Dr. Alfred Basta has spent nearly three decades teaching, researching, and leading in higher education and cybersecurity. He earned his Ph.D. in Applied Mathematics (Cryptography). His dissertation focused on the future implementation of quantum cryptography. He also holds a Master's in Computer Science and a Bachelor's in Special Mathematics, which he earned with summa cum laude honors.

Certifications Dr. Basta holds a rare combination of offensive, defensive, governance, and cloud credentials:

Offensive security: OSCP, CRTO, CPENT, Licensed Penetration Tester (Master), CEH

Governance, risk, and audit: CISM, CISA, CRISC, CGEIT, CCISO, ISO 27001:2022 Lead Auditor

Compliance: Certified CMMC Assessor (CCA), CMMC Professional (CCP), CHPSE, CDPSE

Cloud: AWS Solutions Architect Professional, Azure Security Engineer, Google Cloud Professional Cloud Architect, CCSK, CCSE

Foundational and advanced CompTIA credentials: Security+, CySA+, PenTest+, CASP+, Network+, Linux+, and more

Author and Researcher Dr. Basta has authored or co-authored many books, including:

Penetration Testing from Contract to Report (Wiley)

Open-Source Security Operations Center (Wiley)

Mathematics in Cybersecurity (Wiley)

Computer Security and Penetration Testing (Cengage)

Database Security (Cengage)

Digital Forensics: A Comprehensive Investigative Approach

His research appears in peer-reviewed journals. Topics include quantum-resistant cryptography and the integration of functional safety with OT cybersecurity. He holds U.S. copyrights for his Penetration Testing Life Cycle and for several cybersecurity assessment tools.

Professional Service He serves on the CPENT Scheme Committee, works as an exam item writer for the Cloud Security Alliance, and sits on the editorial board of the Norwich University Journal of Information Assurance. He is also a member of EC-Council, ISACA, and the Mathematical Association of America.

What You Can Expect in His Courses Dr. Basta combines academic rigor with real-world, hands-on experience. His lessons build from fundamentals to advanced techniques. They use practical examples, clear explanations, and skills that employers value. Whether you are starting your first cybersecurity role or preparing for a top-level certification, his courses will help you learn with confidence.