Cybersecurity plays a crucial role in keeping any user’s data safe. If you don’t want someone to hack your account, you should understand the basics of information security. There are courses in this selection for both beginners and more advanced users who want to raise their level of knowledge or refresh what they’ve learned in the past.
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Best Cybersecurity Courses for Students
You may have heard by now that there are two types of companies: those that have already been hacked and those about to be hacked. Defending against attackers who want to compromise assets may seem like a daunting task, but learning how cyberattacks happen and, more importantly, how to defend against them can be very helpful.
1. IBM Cybersecurity Analyst Professional Certificate
The certification consists of eight rather voluminous courses. It takes eight months, 4 hours a week, to complete. The courses are designed for gradual growth from beginner to expert.
In this specialization, you will learn:
- cybersecurity analytics tools: data protection, endpoint protection, security information management, security event management, systems and network basics, and more;
- incident response tools with real-world examples;
- gain hands-on experience to develop skills with open-source security industry tools.
2. Introduction to Cyber Security
You need to have some understanding of the IT industry and basic management concepts to take the course.
In the specialization, you will:
- become familiar with the basic types of cyber attacks;
- learn the basics of cyber defense, starting with basic models such as Bell-LaPadula and information flow frameworks;
- be able to detect and prevent cyber threats in real-time in the context of TCP/IP protocol sets;
- learn the basics of enterprise information security.
3. IT Fundamentals for Cybersecurity
The course is designed for beginners in cybersecurity. It consists of four different courses on a topic and is designed for four months of classes, 4 hours per week.
In the specialization, you will learn:
- the history and evolution of security based on historical events;
- the different types of malware;
- key cybersecurity concepts, including the security triad, access management, incident response, and general best practices in the field;
- explore basic tools for the job: firewalls, antivirus, cryptography, penetration testing, and digital forensics.
4. Cybersecurity Fundamentals
The required level of knowledge for the course is intermediate. It covers the fundamental concepts of building secure systems, from hardware to software. All concepts are illustrated with examples from current practice and complemented by practical exercises using appropriate tools.
In the specialization, you will:
- develop a security-oriented mindset;
- understand how to think about “enemies ” and how to create systems that protect against cyber threats.
The approximate time to complete four courses in the specialization is eight months of 2-hour sessions.
5. IT Security: Defense against the digital dark arts
The course covers a wide range of IT security concepts, tools, and best practices. It introduces you to threats and attacks and the many ways they can manifest themselves. You will learn about encryption algorithms and how they are used to protect data. You will then look at three aspects of information security: authentication, authorization, and accounting. You’ll review network security solutions, from firewalls to Wi-Fi encryption options.
The course ends by combining all of these elements into a layered, in-depth security architecture, followed by recommendations on how to integrate a security culture into your organization or team.
At the end of this course, you’ll learn:
- how different encryption algorithms and methods work, as well as their advantages and limitations;
- the different systems and types of authentication;
- the difference between authentication and authorization;
- how to assess potential risks and recommend ways to mitigate them;
- best practices in network security;
- how to help others understand security concepts and protect themselves.
6. Cybersecurity and Its Ten Domains
This course is designed to introduce people to the exciting field of cybersecurity. Students in the course will gain knowledge and understanding of cybersecurity and its areas. You will have access to material on corporate governance and risk management, cryptography, software development security, access control, network security, security architecture, and physical and environmental security.
You don’t need previous IT security experience to complete this course successfully. All you need is a desire to learn.
Final Words
Most of these courses are free or cost pennies compared to expensive university tuition. Flexible schedules and the availability of materials allow students to combine courses with college or work. The most crucial thing is the desire to learn and understand cybersecurity, a field in which specialists are in high demand.
