Encryption - Home

Welcome to the Encryption Hub – NCEA Level 2 (AS91898)

Support for understanding encryption, hashing, and security concepts in preparation for the end-of-year assessment.

What this page covers

• Core encryption concepts: AES, RSA, SHA-256

• The difference between symmetric and asymmetric encryption

• Real-world applications in IoT, healthcare, and everyday life

• Key issues such as privacy, security, and future threats (e.g. quantum computing)

• Ethical debates around encryption and surveillance

• Strategies for answering extended response questions

How to use this resource

• Work through each week’s focus area

• Complete the micro-tasks and short response activities

• Refer to the sentence starters and structure guides for exam preparation

• Use the self-check tools to identify areas to review

• Return to this site during revision week to practise full exam-style responses

Key Resources

• CS Field Guide – Encryption Chapter

• Video explanations of AES, RSA, SHA-256

• Workbook and tasks assigned on Google Classroom

• Glossary of key terms

• Practice exam question bank
  
  

Why this matters

Encryption plays a critical role in protecting digital systems. From securing personal data to supporting privacy in healthcare and communication, understanding encryption is essential not only for assessment, but for being informed in a digital world.