Cyber security has become a multimillion-dollar industry over the past few years. And given today’s digital landscape, its pace is not going to slow down. It is no news that being a cybersecurity expert gives you plenty of opportunities, including the option to work anywhere in the world. With our usage of the internet growing, the demand for specialists in this field is also on the rise. If you want to tap into this job market right now or simply want to protect your data, here are some of the courses that will help you add this skill to your resume.
1. The Absolute Beginners Guide to Cyber Security 2021 – Udemy
As you can gather from the name, this introductory course works best for absolute beginners. In fact, no matter whether you want to pursue a career in this field or not, taking this program can help you gather sufficient knowledge about the basic concepts of your network security. If the lack of time has been what’s stopping you from learning about cybersecurity, let us offer you a solution. There are plenty of academic platforms where you can pay for papers from professionals on virtually any subject. You might want to take advantage of these so that you can devote time to updating your skill sets to kick start your career. Here are the features of this course:
Learn about cybersecurity technology; Gain understanding about methods such as encryption, firewalls, antivirus, authentication methods, and more; Learn about topics related to both information and cyber security, such as the BYOD policy and cyber-warfare.
2. The Complete Cyber Security Course – On Udemy
This is yet another series offered on cyber security learning and comes from one of the experts in the industry, Nathan House. In this program, you will not only gain an understanding of the basics of cybersecurity but these are laid out more comprehensively. The course equips you to:
Gain foundational knowledge about cyber security and online threats; Understand how data is transferred, how it can get stolen or altered; Comes with multiple courses across different experience levels; Follow this basic course with detailed sequel programs on network security, hackers exposure, and endpoint protection.
3. Cybersecurity for Everyone on Coursera
Offered by the University of Maryland, this course puts together a few lessons that are useful for anyone and everyone. The instructor is Dr. Charles Harry, who has worked with the National Security Agency in the US and is an expert in managing cybersecurity risk. This program is designed for students with no knowledge in information technology as well as for novices in the cybersecurity field. In this course, you will learn about:
How to understand the key issues regarding cybersecurity, such as policies regarding governance, privacy, and risk management How to use applications to achieve the cyber security goals of an institution Understand the consequences of lack of proper cybersecurity
4. IT Fundamentals for Cybersecurity Specialization on Coursera
This program is offered by the industry-leading technological giant IBM. The instructors include a team of SOC analysis, engineers, and data architects working at IBM and are distinguished with their accomplishments in this field. This course covers:
Evolution of security based on historical events Various key cybersecurity concepts, including the CIA Triad, access management, incident response, and common cybersecurity best practice types of malicious software How to Identify key cybersecurity tools, which include the following, such as firewall, antivirus, cryptography, penetration testing, and digital forensics
5. Risk Management for Cybersecurity and IT Managers on Udemy
If you are already in the field of cyber security, then this course can be insightful in learning about risk management in the industry. In fact, it often comes down to this attribute whether certain cybersecurity projects get funded and executed. As such, this program is designed for those who want to advance their careers. It is crucial to know that this is not an operational course, but instead, it sheds light on how decision-making is handled in the industry. Features of this course include:
Focus on the mindset of managers on how they decide on cybersecurity projects Learn how to apply risk management to networks, systems, and entire projects Learn how to justify your budgetary needs Comes with two cases studies of what happens when risk management fails
6. Start & Grow Your Successful Career in Cyber Security on Udemy
If you want to work on a career path revolving around cyber security but have no clue how to proceed, this Udemy course is designed to offer you some valuable insight. Although the course is short, it offers answers to the most common questions and provides you with actionable steps that you can take. In this course, you will learn about:
The basic skills required to become a cyber security expert The certifications you need to apply for the different kinds of roles in cyber security Methods to acquire practical skills Best websites to find jobs in cybersecurity Which roles you can apply for based on your skillset
7. Mobile Payment Security on edX
This program designed by NYU has more advanced cybersecurity analysts in mind who want to learn about implementing mobile payments strategy in a secure manner. We suggest this as a course to sign up for if you want to add this as a skill in your next job application. The course teaches you:
The main components of open and closed-loop payment systems Difference between MagStripe and EMV payment systems Difference between contactless and contact payment methods Core standards of payments Types of cardholder authentication Implementation of mobile payment applications
8. Real-Time Cyber Threat Detection and Mitigation on Coursera
This course is a part of the Introduction to Cyber Security Specialization series offered on Coursera by NYU. As a learner, you will be introduced to network security solutions such as stateless and stateful firewalls and how to set up perimeter solutions to protect against attacks. Needless to say, this is more advanced and requires some basic knowledge of cybersecurity. The course covers:
Introduction to basic network security such as TCP/IP, firewall design, and use. Advanced network security technologies such as packet filters, firewall rule sets, and proxies Network security architecture, including intrusion detection and SOC design
9. Cybersecurity: Managing Risk in the Information Age by Harvard
Lastly, if you are truly committed to taking on a well-structured, and certified course, then Harvard might be one of the best choices. After all, this program will carry its own weight in any resume. However, the downside is that it will cost you back nearly 3,000 dollars. Here is how you will benefit from this course:
Gain the ability to draft, strategize and develop a cyber risk mitigation strategy Learn about the appropriate legal and compliance steps required when responding to cyberattacks and reporting them to law enforcement In-depth understanding of different types of cyberattacks Comes with a premier certificate from Harvard University’s Office of the Vice Provost for Advances in Learning
So, whether you are just starting out in the field of cybersecurity or wanting to learn more about advanced tools, you have dozens of options to choose from reputable providers. All you need to do is understand your requirements to find out which courses fit your needs.
About the author
This article has been written by Vavianne Bell, a journalist and a passionate learner. With a business studies minor, she has been working as a business consultant for four years. This experience has allowed her to see many businesses fail with poor cybersecurity being one of the reasons. She has taken it upon herself to educate other people on the importance of proper cybersecurity practices and present the readers with some of the best courses on the topic.
