Introduction
With increasing cyber-attack threats faced by corporations and governments around the world, it is important now more than ever to have more certified and skilled professionals in this field.
There is growing demand across the globe, with governments pouring millions of dollars into this sector to create new jobs and prospects for aspiring cybersecurity and IT professionals.
With this increased demand comes increased salaries and remuneration as well, making cybersecurity one of the most lucrative and rewarding careers to get into in this modern age of technology.
This article lists some of the best online courses you can take today to gain a competitive edge in this field. You may do these courses at your own pace and schedule, and earn a diploma of website development at the end of the day which can make you a more outstanding candidate in this job market.
- Introduction to Cybersecurity with Codecademy
One of the most popular online learning platforms to sharpen your coding skills, Codecademy is now offering its very own introductory course to cybersecurity.
This course allows you to learn the basic concepts needed to identify and protect yourself against common cyber attacks such as malware and phishing among many others. You will also gain an understanding of principles and policies surrounding cybersecurity, commonly used authentication/authorization techniques such as 2FA, and network security fundamentals.
This course comes highly recommended by firms such as IBM, NASA, and Google, with their employees ranking it as one of the best introductory cybersecurity courses out there.
It is completely free to learn, with an optional paid upgrade to attain formal certification. With a commitment of about six hours in total, this course is a must for anyone looking to learn about the fundamentals of cybersecurity.
- Zero to Hero with Udemy
One of the most established online learning platforms, Udemy is now offering a course that will take you from the basics to the most advanced concepts of cybersecurity.
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be a hacker? This course allows you to make that dream into a reality, with modules teaching you how to conduct ethical hacking projects using the Python programming language.
Aside from hacking, you will also learn more about cybersecurity techniques such as scanning, sniffing, and hijacking, along with launching your cyber-attacks.
This course can be bought on sale for as little as $20, which is a great investment for the number of returns you will get in terms of knowledge and job prospects earned.
- Penetration Testing with ZTM Academy
Identifying and getting rid of bugs in systems can be a challenging task. With this course, you will learn everything you need to know about debugging complex systems, along with the fundamentals of penetration testing and web security.
Aside from those concepts, you will also learn more about SQL injections, brute-force attacks, security misconfiguration, and broken authentication amongst many other interesting subjects.
No prior experience is required for this course. So strap in for a highly educational journey that will take you from learning how to hack websites to fixing system vulnerabilities and improving web security across networks.
The skills you pick up from this online course will make you an all-rounded cybersecurity professional and turn you into a valuable asset for any organization looking to improve its cybersecurity.
- All About Cybersecurity with Udemy (Part One)
For those looking for a more holistic and comprehensive course on cybersecurity, this one by Udemy conducted by renowned instructor and cybersecurity expert Nathan House is one that you definitely shouldn’t miss out on.
As part of a four-course specialization series, you will first begin the course by learning about the present threat and vulnerability landscape that poses a danger to systems across the globe.
You will then be equipped with practical skills on how to conduct encryption to keep datasets safe and secure, along with reducing threats and setting up test environments using Windows, Linux, and Mac OS X.
- All About Cybersecurity with Udemy (Part Two)
The second part of this series will teach you more about the fundamentals of network security. You will be able to attain advanced practical skill-sets in assuring network security against all threats including – advanced hackers, trackers, exploit kits, and Wi-Fi attacks amongst many others.
You will also gain a greater understanding of how to best use methods of authentication including passwords, and multi-factor authentication such as 2FA including digital and physical tokens.
Some other concepts that you will be taken through will be among the most essential ones that will serve you well throughout your career. These include network monitoring for threats, wireless and Wi-Fi security, browser security, tracking prevention, and setting up secure firewalls.
- All About Cybersecurity with Udemy (Part Three)
In the third part, you will learn more about how to apply effective operational security to maintain user anonymity online. You will also gain a complete understanding of how to use virtual private networks (VPNs) for security, and privacy and to maintain anonymity.
You will also begin plunging into the more technical aspects of cybersecurity with modules that teach you the following: SSH protocols, bulletproof hosting services, web proxies, and nesting privacy services.
- All About Cybersecurity with Udemy (Part Four)
In the final part of this comprehensive series, you will delve deeper into end-point protection. Specifically, this course takes you through all the diverse technologies offered by end-point-protection software; from traditional approaches to next-generation and future technology.
To end off, you will also be learning about the best techniques in anti-forensics to securely delete data and meta-data, mastering the selection and implementation of solid disk encryption technology, as well as email and messaging services security.
This multi-part series may seem daunting, however, it requires a commitment of only four to five hours a week over 16 weeks. This is a well-worth investment that will turn you into a highly skilled and desirable cybersecurity professional.
Conclusion
Becoming an expert in this field takes years of honing your craft, but you can only get there by taking that essential first step. So try some of these courses today and you may just find yourself pursuing cybersecurity as a lifelong career!
