Free Courses That Are Actually Free: Cybersecurity Edition

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Heaps and heaps of new technology are entering the market, and these new tools and software are making our lives easier. However, although our day-to-day tasks have become easier, there has been an increase in the number of cyber threats. There is a need for the right people to come in and identify and mitigate these threats. There is a demand for cybersecurity professionals to manage this increase in threats.

In this blog, I will take you through cybersecurity courses that you can take – at no cost!

CS50’s Introduction to Cybersecurity

 
Link: CS50’s Introduction to Cybersecurity

This is CS50’s introduction to cybersecurity course offered by Harvard if for technical and non-technical audiences alike. In this course, you will learn how to protect your own data, devices, and systems from today’s threats and how to recognise and evaluate tomorrow’s as well, both at home and at work.

Learn to view cybersecurity not in absolute terms but relative, a function of risks and rewards (for an adversary) and costs and benefits (for you). This course presents both high-level and low-level examples of threats, providing students with all they need to know technically to understand both. You will also have assignments that are inspired by real-world events.

Cybersecurity Basics

 
Link: Cybersecurity Basics

If you’re looking to become a cybersecurity professional, this introductory course offered by IBM introduces you to fundamental cybersecurity concepts, threats, and preventive measures. You will explore the evolution of cybersecurity and the motivations of the actors behind cyberattacks, including types such as malware, ransomware, and other security threats.

You’ll also relate critical thinking to common cybersecurity practices and architecture. Hear and learn from industry experts regarding their own careers, skills, perspectives, and experiences. Throughout, you’ll build practical knowledge and technical expertise through hands-on labs. Your final project will enable you to effectively demonstrate your understanding of cybersecurity principles.

Beginners Guide to Cybersecurity

 
Link: Beginners Guide to Cybersecurity

Another cybersecurity course offered by IBM is designed for everyone, especially those interested in a Cyber Analyst or an entry-level Cloud & Security Engineer role, as well as Tech Support.

In this course, you will dive into the world of cybersecurity and gain critical skills employers need, including identifying security threats, understanding encryption uses, demonstrating safe browsing techniques, and implementing email security best practices. You will also be able to identify and become familiar with various types of cybersecurity risks and threats. This course is ideal for technical support roles, often on the front lines of defence for cybersecurity issues.

Threat Intelligence in Cybersecurity

 
Link: Threat Intelligence in Cybersecurity

IBM is not done. They have another free course for you. In this course, you will gain a comprehensive understanding of network defensive tactics and explore practical examples of how to protect networks from potential threats. You will delve into the concepts and tools of data loss prevention and endpoint protection, to equip yourself with strategies to safeguard critical data.

Additionally, you will have the opportunity to explore a data loss prevention tool and learn how to effectively classify data within your database environment and enhance data security measures. This course also covers essential security vulnerability scanning technologies and tools, enabling you to identify potential weaknesses in systems and applications. You will recognise various application security threats and common vulnerabilities.

Ethical Hacking

 
Link: Ethical Hacking

If you are interested in hacking – in an ethical way, edX offers this introductory, self-paced course. Ethical hackers are the guardians of organisations, whose purpose is to identify vulnerabilities within an organisation’s systems. By exploiting these weaknesses, they provide invaluable insights to help organisations fortify their defences and prevent cyber attacks.

By understanding the methods and mindset of cyber criminals, ethical hackers possess a unique perspective that enables them to proactively identify and address potential risks.

Cybersecurity Fundamentals

 
Link: Cybersecurity Fundamentals

In this introduction to the field of computing security, you will be given an extensive overview of the various branches of computing security. You will learn cybersecurity concepts, issues, and tools that are critical in solving problems in the computing security domain.

You will have opportunities to learn essential techniques in protecting systems and network infrastructures, analyzing and monitoring potential threats and attacks, and devising and implementing security solutions for organisations large or small.

Cybersecurity and Privacy in the IoT

 
Link: Cybersecurity and Privacy in the IoT

As the Internet of Things (IoT) continues to grow so will the number of privacy and security concerns and issues. As a professional working in the field, it is essential to understand the potential security risks and how to best mitigate them. With billions of devices tracking our every move, privacy is a critical issue. We will explore and discuss the social and commercial implications the IoT brings to society.

In this course, you will learn about security and privacy issues in IoT environments. We’ll explore the organizational risks posed by IoT networks and the principles of IoT device vulnerabilities. We’ll also look at software and hardware IoT Applications for the industry.

Wrapping Up

7 courses where you can learn the fundamentals and in-depth knowledge of the cyber security world without having to spend a penny. There are a lot of great free resources out there and KDnuggets are determined to help you find them.

Nisha Arya is a data scientist, freelance technical writer, and an editor and community manager for KDnuggets. She is particularly interested in providing data science career advice or tutorials and theory-based knowledge around data science. Nisha covers a wide range of topics and wishes to explore the different ways artificial intelligence can benefit the longevity of human life. A keen learner, Nisha seeks to broaden her tech knowledge and writing skills, while helping guide others.

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