee defence engineering and does a private qualification count?
Defence in Ireland is overseen by the Department of Defence, and the Defence Forces run their own training and technical structures. Engineers Ireland sets general professional engineering standards. SEIUM's qualifications are private and not state-awarded, and they are not accredited by any national body, so recognition for any defence-related role is decided by the relevant authority or employer.
Do Irish defence and land-systems employers hire people with private online qualifications?
Irish defence-related hiring is limited and often subject to security vetting and specific qualification requirements, so employers set their own criteria. A private online qualification may be taken into account alongside experience, but we cannot say how any employer will view it or guarantee any result. Check requirements for particular roles directly.
Can I study this from Ireland while working, and what is the workload?
Yes, the programme is 100% online and taught in English, so you can study from home without travel or a student visa. Master's programmes total 1,900 hours, postgraduate diplomas 800 and specialist courses 300. Each student has an assigned technical tutor, fees can be paid in instalments, and employer sponsorship may be possible. Plan your weekly hours realistically around your job.
Take the controls.
Run a real engineering trade-off from this field. Move the sliders, watch the model react in real time and beat the challenge.
What you will be able to do
Explain the mathematical foundations of modern cryptography.
Select standardised algorithms and modes of operation.
Design a secure key management lifecycle.
Implement a public key infrastructure with X.509 certificates.
Analyse secure cryptographic protocols in common use.
Assess the compliance of cryptographic modules.
Plan the transition to post-quantum cryptography.
Who it's for
- Cryptographic engineer looking to specialise in ISO/IEC in cryptography applied to defence.
- Public key infrastructure specialist looking to specialise in ISO/IEC in cryptography applied to defence.
- Security architect looking to specialise in ISO/IEC in cryptography applied to defence.
- Cryptographic module evaluator looking to specialise in ISO/IEC in cryptography applied to defence.
- Cybersecurity consultant looking to specialise in ISO/IEC in cryptography applied to defence.
- Post-quantum cryptography researcher looking to specialise in ISO/IEC in cryptography applied to defence.
- Graduates in engineering or sciences seeking to enter the defence industry.
What you'll work with
- ISO/IEC 18033-3 (block ciphers)
- ISO/IEC 19790 (security requirements for cryptographic modules)
- ISO/IEC 11770-3 (key management using asymmetric techniques)
- FIPS 140-3 (validation of cryptographic modules)
- FIPS 203 (ML-KEM, post-quantum cryptography)
- RFC 5280 (X.509 certificates)
- ISO/IEC 9797-1 (message authentication codes)
6 modules · 300 h
1.1Objectives of cryptography: confidentiality, integrity and authenticity1.2Symmetric and asymmetric cryptography1.3Hash functions and message authentication codes1.4Electronic signature and time-stamping1.5Random number generation and entropy1.6Standardisation bodies and algorithm catalogues1.7International standards for cryptographic techniques1.8Recommendations for key lengths1.9Common vocabulary and notation1.10Exercise: classify primitives by objective
2.1Block ciphers and their design2.2Modes of operation and their properties2.3Authenticated encryption with associated data2.4Stream ciphers and their correct use2.5Hash functions and collision resistance2.6Key derivation and password functions2.7Elliptic curve cryptography2.8Key exchange and forward secrecy2.9Classic implementation errors2.10Practice: choose and justify a cryptographic suite
3.1Key lifecycle3.2Generation, distribution and custody3.3Key hierarchies and master keys3.4Hardware security modules and their use3.5Secure storage on devices3.6Rotation, archiving and destruction3.7Backup and recovery3.8Separation of duties and dual control3.9Policies and practice statements3.10Practice: design the key hierarchy of a system
4.1Certification and registration authorities4.2Certificate profiles and extensions4.3Chain and revocation validation4.4Certificate status protocols4.5Transport layer security protocols4.6Network security protocols4.7Cross-domain interoperability and cross-certification4.8Document and code signing4.9Time-stamping and long-term preservation4.10Practice: deploy a test certificate hierarchy
5.1Evaluation of cryptographic modules and their levels5.2Common Criteria applied to cryptographic products5.3Side-channel attacks and countermeasures5.4Algorithm conformance testing5.5Applicable regulation and export control5.6Crypto-agility and managing obsolescence5.7Post-quantum cryptography and its standardisation5.8Migration plan to new algorithms5.9Cryptographic inventory of an organisation5.10Practice: cryptographic migration plan
6.1Choice of system and its security requirements6.2Threat analysis and cryptographic objectives6.3Justified selection of algorithms and modes6.4Key management design6.5Certificate infrastructure design6.6Evaluation and compliance plan6.7Inventory and crypto-agility plan6.8Documentation and cryptographic policy6.9Technical report6.10Project defence
How you'll learn
Fully 100 % online training on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. No fixed timetable: students progress at their own pace within the intake, making it possible to combine with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is OpenSSL, SageMath, CrypTool 2, Python (cryptography), Wireshark, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Tests are studied using real applied cryptography laboratory procedures, deployment of a test public key infrastructure and cryptographic compliance reviews. Assessment is continuous per module plus the final integrative project.
Build it end to end
Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.
Explain the mathematical foundations of modern cryptography.
Select standardised algorithms and modes of operation.
Design a secure key management lifecycle.
Implement a public key infrastructure with X.509 certificates.
Analyse secure cryptographic protocols in common use.
Where this takes you
Requirements
- No prior degree required.
- Internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme's software.
- Sufficient level of Spanish to follow technical standards reading.
Ready to start?
Send your application today. Our admissions team replies within 72 hours with your study plan and funding options.
Frequently asked questions
The programme totals 300 hours spread over 3 to 5 months. That is between 10 and 15 hours per week on average, compatible with a full-time job.
You work with OpenSSL, SageMath, CrypTool 2, Python (cryptography), Wireshark. Free, academic or evaluation versions are used, and the tutor indicates the free alternative where one exists.
A SEIUM own diploma on passing continuous assessment and the integrative project. It is in-house training, not an official qualification from the Ministry.
Yes. Modules passed in a course or postgraduate diploma in the same area are credited towards the advanced programme. Check the credit transfer policy when you enrol.
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