Cybersecurity is a massive industry that can never be overlooked in this digital landscape, especially with the ever-evolving market of security, networking, and information, companies need professionals more than ever to help solidify the workflow.
As there are many cybersecurity companies in the world, the number of professionals that work in this field is low and these companies are searching for people to fill various positions in their organizations as long as the individual has the necessary knowledge, skills, and capacity to get the job done.
However, navigating the area of cybersecurity can be both inciting and overwhelming at the same time, especially for beginners who are just getting started.
First, they will have to navigate different courses and training platforms for the best instructors promising to make them experts in the field of cybersecurity. This is where the question lies, what are the best cybersecurity courses to study as a newcomer in the industry? How to find training materials that will get me equipped for cybersecurity jobs and internships?
The Top 5 courses on this list are not final but were specially curated after researching through the internet. We compiled the list to help both beginners and intermediaries confidently choose the best cybersecurity course that suits their learning style.
How to identify a great cybersecurity course
The list you will encounter on this page was specially collected from various online sources. It comprises the best with different payments for learners including scholarships (If any) combined with a mix of study options you can choose from.
A great course should offer the student a balanced blend, of theory-based practical examples while also making sure that they are offered by instructors who have extensive experience on the subject matter especially on cybersecurity. Now some of the basics of an excellent cybersecurity course should include access to modern tools and resources, a robust curriculum, and continued post-learning support.
Remember not even the best cybersecurity course in the world would offer you everything you need to become the best in the industry. You need to take advantage of other cybersecurity courses whether free or paid to compete in this field.
Experience and Skills
Learning should consist of a hands-on approach and not just papers explaining to students what to do. This approach will make them use the skills they have acquired and employ in real-life scenarios. Lab tests, cybersecurity simulations, and ongoing projects that explain actual security tasks are invaluable in building the skills needed in the cyber world. The course you are to take should have all these essentials.
Pricing and Affordability
Quality education is a price that should be paid regardless of who is to take the course, however, that shouldn't be a barrier to all the enthusiastic students who are looking for ways to improve their skills. So it is better to balance the cost and the quality provided to make sure that the skills and knowledge acquired justify the investment, cybersecurity courses are not exemptions.
Specialization
The cybersecurity landscape is huge and rapidly growing with new technology and innovations being added to the system, so a course should offer specialized training that ensures that the student focuses on a specific area during the study, for example, ethical hacking, network security, and cloud security. The use of specialization can also equip the learner to pursue a career more informative as some employers prefer to employ a person who is vast in a particular area.
Job Guarantee
A job guarantee should build trust between the boot camp and the students as it will act as safety for the students during post-studies. This will also ensure that the skills and knowledge they have acquired are marketable. A course that can guarantee the student a job after learning is an important consideration for students who want to enter this field.
Best Cybersecurity Courses to Study
Let's now examine the cybersecurity courses we have specially collected that will give students quality knowledge and skills while also ensuring that they are well-equipped for the cybersecurity landscape.
1: Fullstack Academy
The Fullstack Academy Cybersecurity Analytics Bootcamp
This course is an offensive and defensive program that aims to prepare the student with the basics and fundamental cybersecurity skills that are needed to combat cybercrime. It is perfect for those who are seeking to make a career switch or advance their cybersecurity knowledge, and only has a duration of 12-26 weeks until completion.
Students can choose from both part-time or full-time studies, as they will be trained on security tools, knowledge, and procedures including Kali Linux, Python, Wireshark, and Metasploit.
One of the advantages of learning at Fullstack Academy is the support and connection they offer students while also providing top-notch learning to make them prepare for the job market.
Features
- Price $17,980
- Rating 4.8/5
- Flexible schedule options with full-time (12 weeks) and part-time (26 weeks)
- Training with top cybersecurity tools
- Experts instructors, professionals, and leaders in the industry
- No 1-1 mentorship
- Opportunities to interact with hands-on projects and real-world simulations
- Offer scholarships to women, military, and people from marginalized areas.
- Opportunity to access other courses before starting the boot camp.
- No job guarantee
2: University of Maryland on Coursera
Cybersecurity Specialization
This boot camp offered by a world-leading University through Coursera also covers a broad range of topics including penetration testing, software testing, cryptography, usability, and many others to mention. The course covers a comprehensive approach due to the hardware and software with human-computer interfaces that are related to cybersecurity. However, students can expect a smooth learning experience because it provides real-world procedures and hands-on activities to make them better understand designing and implementing security measures.
It is divided into five courses each covering different aspects of cybersecurity including cryptography, usable security, software security, and others. After completion the student should be well equipped on security-related topics, gaining insights on critical thinking about potential adversaries and developing tools that are needed to combat security threats.
