What Is an NFT? Your Guide to Non-Fungible Tokens in 2025
January 6, 2025
Article · 7 min read
This course is part of multiple programs.
Instructors: Dr. Manish Kumar
Instructor ratings
We asked all learners to give feedback on our instructors based on the quality of their teaching style.
94,463 already enrolled
Included with
(2,402 reviews)
Recommended experience
Intermediate level
Fundamental knowledge of networking and cybersecurity.
(2,402 reviews)
Recommended experience
Intermediate level
Fundamental knowledge of networking and cybersecurity.
In-demand penetration and threat hunting skills, supported by hands-on practice that employers are looking for on a resume.
Hands-on experience applying the principles of penetration testing using tools, such as OWASP ZAP and SNYK.
How to create penetration testing reports and integrate AI to perform advanced threat hunting and threat intelligence.
Use cryptography and cryptanalysis techniques like encryption and hashing to ensure data integrity and confidentiality.
Add to your LinkedIn profile
15 assignments
Add this credential to your LinkedIn profile, resume, or CV
Share it on social media and in your performance review
The cost of a security breach averages nearly $5M (IBM) and is increasing every year. So, businesses are always looking for professionals who can anticipate threats and prevent them. This IBM Penetration Testing, Threat Hunting, and Cryptography course builds expertise in identifying vulnerabilities, protecting assets, and using AI and cryptography techniques to strengthen an organization’s cybersecurity posture.
During the course, you’ll explore the penetration testing phases and gain practical experience performing software pen testing and scanning code repositories. You’ll also learn to create comprehensive pen testing reports, perform threat hunting, and integrate AI into threat intelligence. Plus, you’ll learn to leverage Cyber Threat Intelligence (CTI) frameworks for effective threat identification. Finally, you’ll explore cryptography, including encryption, decryption, and hashing techniques, while also learning about common cryptographic attacks and cryptanalysis methods. To complete the hands-on labs and project, you’ll require a laptop or desktop and basic knowledge of networking and cybersecurity. This course is ideal for existing and aspiring cybersecurity professionals looking to enhance their skills and advance their careers. It is recommended that you have fundamental knowledge of IT systems and cybersecurity principles prior to starting this course. If you’re looking to build in-demand cybersecurity skills in threat prevention, enroll today! In five weeks, you’ll add penetration testing, threat hunting, and cryptography to your resume.
This module provides an overview of the different phases of penetration testing, which includes planning, discovery, attack, verification, and reporting. You'll also learn about the fundamental concepts of penetration testing and its importance. The module will focus on the planning and discovery phases. The planning phase will cover the rules of engagement, which ensure penetration tests are conducted ethically and legally. Then, in the discovery phase, you will be introduced to passive and active reconnaissance methods and Google Dorking.
5 videos2 readings3 assignments7 plugins
This module focuses on the attack phase of penetration testing. You will learn about the key actions involved in the attack phase, including running exploits, bypassing defenses, gaining elevated privileges, and initiating post-attack activities. You will also explore various penetration testing tools and perform port and website scans using online penetration tools. Further, you will solidify your understanding of port scanning, network scanning, and network protocol analyzers through hands-on labs.
3 videos1 reading3 assignments3 app items3 plugins
This module focuses on the reporting phase of penetration testing, while introducing the concepts of software and application pen testing. You will learn how to scan code repositories for vulnerabilities and understand its benefits. You will also understand the importance of the reporting phase, create comprehensive penetration testing reports, and implement the Penetration Testing Execution Standard (PTES) framework, which provides insights into industry standards for reporting.
3 videos1 reading3 assignments5 plugins
This module provides an overview of threat hunting practices and the role of threat intelligence in cybersecurity. You will explore various threat intelligence sources and learn how to review recent security threat reports using IBM X-Force Threat Exchange. You'll also learn about threat intelligence platforms, security information and event management (SIEM) systems, threat intelligence frameworks, and threat hunting models. Additionally, you'll gain insights into the role of AI in enhancing threat intelligence and hunting capabilities.
5 videos1 reading3 assignments7 plugins
This module delves into the fundamental concepts and practices of cryptography, covering essential techniques for ensuring data integrity, confidentiality, and authenticity. You will gain insights into symmetric and asymmetric encryption algorithms like AES and RSA, as well as hashing techniques. The module also examines key management practices and crucial cryptographic techniques, such as securing SSL/TLS. Further, it addresses common cryptographic attacks and cryptanalysis techniques, providing a comprehensive understanding of cryptographic solutions for enhancing organizational security.
