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Master’s in COMSEC/CRYPTO and Secure Defence Communications Engineering

Online master's programme of 1,900 hours in COMSEC/CRYPTO and secure defence communications engineering, structured in 12 modules covering the mathematics of cryptography, symmetric, asymmetric and post-quantum cryptography, secure protocols, key management, TRANSEC and TEMPEST, product certification and secure architectures, with an assigned technical tutor.

Duration1900 h
ModeOnline
LanguageEnglish
Start datesSet by the faculty
AwardSEIUM Institute diploma
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Learning outcomes

What you will be able to do

01

Understand the disciplines of communications security.

02

Apply symmetric and asymmetric cryptographic algorithms.

03

Plan the migration to post-quantum cryptography.

04

Design secure communication protocols and architectures.

05

Manage the life cycle of keys and certificates.

06

Evaluate products against Common Criteria and FIPS 140-3.

07

Comply with national and European information security regulations.

Profile

Who it's for

  • Communications security engineers in defence, government or industry.
  • Applied cryptographers who want a systems and certification perspective.
  • Security architects designing classified or high-assurance networks.
  • Security product evaluators working with Common Criteria or FIPS 140-3.
  • Key management officers responsible for cryptographic material.
  • Information security auditors focusing on ENS, NIS2 and ISO/IEC 27001.
  • Engineering or science graduates aiming to enter the defence and security sector.
Standards & tools

What you'll work with

  • FIPS 140-3 (security requirements for cryptographic modules)
  • ISO/IEC 15408 (Common Criteria for IT security evaluation)
  • NIST FIPS 203 (ML-KEM post-quantum key encapsulation)
  • NIST SP 800-57 (key management recommendations)
  • Esquema Nacional de Seguridad, RD 311/2022 (Spanish National Security Framework)
  • Directive (EU) 2022/2555 (NIS2, cybersecurity across the Union)
  • ISO/IEC 27001 (information security management systems)
  • IETF RFC 8446 (TLS 1.3)
  • OpenSSL
  • Wireshark
  • EJBCA
  • ProVerif
  • SoftHSM
Syllabus

12 modules · 1900 h

  1. 1.1COMSEC disciplines: cryptographic, transmission, emission and physical security
  2. 1.2Confidentiality, integrity, authenticity and availability
  3. 1.3Threat models in communications
  4. 1.4History of military cryptography
  5. 1.5Organisational framework for information security
  6. 1.6Information classification: levels and markings
  7. 1.7National security authorities
  8. 1.8Industrial security and clearances
  9. 1.9Professional ethics and confidentiality
  10. 1.10Case study: threat analysis of a corporate network
  1. 2.1Modular arithmetic and number theory
  2. 2.2Groups, rings and finite fields
  3. 2.3Computational complexity
  4. 2.4Shannon's information theory
  5. 2.5Random number generation
  6. 2.6One-way functions
  7. 2.7Elliptic curves
  8. 2.8Lattices and hard problems
  9. 2.9Formal security proofs
  10. 2.10Practical exercise: implementing GF(2^8) arithmetic in Python
  1. 3.1Block ciphers: AES and its structure
  2. 3.2Modes of operation: CBC, CTR and GCM
  3. 3.3Stream ciphers: ChaCha20
  4. 3.4SHA-2 and SHA-3 hash functions
  5. 3.5MAC codes and HMAC
  6. 3.6AEAD authenticated encryption
  7. 3.7Key derivation: HKDF and PBKDF2
  8. 3.8Differential and linear cryptanalysis
  9. 3.9Secure implementation against side channels
  10. 3.10Lab: analysis of modes of operation with OpenSSL
  1. 4.1RSA: fundamentals and OAEP padding
  2. 4.2Diffie-Hellman and ECDH
  3. 4.3ECDSA and EdDSA digital signatures
  4. 4.4Public key infrastructure
  5. 4.5X.509 certificates and chains of trust
  6. 4.6Revocation: CRL and OCSP
  7. 4.7Hierarchical certification authorities
  8. 4.8eIDAS qualified electronic signatures
  9. 4.9Certificate life-cycle management
  10. 4.10Practical exercise: deploying a PKI with EJBCA
  1. 5.1The quantum threat: Shor's and Grover's algorithms
  2. 5.2NIST FIPS 203, 204 and 205 standards
  3. 5.3Lattice-based ML-KEM
  4. 5.4ML-DSA and SLH-DSA for signatures
  5. 5.5Hybrid transition schemes
  6. 5.6Cryptographic agility
  7. 5.7Post-quantum migration plans
  8. 5.8ENISA and CCN recommendations
  9. 5.9Quantum key distribution
  10. 5.10Workshop: cryptographic inventory and migration plan
  1. 6.1TLS 1.3: handshake and cipher suites
  2. 6.2IPsec: IKEv2, ESP and AH
  3. 6.3High-assurance network encryptors at a conceptual level
  4. 6.4MACsec on Ethernet links
  5. 6.5Wi-Fi security with WPA3
  6. 6.6End-to-end secure messaging
  7. 6.7Voice over IP security with SRTP
  8. 6.8Formal analysis with ProVerif and Tamarin
  9. 6.9Classic implementation errors
  10. 6.10Lab: TLS handshake analysis with Wireshark
  1. 7.1Life cycle of cryptographic keys
  2. 7.2NIST SP 800-57 recommendations
  3. 7.3Key generation and distribution
  4. 7.4HSM modules and their certification
  5. 7.5Storage and custody
  6. 7.6Rotation, compromise and revocation
  7. 7.7Key management in disconnected networks
  8. 7.8Accounting for cryptographic material
  9. 7.9Auditing key management
  10. 7.10Practical exercise: key management with SoftHSM and PKCS#11
  1. 8.1TRANSEC: protecting the traffic pattern
  2. 8.2Spread spectrum and frequency hopping
  3. 8.3Low probability of detection
  4. 8.4TEMPEST compromising emanations
  5. 8.5Zoning and SDIP-27 standards
  6. 8.6Shielding and filtering of equipment
  7. 8.7Physical security of facilities
  8. 8.8Laboratory emission measurements
  9. 8.9Security of portable equipment
  10. 8.10Case study: TEMPEST zoning of a room
  1. 9.1Common Criteria ISO/IEC 15408
  2. 9.2CEM evaluation methodology
  3. 9.3Protection profiles
  4. 9.4FIPS 140-3 and CMVP
  5. 9.5National certification scheme
  6. 9.6Catalogue of qualified products
  7. 9.7Evaluation laboratories
  8. 9.8Evaluation of cryptographic algorithms
  9. 9.9European EUCC certification
  10. 9.10Workshop: analysis of a protection profile
  1. 10.1Classified networks and domain separation
  2. 10.2Secure exchange gateways
  3. 10.3Data diodes
  4. 10.4Zero-trust architecture
  5. 10.5Security in satellite communications
  6. 10.6Security in tactical radios
  7. 10.7Security in the government cloud
  8. 10.8System accreditation
  9. 10.9Security incident management
  10. 10.10Practical exercise: designing an architecture with a data diode
  1. 11.1Spanish National Security Framework (ENS)
  2. 11.2NIS2 Directive
  3. 11.3NATO information security regulations
  4. 11.4EU Cybersecurity Act
  5. 11.5Export controls on cryptography
  6. 11.6Wassenaar Arrangement
  7. 11.7Information security governance
  8. 11.8ISO/IEC 27001 and 27002
  9. 11.9Auditing and compliance
  10. 11.10Case study: ENS audit of a system
  1. 12.1Definition of the communications system
  2. 12.2Threat and requirements analysis
  3. 12.3Selection of cryptographic mechanisms
  4. 12.4Design of the secure architecture
  5. 12.5Key management plan
  6. 12.6Certification analysis
  7. 12.7Post-quantum migration assessment
  8. 12.8Conclusions and recommendations
  9. 12.9Master's Thesis report
  10. 12.10Master's Thesis: defence before a panel
Methodology, software & labs

