Writer: EFOSA JUSTIN
The years following the pandemic ushered in the dominance of remote jobs, making cybersecurity imperative in the digital world. If you are seeking to start a career in Cybersecurity, you are on the right path.
Cybersecurity is a broad field with numerous branches requiring specialization. However, as a beginner, it’s advisable to start by enrolling in an entry-level course to gain foundational knowledge and then progress from there.
Here are some of the best cybersecurity courses for beginners, with highlights of learning duration and course outline, giving you an overview of what to expect from these courses. It’s important to note that while some of these courses are free, others come at varying costs.
1. Google Cybersecurity Professional Certification
This cybersecurity course from Google is delivered on Coursera. The Cybersecurity Certificate course requires no prior experience or knowledge in Cybersecurity, making it suitable for beginners in the field.
COURSE OVERVIEW
This course includes 8 courses prepared by experienced Google employees and it covers all aspects of cybersecurity and also prepares you for the CompTIA Security+ exam. The Google cybersecurity certificate course incorporates several assessment projects as part of the coursework, which can also be part of your portfolio. In this course, you’ll learn how to:
- Identify Cybersecurity Threats and how to mitigate them.
- Develop the skills needed for protection against unauthorized data access and cyber threats.
- Use SQL queries to analyze and report on data.
- Use Python to automate common cybersecurity tasks.
- Work with SEIM [Security Information and Event Management tools.
- Use Intrusion Detection systems [IDS] including Suricata.
With 10 hours dedicated weekly to study, the duration for this course is 5 months costing $245 overall and $49 per month. At the end of the course, you will be awarded a Google Cybersecurity Professional Certificate and also granted access to the Google job board where you can share your CV with many other companies seeking to hire a Cybersecurity professional. For more details about this course, click here
2. IBM Cybersecurity Analyst Professional Certificate
This course is designed to guide students through techniques used to determine and mitigate cybersecurity threats. It does not require any prior knowledge of cybersecurity, hence it is just perfect for freshers in the cybersecurity field.
COURSE OVERVIEW
This course will expose you to the fundamentals of network and threat intelligence as well as the use of SIEM tools. It also discusses the importance of compliance to preserve cybersecurity in the workplace. A project and assessment are also incorporated into this course in order to assess students learning progress throughout the course. In this course, you will learn how to:
- Interpret various file system structures and the use of tools in a digital ecosystem.
- Assess the vulnerabilities of any network or database.
- Carry out penetration testing and gather cyber threat intelligence.
- Understand cybersecurity compliance frameworks and system administration.
This course is split into 8 lessons which should take 8 months to finish and it costs $49 per month summing a total of $392 for full access throughout the whole 8 months. At the end of the course, you will be awarded an IBM Cybersecurity Analyst Professional Certificate. Click here for more details about this course.
3. Complete Cybersecurity Course
This is an online course that trains you in the knowledge of the cybersecurity environment with a start-to-finish approach to cybersecurity threats. The course covers all major operating systems and includes video lectures, articles, and other learning resources.
COURSE OVERVIEW
The course is divided into four parts; Network Security, Endpoint Security, Anonymous Browsing, and Hacking. In this course, you will be trained on how to:
- Work with all major operating systems including Windows, MacOS, Linux, iOS, Android, and firmware Security.
- Implement different methods of authentication and password management.
- Strengthen security with VPNs and Proxy servers.
- Access bulletproof hosting strategies and offline connection vigilance.
- Encrypt network environment across various operating systems.
- Seek out and terminate malware.
The course will take 50 hours to complete and is currently available at STATIONX for a discounted price of $65. At the end of the course, you will be awarded a certificate of completion to certify that you have completed the course. For more details about this course, click here.
4. Introduction to Cybersecurity [FutureLearn]
This is a foundational cybersecurity course that teaches students how to recognize and prevent cybersecurity threats from damaging any digital ecosystem.
The course is designed suitably for beginners as it requires no prior experience or knowledge of cybersecurity. The Institute of Information Security Professionals, APMG International, and NCSC also accredit the course.
COURSE OVERVIEW
This course covers different branches of cybersecurity, from malware to networking, cryptography, and firewalls. Its 8-week course duration is divided to accommodate lessons that will teach students how to identify and mitigate threats like Hacking, Phishing, and malware. Students will learn how to:
- Use Firewalls, VPNs, and network intrusion prevention tools.
- Implement cryptography for emails and other applications.
- Recover from cybersecurity failures.
- Carry out basic access control authentication methods.
- Carry out Basic risk analysis and management techniques.
The course is available at The Open University via FUTURELEARN and it spans an 8 weeks duration demanding 3 hours daily commitment and costs around $30 a month for unlimited access, you can also choose to buy the course at a one-off price of $79. An Accredited Security Certificate will be awarded upon completion of the course. You can get more details about this course by clicking here.
5. Cyber Aces [Sans Institute]
This is a free cybersecurity course from Sans Institute for beginners looking to start a career in cybersecurity. The course does not require any prior knowledge of cybersecurity, however, participants will need VMware and two virtual machines for this course.
COURSE OVERVIEW
This course is split into 3 modules with Module One focusing on an overview of operating systems and command line usage. Module two focuses on security networks and the fundamental concepts of Cybersecurity threats and defenses from a network perspective. Module 3 discusses systems administration, equipping students with knowledge of how to use tools required to carry out administrative functions in scripting environments. You’ll learn how to Examine PHP and PERL in an Apache Web server and Microsoft PowerShell Scripting.
The Sans Institute Cyber Aces Course is free and also self-paced but there is no certification at the end of the course, however, there are lots of skills to benefit from finishing the course.
Choosing a career in cybersecurity in this age of digital dominance is a decision toward both a lucrative and exciting career.
Cybersecurity experts can earn as much as $50 to $60 per hour contributing cyber safety to companies around the globe and with constant increase in remote work life, the demand for cybersecurity experts will continue to grow.
There are also several advanced courses on cybersecurity available online, so developing your skills and following trends is easy within the cybersecurity community.
To get more details about this free course, please click here.
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