7 videos1 reading3 assignments2 app items7 plugins
In this module, you will apply the knowledge gained in the course in a final project. The module also wraps up the course learning and highlights key takeaways and next steps.
1 video2 readings1 peer review1 app item3 plugins
We asked all learners to give feedback on our instructors based on the quality of their teaching style.
At IBM, we know how rapidly tech evolves and recognize the crucial need for businesses and professionals to build job-ready, hands-on skills quickly. As a market-leading tech innovator, we’re committed to helping you thrive in this dynamic landscape. Through IBM Skills Network, our expertly designed training programs in AI, software development, cybersecurity, data science, business management, and more, provide the essential skills you need to secure your first job, advance your career, or drive business success. Whether you’re upskilling yourself or your team, our courses, Specializations, and Professional Certificates build the technical expertise that ensures you, and your organization, excel in a competitive world.
Coursera Project Network
Course
University of Colorado System
Course
Packt
Specialization
Specialization
2,402 reviews
73.77%
18.74%
4.36%
1.62%
1.49%
Showing 3 of 2402
Reviewed on Aug 22, 2020
Very thorough topical information at the entry level that leaves you with confidence and knowledge afterwards. I am very thankful for this course and the whole IBM Cyber Pro Cert.
Reviewed on Mar 28, 2021
What I liked most about this course in comparison to others is the added video of the presenter next to the slides content. This helped me focus and absorb the content better.
Reviewed on Feb 7, 2021
Pros: Very straightforward and good frameworks for a number of topics. Cons: Dated (old tech), some lessons have audio that drops in and out
Unlimited access to 10,000+ world-class courses, hands-on projects, and job-ready certificate programs - all included in your subscription
Earn a degree from world-class universities - 100% online
Upskill your employees to excel in the digital economy
Penetration testing, or pen testing, is the process of simulating cyberattacks to identify vulnerabilities in an organization's security systems. It helps businesses strengthen their cybersecurity defenses by revealing weaknesses before malicious hackers can exploit them. Regular pen testing is crucial for maintaining data security and meeting compliance standards.
Threat hunting is a proactive cybersecurity strategy where experts search for potential threats within an organization's network, even if no alarm has been triggered. Unlike penetration testing, which focuses on identifying vulnerabilities through simulated attacks, threat hunting seeks out hidden or advanced threats that may bypass traditional security measures.
Penetration testing helps organizations strengthen their cybersecurity by identifying and addressing vulnerabilities before they can be exploited by attackers. Threat hunting, on the other hand, proactively seeks out hidden or advanced threats that evade traditional security measures. Together, these practices enhance an organization's ability to detect, prevent, and respond to cyberattacks, ensuring a more robust and resilient security posture.
Cryptography plays a key role in protecting sensitive information and converting it into formats that are unreadable or inaccessible to unauthorized users. It enhances the confidentiality, integrity, and authenticity of digital communications. Cryptography also helps secure transactions, personal data, and private communications from cyberattacks. It is widely used in applications such as secure online banking, encrypted messaging apps, digital signatures, and virtual private networks (VPNs).
Access to lectures and assignments depends on your type of enrollment. If you take a course in audit mode, you will be able to see most course materials for free. To access graded assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience, during or after your audit. If you don't see the audit option:
The course may not offer an audit option. You can try a Free Trial instead, or apply for Financial Aid.
The course may offer 'Full Course, No Certificate' instead. This option lets you see all course materials, submit required assessments, and get a final grade. This also means that you will not be able to purchase a Certificate experience.
When you enroll in the course, you get access to all of the courses in the Certificate, and you earn a certificate when you complete the work. Your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile. If you only want to read and view the course content, you can audit the course for free.
If you subscribed, you get a 7-day free trial during which you can cancel at no penalty. After that, we don’t give refunds, but you can cancel your subscription at any time. See our full refund policy.
These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems. They are usually only set in response to actions made by you which amount to a request for services, such as setting your privacy preferences, logging in or filling in forms. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not then work.
These cookies may be set through our site by our advertising partners. They may be used by those companies to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant adverts on other sites. They are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising.
These cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our site. They help us to know which pages are the most and least popular and see how visitors move around the site. If you do not allow these cookies we will not know when you have visited our site, and will not be able to monitor its performance.
These cookies enable the website to provide enhanced functionality and personalization. They may be set by us or by third party providers whose services we have added to our pages. If you do not allow these cookies then some or all of these services may not function properly.