Cybersecurity (known as information security or computer security) refers to protecting computers, data, and networks, from damage, unauthorized access.
Today, an increase in cybercrime has fueled a high demand for cybersecurity professionals. The job outlook will grow by 33% between 2020 and 2030.
Although most cybersecurity professionals have at least a bachelor’s degree in computer science, many employers prefer certified candidates.
So I have compiled the top 10 courses to help you become a cybersecurity expert. Consider carefully and choose what works best for you!
1. Introduction to Cybersecurity
Specifications
- Difficulty: Intermediate.
- Duration: 4 months.
- Price: $399 per month.
- Provider: Udacity.
Course highlights
All courses of Udacity are designed from the perspective of actual industry practice instead of just academic theory.
That is what I love best about them. This course is also no exception and will get you ready to get into the cybersecurity field.
It will help you gain the skills required to become a security professional. You will learn to monitor and maintain the security of computer systems.
This cybersecurity course will also teach you about assessing threats, responding to incidents, and implementing security controls to reduce risk.
Enroll Here: https://www.udacity.com/course/intro-to-cybersecurity-nanodegree–nd545
Pros
- Available entirely online.
- A complete cyber security course.
- Offer plenty of value-added services to learners.
- The most efficient way of getting started is cyber security.
Cons
- Require knowledge of network connectivity & operating system fundamentals
2. IBM Cybersecurity Analyst Professional Certificate
Specifications
- Difficulty: Beginner.
- Duration: 8 months.
- Provider: IBM
Course highlights
Besides being beginner-friendly, the course delivers certification that you can add to your portfolio for job search even without a degree in Cybersecurity.
As an IBM course, you can rest assured that you will receive the most up-to-date comprehensive, and interactive education.
Once you take the course, you will be forced to explore out of your comfort zone, making you more prepared to succeed in your career. Always remember that a career in Cybersecurity requires experts to take on challenges.
Enroll Here: https://www.coursera.org/professional-certificates/ibm-cybersecurity-analyst
Pros
- Great value.
- Get a certificate when you’re done.
- No degree or previous experience is required.
- Give the background needed to understand basic network security.
Cons
- The knowledge is a bit general.
3. The Complete Cyber Security Course! Volume 1: Hackers Exposed
Specifications
- Difficulty: Beginner and intermediate.
- Duration: 11 hours
- Provider: StationX
Course highlights
This course will cover the fundamental building blocks of the required skill set. It also helps you understand the threat and vulnerability landscape via threat modeling and risk assessments.
It also allows you to explore the Darknet and the mindset of the cybercriminal, including exploit kits, malware, phishing, zero-day vulnerabilities, and more.
You also learn about nation-states’ global hacking and tracking infrastructures. In addition, you will get an insight into the FBI, CIA, GCHQ, NSA, China’s MSS, and other intelligence agencies’ capabilities.
If you want to start your journey to becoming a cybersecurity expert, this course will be one of your best bets.
Enroll Here: https://courses.stationx.net/p/the-complete-cyber-security-course-hackers-exposed
Pros
- Beginner-friendly.
- Earn a certificate of completion.
- 30-Days money-back guarantee.
- Latest up-to-date information and methods.
Cons
- A bit difficult for beginners
4. Cyber Security Success Factors Training
Specifications
- Difficulty: Beginner.
- Duration: 1 day
- Price: N/A
- Provider: Learningtree
Course highlights
By taking this training course, you will get an introduction to the four pillars of cyber security. You will better understand how to examine real cyber-attacks and learn how to deploy countermeasures against them.
In addition, the things that you will get from this course are verifying data integrity with digital signatures, discovering network passwords, proving confidentiality through encryption, securing network authentication with open-source tools, and more.
Enroll Here: https://www.learningtree.com/courses/cybersecurity/
Pros
- Short Duration.
- Beginner-friendly.
- Tailored content.
- No prior experience is required.
Cons
- No certificate.
5. Cyber Security: Executive Briefing
Specifications
- Difficulty: Beginner.
- Duration: 24m.
- Price: $19 per month after a 10-day trial.
