CompTIA Secure Software Professional
1 Secure Software Concepts
1-1 Understanding Secure Software Development Lifecycle (SSDLC)
1-2 Identifying Security Requirements
1-3 Secure Coding Principles
1-4 Threat Modeling
1-5 Risk Management
1-6 Security Testing
1-7 Incident Response and Management
1-8 Software Development Models
1-9 Legal and Compliance Considerations
2 Secure Software Design
2-1 Secure Architecture Design
2-2 Data Protection and Privacy
2-3 Secure Authentication and Authorization
2-4 Secure Communication and Data Transmission
2-5 Secure Logging and Monitoring
2-6 Secure API Design
2-7 Secure Mobile Application Design
2-8 Secure Cloud Application Design
2-9 Secure Microservices Design
2-10 Secure IoT Application Design
3 Secure Software Implementation
3-1 Secure Coding Practices
3-2 Input Validation and Output Encoding
3-3 Error Handling and Exception Management
3-4 Secure Use of Cryptography
3-5 Secure Use of Libraries and Frameworks
3-6 Secure Configuration Management
3-7 Secure Database Interaction
3-8 Secure File Handling
3-9 Secure Session Management
3-10 Secure Use of Third-Party Components
4 Secure Software Testing
4-1 Static Application Security Testing (SAST)
4-2 Dynamic Application Security Testing (DAST)
4-3 Interactive Application Security Testing (IAST)
4-4 Penetration Testing
4-5 Fuzz Testing
4-6 Security Code Review
4-7 Security Testing Automation
4-8 Vulnerability Scanning
4-9 Compliance Testing
4-10 Security Testing in Continuous IntegrationContinuous Deployment (CICD)
5 Secure Software Deployment and Operations
5-1 Secure Deployment Practices
5-2 Secure Configuration of Production Environments
5-3 Secure Patch Management
5-4 Secure Backup and Recovery
5-5 Secure Logging and Monitoring in Production
5-6 Incident Response in Production
5-7 Secure Software Updates and Rollbacks
5-8 Secure Software Decommissioning
5-9 Secure Collaboration and Communication
5-10 Secure Software Supply Chain Management
6 Secure Software Maintenance and Evolution
6-1 Secure Software Maintenance Practices
6-2 Secure Software Evolution
6-3 Secure Software Re-engineering
6-4 Secure Software Documentation
6-5 Secure Software Version Control
6-6 Secure Software Change Management
6-7 Secure Software Quality Assurance
6-8 Secure Software User Training and Awareness
6-9 Secure Software Metrics and Reporting
6-10 Secure Software Lifecycle Management
Secure Use of Cryptography

Secure Use of Cryptography

Key Concepts

Secure Use of Cryptography involves applying cryptographic techniques to protect data integrity, confidentiality, and authenticity. Key concepts include:

Symmetric Encryption

Symmetric Encryption uses the same key for both encryption and decryption. This method is fast and efficient for large amounts of data but requires secure key management to prevent unauthorized access.

Example: The Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) is a widely used symmetric encryption algorithm. A file encrypted with AES can only be decrypted using the same key that was used for encryption.

Asymmetric Encryption

Asymmetric Encryption uses a pair of keys: a public key for encryption and a private key for decryption. This method ensures secure communication without the need to share a secret key.

Example: The RSA algorithm is a common asymmetric encryption method. When sending an encrypted message, the sender uses the recipient's public key to encrypt the message, which can only be decrypted using the recipient's private key.

Hashing

Hashing is a one-way function that converts data into a fixed-size string of bytes. Hashes are used to verify data integrity, as even a small change in the input data results in a completely different hash.

Example: The SHA-256 algorithm is a widely used hashing function. When a file is uploaded to a server, the server computes its SHA-256 hash and compares it with the hash provided by the client to ensure the file has not been altered.

Digital Signatures

Digital Signatures use asymmetric encryption to verify the authenticity and integrity of a message or document. The sender signs the data with their private key, and the recipient verifies the signature using the sender's public key.

Example: In a secure email system, the sender can digitally sign their message using their private key. The recipient can verify the signature using the sender's public key to ensure the message has not been tampered with and is indeed from the claimed sender.

Conclusion

Secure Use of Cryptography is essential for protecting data in various scenarios. By understanding and applying concepts such as Symmetric Encryption, Asymmetric Encryption, Hashing, and Digital Signatures, organizations can ensure the confidentiality, integrity, and authenticity of their data.