How you'll learn

100% online training on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. There are no fixed timetables: you progress at your own pace within the intake, so you can combine it with your job.

Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is OpenSSL, Wireshark, EJBCA, ProVerif and SoftHSM, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Testing is studied through real procedures for cryptographic protocol analysis, public key infrastructure deployment and product evaluation against protection profiles. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final Master's Thesis.

Standards covered: FIPS 140-3, ISO/IEC 15408, NIST FIPS 203, NIST SP 800-57, Esquema Nacional de Seguridad, RD 311/2022, Directive (EU) 2022/2555, ISO/IEC 27001, IETF RFC 8446.

Assigned technical tutor:every module ends with a deliverable that your tutor marks individually.
Standards-based learning:guided reading of FIPS 140-3, ISO/IEC 15408 (Common Criteria) and NIST FIPS 203 applied to real cases, not as a theoretical annex.
Industry software:OpenSSL, Wireshark, EJBCA, ProVerif and SoftHSM, in free, academic or evaluation versions.
Master's Thesis with defence:A secure communications system design with cryptographic mechanisms, key management, certification and post-quantum migration analysis, defended before a panel.
Flexible format:100% online, no fixed timetables, compatible with full-time work.
Capstone project

Build it end to end

Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.

Threat and requirements analysis
Define the communications system and analyse its threats and security requirements.
Cryptographic mechanism selection
Select symmetric, asymmetric and post-quantum mechanisms suited to the system.
Secure architecture and protocols
Design the secure architecture and validate its protocols with ProVerif and Wireshark.
Key management and certification
Draw up the key management plan and analyse the certification route.
Master's Thesis
Present the secure system design and its post-quantum migration plan in the thesis, defended before a panel.
Career opportunities

Where this takes you

Communications Security EngineerApplied CryptographerSecurity ArchitectSecurity Product EvaluatorKey Management OfficerInformation Security Auditor
Admissions & scholarships

Requirements

  • University degree in engineering, science or architecture, or equivalent demonstrable professional experience.
  • Internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme software.
  • English sufficient to read technical standards.

Ready to start?

Send your application today. Our admissions team replies within 72 hours with your study plan and funding options.

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FAQ

Frequently asked questions

The programme totals 1,900 hours over 12–14 months. You set your own pace within each intake, and your tutor helps you plan the workload around your job.

You work with OpenSSL, Wireshark, EJBCA, ProVerif and SoftHSM, using free, academic or evaluation versions. Your tutor indicates the free alternative wherever one exists.

A SEIUM Institute diploma, awarded on passing the continuous assessment and the Master's Thesis. It is SEIUM's own qualification, not an official state degree; its recognition depends on the programme completed and the regulations of each country.

Yes. Modules passed in a course or postgraduate diploma in the same area are recognised in the higher programme. Ask about the recognition policy when you enrol.

A university degree in engineering, science or architecture (or equivalent professional experience), a computer able to run the programme software, and English sufficient to read technical standards.

Start dates are set by SEIUM's faculty for each intake. Our admissions team will confirm the next available date when you apply.

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