7 Best Cybersecurity Courses for Beginners

Cybersecurity is a growing concern for many organizations and consumers alike, so the demand for cybersecurity professionals is now higher than ever before.

Do you want to make your home or office’s cybersecurity measures impenetrable? Are you a business owner wanting to secure your business assets and train your employees? Or perhaps you’re considering taking a leap and starting a career in cyber security. If any of these applies to you, cyber security courses for beginners can help you get started.

Whatever your reasons are, you can easily find an online course that will be right for you. Each tool you’ll find on the internet varies in cost, scope, skill level, and accessibility. There’s no shortage of options to choose from, making selecting the right one a daunting prospect. 

To give you peace of mind, we’ve compiled a list of the 7 best online cyber security certifications you can find on the web. Before we dive deeper, take a cursory glance at the list of courses.

At A Glance

• StationX VIP Membership – This course gives you open access to a large number of cyber security courses, including ethical hacking, penetration testing, and more. It can suit all levels, and the price is very reasonable.
  
• Coursera Introduction to Cyber Security Specialization: An introduction to cyber security course that comprises 4 basic courses to give you a kickstart on a career path in cyber security.
  
• SANS Cyber Aces Online: Security principles in networking, operating systems, and system administration are covered in the courses.
  
• edX Essentials of Cybersecurity: For individuals searching for a university-accredited course, this is a great option.
• Heimdal Cyber Security for Beginners: This course teaches the average user who wants to learn more about cyber security.
  
• Cybrary Introduction to IT and Cybersecurity: Network engineering, system management, forensics, and penetration testing are among the topics included in this course.
  
• Harvard Cybersecurity: Managing Risk in the Information Age: A cyber security course that encompasses all forms of attacks, dangers, and mitigation measures, as well as compliance and legal considerations! By far the most expensive course on this list.

Best Online Cyber Security Courses for Beginners

Our picks for the top online cybersecurity courses for beginners are as follows:

StationX VIP Membership

StationX has one of the most extensive collections of cybersecurity courses, including ethical hacking, network security, penetration testing, computer security fundamentals, digital forensics, incident response, etc.

StationX VIP Membership will cost you much less than if you were to buy each course individually. For example, a single class can cost anywhere between $90-$2000, whereas a premium membership gives you unrestricted access to all courses for around $149 (usually $1,199) per year.

Courses can be streamed or downloaded to your computer or phone. At the end of each course, you’ll be awarded a certification.

Out of all StationX courses, we recommend The Complete Cyber Security Course! which includes modules such as:

• Hackers Exposed
• Network Security
• Anonymous Browsing
• Endpoint Protection

Coursera Introduction to Cyber Security Specialization

Coursera provides multiple courses that can be taken independently or as part of a specialization.

Our pick, the Introduction to Cyber Security specialization, is made up of 4 courses:

• Introduction to Cyber Attacks: Gives you a basic understanding of vulnerabilities and how hackers carry out these attacks
  
• Cyber Attack Countermeasures: Teaches fundamentals of cyber defense and cryptography, such as authentication solutions
  
• Real-Time Cyber Threat Detection and Mitigation: Outlines real-time cybersecurity techniques and how common attacks can be prevented
  
• Enterprise and Infrastructure Security: Tackles more advanced topics such as enterprise compliance frameworks, as well as blockchain and mobile devices security problems

Cyber Aces Online

SANS Cyber Aces e-courses are available for free. These are offered by the SANS Institute, which is highly revered for its information security field, which you might’ve heard of even if you’re a novice in cybersecurity.

Currently, the course offerings from SANS are limited, with only one course available online. That said, it is an excellent option for anyone looking to take this course as a tester, which covers:

• Operating Systems
• Networking
• System Administration

edx Essentials Of Cybersecurity

Anyone interested in university-accredited courses doesn’t need to look farther than edX.

edX courses are designed and curated by universities and come with verified certifications. However, because of this, they can be costly.

For instance, the University of Washington’s Essentials of Cybersecurity Certification will cost you around $716.40 (usually $796).

Courses in the certification include:

• Introduction to Cybersecurity
• Cybersecurity: The CISO’s View
• Building a Cybersecurity Toolkit
• Finding Your Cybersecurity Career Path
  

Heimdal Cyber Security for Beginners

Heimdal Security is an organization that provides intelligence and technologies to counter cybercrime. To help aspiring cybersecurity professionals and general users who want to increase their cyber security awareness, the firm has made its Cyber Security for Beginners course available online for free.