- Provider: Pluralsight.
Course highlights
This beginner-friendly course will cover all the basics of cybersecurity. It will teach you about vulnerabilities, threats, and the defensive, protective and corrective controls deployed by organizations.
First, you will encounter attackers who want to harm an organization. Next, you’ll learn how they get into computer systems through vulnerabilities and how an organization can protect itself using a risk-based combination of preventive controls, investigation, and remediation.
Finally, you’ll get an in-depth look at how controls are managed, the basics of application security, and the typical roles needed to support cybersecurity in organizations.
Enroll Here: https://www.pluralsight.com/courses/cyber-security-executive-briefing
Pros
- 10-day trial.
- Affordable price.
- In-depth course.
- Led by experts.
Cons
- Not much fame.
6. Ethical Hacker
Specifications
- Difficulty: intermediate
- Duration: About two months.
- Price: $399 per month.
- Provider: Udacity.
Course highlights
In this course, you will gain the critical offensive security skills and practices necessary to become a successful ethical hacker to protect your organization’s networks and computer systems.
Hence, instead of just watching cyber attacks and data in the news, you will actually contribute by meeting the growing demand for ethical hackers.
The essential skills you will acquire around finding and exploiting unknown and known vulnerabilities in software applications, computer networks, and potential weaknesses that can be exploited through social engineering attacks.
Enroll Here: https://www.udacity.com/course/ethical-hacker-nanodegree–nd350
Pros
- Flexible learning program.
- Technical mentor support.
- In-depth course.
Cons
- Prerequisites for Networking, Linux, Programming & Windows OS.
7. IT Fundamentals for Cybersecurity Specialization
Specifications
- Difficulty: Beginner
- Duration: 4 months
- Price: IBM
- Provider: Coursera
Course highlights
This four-course specialization will train beginners for roles as a junior cybersecurity analyst. It will start with some foundational questions: What motivates a cyberattacker, and which techniques does he use to wreak havoc?
From there, people pursue more technical lines of inquiry, discovering compliance standards, virtualization methods, and applications to keep network security up to date. Before earning your certificates, you also learn about encryption, local area networks, etc.
Enroll Here: https://www.coursera.org/specializations/it-fundamentals-cybersecurity
Pros
- No-cost content access.
- Flexible scheduling.
- Led by top experts
- Get a certificate
Cons
- The price is a bit high (but it’s value for money).
8. Fundamentals of Cybersecurity
Specifications
- Difficulty: Beginner
- Duration: 4 weeks
- Price: Pro Lite: $13.99 per month and Pro: $19.99 per month.
- Provider: Codecademy
Course highlights
By taking this course, you will understand the common strategies attackers utilize, who these attackers are, and how you can stay one step ahead. So, you can protect your technology and personal life from dangerous cyber threats.
You can try this course for free, and we recommend signing up for the Pro plan to receive a certificate after you complete the course.
Enroll Here: https://www.codecademy.com/learn/paths/fundamentals-of-cybersecurity
Pros
- Ideal for beginners
- Try it for free.
- Earn a certificate of completion (Pro).
- The route is clear.
Cons
- Knowledge is not too in-depth.
9. Cyber Security For Normal People: Protect Yourself Online
Specifications
- Difficulty: Beginner.
- Duration: 35 Lessons (1h 39m)
- Price: $64,99
- Provider: Skillshare
Course highlights
You don’t have to be a celebrity or a rich and famous person to be a potential target for hackers. As an individual using technology, you should take steps to protect yourself from cybercriminals.
This course was created to prepare beginners for an exciting career in cybersecurity and personal protection from cybercrime and malware. It is designed with a simple language and easy access to learning resources.
Enroll Here: https://www.udemy.com/course/security/
Pros
- Excellent teacher.
- Very professional.
- Unlimited access to research resources.
- Helpful for computer users at a personal level.
Cons
- Not suitable for advanced learners.
10. Learn Ethical Hacking From Scratch
Specifications
- Difficulty: beginner
- Provider: StationX
Course highlights
This course is designed for beginners with the expectation that by the end of this course, you will be able to hack systems like black hat hackers and secure them like security professionals.
