Introduction to Cybersecurity (Online Course)

This online course is designed to help you increase your knowledge of cybersecurity and technology fundamentals to fill knowledge gaps in your current role or pursue an entry-level career in this in-demand field. We answer questions around what cybersecurity is, what an operating system does and the most common types, cloud computing, and many other topics related to cybersecurity foundations.

You will have the opportunity to develop your foundational cybersecurity skills through hands-on demonstrations as you follow along with the instructor videos, learn time-saving tips to increase your efficiency, and establish best practices.

What you will learn

• Understand what cybersecurity entails
• Identify the three most common operating systems
• Execute simple commands
• Learn about cloud computing and networking
• Learn about cybersecurity policies, frameworks, audits, and risk management

How you will benefit

• Learn if a career in cybersecurity could be right for you
• Increase your baseline knowledge of foundational cybersecurity concepts
• Learn tips and tricks from a working cybersecurity professional
• Follow along with hands-on demonstrations to develop and practice your foundational skills
• Finish in three months or less

When does the three-month course access begin?

You will have three months to complete the course from the time you make your purchase. Because this is a 100% online course, you can complete the training on your own schedule during this time.

Can you work in cybersecurity without a degree?

While a degree is not necessarily required for a cybersecurity job, most employers prefer students to have a minimum of an associate degree to begin working in the field. Of the job postings currently available, 11.4% require a minimum high school level education, with the remaining 88.6% desiring an associate degree or higher.

However, a recent study by McAfee found that most employers rank experience and professional certifications as more important when compared with formal education qualifications. If you are just starting out in this field, completing foundational training, and earning highly recognizable certifications will help provide you with the necessary skills to land an entry-level position. After gaining some experience in the field of cybersecurity, you should be able to progress in your career by earning more advanced certifications.

How much do cybersecurity professionals make?

The median salary for cybersecurity professionals is $91,175, according to Burning Glass Technologies, a leading job analytics software company. They report that the highest 10% of cybersecurity professionals make $126,055 on average. However, this median salary varies widely depending on the education level of the professional in the role. For example, professionals with a high school education earn a median salary of $47,800, while those with a bachelor’s degree earn $95,800. Professional certifications can also greatly affect salary by demonstrating that you have the technical skills and knowledge to do your job effectively.

What does a cybersecurity professional do?

Cybersecurity professionals are involved in a wide range of duties and specializations, ranging from highly technical to research and management. Some specific skill sets and specialization categories include the ability to secure data and critical assets through vulnerability management, monitoring security controls, network configuration, attack simulation, and data recovery.

Are cybersecurity professionals in high demand?

Cyberattacks have rapidly increased over the past few years as the world has shifted to more remote and hybrid working environments. Therefore, the need for skilled cybersecurity professionals has exceedingly grown. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) has now identified information security analysts as the tenth fastest-growing occupation over the next ten years. The BLS estimates that this profession will see a 31% growth.

There are nearly 600,000 cybersecurity jobs currently available in the U.S. and 3.5 million positions globally. This is a high-demand career field with many more jobs than there are qualified professionals to fill these roles.

Requirements:

Hardware Requirements:

This course can be taken on either a PC, Mac, or Chromebook.

Software Requirements:

• PC: Windows 8 or later.
• Mac: macOS 10.6 or later.
• Browser: The latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox is preferred. Microsoft Edge and Safari are also compatible.
• Microsoft Word Online
• Adobe Acrobat Reader
• Software must be installed and fully operational before the course begins.
• Other: Email capabilities and access to a personal email account.

This course gives you the option of following along with the instructor on a few video-based exercises, allowing you to pause and replay until you are confident in your skillset. Should you wish to follow along, it is recommended that you have the following: Windows 10 environment, Wireshark, an AWS account (free tier), and a Windows 2016 VM (available in the AWS free tier).

Instructional Material Requirements:

The instructional materials required for this course are included in enrollment and will be available online.

Prerequisites:

There are no prerequisites to take this course.

Instructor: Self-Study
Course Hours: 8.00