The course is paced for you, meaning lessons will be sent to you every 2 days. The course comprises 20 lessons in which you’ll learn cyber security, including:

• Cybersecurity fundamentals, such as vocabulary and system setup
• Malware protection tools and strategies
• How to make your system more resistant to cyber threats
• Safeguarding your children and other loved ones online
• How to use the internet safely
• Security skills such as discovering vulnerabilities, identifying attacks, and preventing them from harming your system
  

Cybrary Introduction to IT and Cybersecurity

Considering a career in cybersecurity and not sure which career paths you should opt for?

This course can help you figure out your plans for the future. It will teach you about the 4 primary cybersecurity disciplines and help you choose the right one for you.

The 4 major fields are divided into modules that are no more than 4 hours long together.

In this course, you’ll learn cyber security, incident management and forensics, network engineering, and penetration testing.

A great thing about Cybrary courses is that they’re free, and there are so many to choose from. Their library consists of in-depth courses that can be self-paced and cater to all skill levels. In addition, all lessons are delivered through videos, which makes them easily palatable.

Harvard Cybersecurity: Managing Risk in the Information Age

This cybersecurity course is divided into 8 modules that you can complete over 8 weeks. You’ll spend 8–11 hours per week on the modules.

Once completed, you’ll be capable of creating a risk assessment and management strategy for your business or your clients. Furthermore, you’ll know the legal processes associated with cyber attacks.

The course teaches you about different types of security breaches that businesses face and which systems are most vulnerable. It also emphasizes the necessity of taking a 360° strategy to cybersecurity. A few of the modules available are:

• Identifying an organization’s dangers (module 2)
• Understanding your technology (module 5)
• Cyber risk and the law (module 6)

After completing this course, you’ll receive a certificate for Advances in Learning from Harvard University’s Office of the Vice President. 

A course of this kind, as one might guess, has a steep price tag. To register, you’ll need to pay $2,900.

Here’s Why You Should Take Online Cybersecurity Courses

Cybercrime is a growing issue that is becoming ingrained in our daily lives. Pretty much everyone these days is on the internet somehow, whether at home, at work, or on the go. Even someone who shies away from excessive internet use and technology integration has to deal with companies for which cybercrime is a genuine concern.

As a result, it has become more of a necessity for people to become aware of the threats they face and what they may do to secure these vulnerabilities.

The following are the three most compelling reasons to take a cybersecurity course:

• To protect yourself and your family
• To protect your business
• To pursue your passion for cybersecurity

There are expected to be 3.5 million cybersecurity employment openings in the next 3 years. From $175 billion in 2015 to $1.75 trillion in 2025, this business will increase astronomically. Enrolling in cybersecurity courses for beginners might help you determine if this is actually your calling and help you decide which discipline you want to specialize in. 

Online courses are often inexpensive, and with the proper credentials, they can help you land a lucrative job in cybersecurity.

Tips for Pursuing A Career in Cybersecurity

Do you believe a job in cybersecurity is suited for you? Below we’ve listed some valuable tips to help any newcomers to the cybersecurity field:

1. Learn about different areas of cybersecurity – There are many career paths you can select from, so try not to hurry a decision and make a choice you may regret later.
   
2. Practice makes perfect – Whatever you’re learning in online courses will go waste if you do not routinely put your newly-acquired knowledge to work. Practicing as much as you can while preparing to enter a job market will help your employment prospects in the future.
   
3. Join networking groups – There are many forums made of like-minded individuals in the cybersecurity profession. These communities share information and can give you leg ups to help you excel in your career.
   
4. Find a mentor – Another advantage of networking organizations is the possibility of finding an excellent mentor. As you navigate your cybersecurity career, having someone to exchange ideas with and support you through crucial professional decisions can be pretty beneficial.
   

A Quick Recap

Before picking which of the top online cybersecurity courses is suitable for you, it is wise to consider your present skill level.

If you have zero experience in cybersecurity, start with the beginner courses, introducing you to the fundamentals you’ll need before moving on to more complex technologies.

However, if you already have some expertise in cybersecurity, you are welcome to try your hand at the more challenging and complex courses.