This course is highly practical but will not ignore the theory. You will start with the basics of ethical hacking. Then you’ll dive in and start hacking right away. So you will not have to go through any boring theoretical lectures.
Enroll Here: https://courses.stationx.net/p/learn-ethical-hacking-from-scratch
Pros
- Highly realistic.
- Suitable for beginners.
- Refund after 30 days if not satisfied.
- You decide when you start and when you finish.
Cons
- Prerequisites.
FAQs
Why Take a Cyber Security Course?
Cybersecurity has broadened a whole lot recently. The fact that it’s a relatively brand-new industry makes learning amazing, but it’s not the only factor pupils pick to get a cybersecurity degree.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the demand for cybersecurity specialists is expected to grow by 28% in 2026. This rate is much higher than the national standard, meaning the field will broaden over the years.
Over the past few years, major data breaches have demonstrated how much impact a cyber assault can have on a firm. This is one of the reasons businesses would instead hire some security experts rather than struggle with cybercrime.
As it is now an established area, typically, new functions, as well as requirements, are developing within it.
For example, cybersecurity presently has expertise consisting of governance, engineering, compliance, assessment, danger monitoring, style, forensics, and also extra.
Working with managers and professionals seems to favor those that recognize and intend to continue discovering due to the nature of the field.
Vital thinking abilities are essential to the job, as well as they are sometimes considered more important than technological skills.
How to Choose a Cyber Security Course Tailored to Your Needs?
Comprehending your motivations is the initial step in finding the best cybersecurity training for you. Those just beginning their jobs or those operating in Infotech areas beyond safety see programs as a method to obtain expertise and skills to help them enter the market.
A multitude of very separate courses is available in the market due to the selection of training forms, the motivation of the individuals, the equilibrium between method and concept, and the level of advancement.
Therefore, it is essential to evaluate your demands to ensure that the selected training course satisfies your needs.
How Much Time Will It Take To Learn Cyber Security?
It can take years of experience, education, learning, and training to come to be a cybersecurity specialist.
Nonetheless, with resources like the ones above and sufficient time and commitment, anyone can become proficient in the internet with a general understanding of how to remain secure.
One of the efficient methods to learn about cybersecurity (and collaborate with sector experts) is to attend seminars loaded with educational audio speakers, crucial lessons, and ingenious ideas. This can alter how you look at your sector.
What Qualifications Are Needed for Cyber Security?
According to the National Safety And Security Firm (NSA), “beginning” for many cybersecurity positions indicates A bachelor’s degree plus three years of relevant experience. Master’s level plus one year of relevant experience.
Can I Learn Cyber Security in 6 Months?
A Bachelor’s level in cybersecurity will take four years to finish. Then, you can follow it up with a two-year Master’s level. In addition, you can discover cybersecurity with online resources and also programs.
However, doing so will certainly take you anywhere from six months to a year to learn the basics and await an office.
Is Cybersecurity a Stressful Job?
Raising danger security on a daily and per-hour basis is creating much more issues than ever, as 46% of participants feel their anxiety has increased dramatically in the past year. This is especially true for those working in essential facilities.
Is Cyber Security Course Difficult?
There is a difference between trouble and difficulty. Learning cybersecurity can be challenging, but it’s not, specifically if you’re passionate about innovation.
Cultivate a curiosity regarding the innovations you’re dealing with, and you might find that challenging skills are more accessible.
Is Cyber Security Harder Than Coding?
Cybersecurity is typically less complicated to get in. You don’t need complex and technological abilities to begin your job.
On the other hand, it’s tougher to obtain jobs associated with coding. You require technical skills to discover practical coding, so you need to become a professional with a specific degree to start your career.
Conclusion
Various other certifications and courses are available, meeting every price range and skill requirement. So if you feel overwhelmed by the multitude of options, I hope this list above was helpful.
If you are a beginner and do not have much experience in cybersecurity, we highly recommend Introduction to Cybersecurity from Udacity. In addition, the remaining options are also worth considering.
Thanks for your time!