Features
- Price Coursera Plus Subscription
- Rating 4.6/5
- Learn at your own pace (online)
- Shareable certificate upon successful completion of the course
- Interactions, testing and assessment
- Peer feedback on graded assignment
- No job guarantee and no 1-1 mentorship
3: Coursera
IBM Security Analyst Professional Certificate
This course is geared toward teaching the necessary skills needed to become a cybersecurity expert. It is aimed at people who have a keen interest in this field and are comfortable working with computers but may not have any prior knowledge or skill in cybersecurity as long as they are ready to learn and at the same be active throughout the program.
Some of the content includes hands-on labs, an introduction to network security, endpoint protection, incident response, threat intelligence, penetration testing, and vulnerability assessment. In addition, a real-world approach is integrated into the curriculum, providing practical examples and applications.
The course is one of the approved programs by ACE®. This means students can earn up to 10 college credits.
Features
- Price Coursera Plus Subscription
- Rating 4.6/5
- No 1-1 mentorship and no job guarantee
- Shareable certificate upon completion
- Access to tools like Wireshark, IBM QRadar, IBM MaaS360, IBM Guardium, IBM Resilient, and Python libraries
- ACE® approved
- Professional Certificate Credential
- Taught by industry-leading experts
4: FutureLearn
FutureLearn's Introduction to Cybersecurity
This course is an 8-week intensive cybersecurity boot camp that educates interested individuals on the importance of cybersecurity and its essentials. FutureLearn in collaboration with The Open University brought in a great course that is suitable for novices and individuals with prior knowledge of Cybersecurity. It primarily focuses on two areas; network security and cryptography while also exploring other methods of safeguarding data.
It is also supported by the UK Government’s National Cyber Security Programme and holds NCSC Certified Training and IISP accreditation. Participants will be taken through various activities for engagement using practical applications and tools, videos, articles, and discussions.
Features
- Price $154
- Rating 4.4/5
- No mentorship and no job guarantee
- Certificate of completion to eligible students
- NCSC Certified Training and IISP accreditation
- Students can take the course from anywhere
- Accessible on mobile, tablet or desktop
5: Brainstation
Brainstation's Cybersecurity Bootcamp
This is another excellent course for aspiring students willing to learn the core of Cybersecurity to become an expert in the field. The boot camp emphasizes hands-on and project-based learning to help students learn industry-relevant skills through interactive sessions by world-leading cybersecurity experts and instructors.
With an impressive hiring rate of up to 90% and 180 days of lectures, the course has a cutting-edge curriculum that aligns with an already existing job market. In addition, career services are integrated from day one, which will be beneficial to the learner through regular workshops goal setting, career preparation, and one-on-one support.
The boot camp also has an amazing community through Slack, allowing learners to connect, collaborate, and receive relevant updates throughout the course.
Features
- Price Unavailable
- Rating 4.7/6
- 1-1 support but no job guarantee
- Live lectures and interactive sessions
- Project-based learning approach for hands-on training
- Career services integrated
- Regular hands-on workshops for career preparation
- Access to the vibrant community through Brainstation’s Slack
Cybersecurity courses and the roadmap to a fulfilling security and IT career
Cybersecurity can be one of the most alluring disciplines in the technology and information industry considering the way companies strive to get exposed and to improve the efficiency of their workshops with critical data, technical tools, and resources that safeguard important assets.
Studying one of these courses will set you ahead while reaping the benefits and maximizing the value of the cybersecurity landscape. However, it is most important to understand how these courses work, what to expect, and how to manage your learning schedule. Before taking a course, ask yourself some of these questions:
What are the best Cybersecurity courses for beginners?
Learning about the best courses to take will always depend on you, the budget, time, and the desired certification that drives you to take the course. Take a course that offers job opportunities, networking, and access to experts in the field.
How do Cybersecurity courses work?
Cybersecurity courses, like almost all of them, typically blend theory with practical application, and it is mostly achieved through practical exercises, lectures, real-world simulations, and case studies. In addition, most of these courses are taught by industry-leading experts with the platform allowing students to learn at their own pace.
How do platforms schedule their courses?
Scheduling depends on several factors including course format (online or in-person), in-depth content, and the platform that offers the course. For online purposes, especially courses that allow self-paced, learners usually have the flexibility of completing the entire course on schedule.
For the in-person, courses that are more structured in settings, students should expect a more fixed schedule with specific times for lectures, tests practical, and exams. It is mostly recommended for students to set a more realistic time for study.
What job placement is available for one who studied Cybersecurity?
You can start looking for internships and entry-level positions. For beginners who are new to the field, an IT support specialist or information security analyst is good for a sgood tart. For those with advanced or additional knowledge in cybersecurity, a field related to security consultant, network security administrator, or cybersecurity engineer is a good fit. Courses with more specialized training like cloud networking or ethical hacking could open doors to more niche positions.
Conclusion
Since you are interested in Cybersecurity, start by taking one of the aforementioned courses or look for a free online course in cybersecurity if there are any. For beginners, it is mostly advised they consult with an expert to know what course would be more flexible for their timing. Disclaimer: this article is not in any way affiliated with these courses and the platforms offering them. This post is for general information alone.
0 Comments