Appendix B. Projects for Teaching Cryptography and Network Security

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B.1 Research Projects

B.2 Programming Projects

B.3 Laboratory Exercises

B.4 Writing Assignments

B.5 Reading/Report Assignments

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Analysis and observation, theory and experience must never disdain or exclude each other; on the contrary, they support each other.

On War, Carl Von Clausewitz

Many instructors believe that research or implementation projects are crucial to the clear understanding of cryptography and network security. Without projects, it may be difficult for students to grasp some of the basic concepts and interactions among components. Projects reinforce the concepts introduced in the book, give the student a greater appreciation of how a cryptographic algorithm or protocol works, and can motivate students and give them confidence that they are capable of not only understanding but implementing the details of a security capability.

In this text, I have tried to present the concepts of cryptography and network security as clearly as possible and have provided numerous homework problems to reinforce those concepts. However, many instructors will wish to supplement this material with projects. This appendix provides some guidance in that regard and describes support material available in the instructor's supplement. The support material covers five types of projects:

• Research projects

• Programming projects

• Laboratory exercises

• Writing assignments

• Reading/report assignments