Twenty years into the twenty-first century, it should be clear to everyone that cybersecurity is essential. Many of us have learned this the hard way, as cyber-attacks occur every 39 seconds on average, according to a study from the University of Maryland. Cybercrime affects one in three Americans every year, and it is the world’s most significant crime in terms of financial displacement. It is a force to be reckoned with and a topic that we all need to be educated in.
7 Best Cybersecurity Courses in 2020
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Things to consider for cybersecurity courses
Udemy
edX Essentials of Cybersecurity
StationX
Coursera
Cybrary
SANS Cyber Aces
Heimdal Security
Things to consider for cybersecurity courses
Cybersecurity is vital for those working in various fields, small businesses, self-employed freelancers, as well as individuals protecting their assets. Every learner has specific needs, so these key points need to be considered in choosing a course:
- Length in hours, weeks, or months.
- Financial expense (some courses are free of charge).
- If the course for an individual or a team.
- The format, technology used, and course content.
- Whether a recognized certification is provided on completion.
As there is a range of cybersecurity courses to choose from, it is a good idea to take time deciding on the course that will be most suitable.
Udemy
Udemy is an education platform that is host to a wide range of courses in cybersecurity and other subjects. There is also a diverse range of educators and educational organizations on Udemy. Courses vary in length but are usually less than 20 hours.
Cyber Security Course for Beginners by Udemy
They are each priced differently but are commonly less than $10. Some courses are free, such as the Cyber Security Course for Beginners, which is currently available. Naturally, courses vary in quality, but for online tuition that is easy to access and affordable, Udemy is a safe bet.
edX Essentials of Cybersecurity
This is a platform that offers university accredited courses from various institutions. One of these is the Professional Certificate in Essentials of Cybersecurity from the University of Washington. Learners can take this at their own pace, with a suggested 2-5 hours a week over six months. The course has four modules, and it is taught online by experts in the field. This one is currently priced at $716.40.
StationX
With over 100 courses on cybersecurity, StationX courses focus on topics that include digital forensics, ethical hacking, penetration testing, incident response, and secure coding. It is easy to browse through the platform and select the most suitable. One possible option for beginners could be the Complete Cyber Security Course! by the company’s founder, Nathan House. StationX offers a VIP membership for an annual payment of $149. This provides access to all courses and content, which also issue certifications.
Coursera
Coursera is an educational platform similar to Udemy, offering short courses under various topics. One example of these is Cybersecurity Specialization, provided by the University of Maryland.
Cybersecurity Specialization by Coursera
This course covers fundamental IT security concepts with illustrations from modern practice and exercises. It takes eight months to complete at a rate of two hours per week, though the schedule is flexible. Coursera offers a free trial, but most courses are low in cost.
Cybrary
This is an extensive online library for all materials related to IT, cybersecurity, and infoSec. Access is free, and there are more than 500 courses to choose from. These are ranked by their level as beginner, intermediate, or advanced. It is possible to search by level or vendor, such as Microsoft. Cybrary has courses that focus on specific areas, which is handy if you need to specialize but prefer not to pay for it.
SANS Cyber Aces
The SANS Institute is a big name in the field of information security, and it conducts research and educational programs. Although the institute holds international training events, these are very expensive. However, the online Cyber Aces course is completely free of charge, and it covers the fundamentals of cybersecurity. This comprises three modules: operating systems, networking, and system administration. It is not an extensive course, but it comes from the masters of cybersecurity.
Heimdal Security
This is another organization with an established reputation. Cyber Security for Beginners is a free course that takes over 20 lessons, delivered by email every two days. The course covers cybersecurity basics, protection against malware, dealing with vulnerabilities, keeping children safe online, and more. It is mainly aimed at general users. Heimdal also offers Cybersecurity for Small Business Owners, and the Daily Security Tip, both free of charge.
Cybersecurity is all-too-often overlooked, but with these great educational options, this can be easily addressed. There is a chance to educate yourself in cybersecurity in a flexible, convenient, and easily accessible way.
