Best Cybersecurity Courses Online 2024

23 Best cybersecurity courses online for careers in IT

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates a 35% increase in employment opportunities for information security professionals over the next five years. The promising figure makes it safe to assume that cybersecurity is one of the most in-demand careers today.

The significant rise in demand for cybersecurity professionals means that there will be more jobs than trained individuals to fill up the vacancies, at least in the near future. In this post, we review some of the best cybersecurity courses online and also professional certificates and training programs for beginner, intermediate and advanced-level learners.

Cybersecurity Courses Online – Overview 

According to a study by the University of Maryland¹, every 39 seconds, a hacker launches a cyberattack to sabotage some kind of security system. The figure is enough to accurately paint the gravity of the situation for owners of any kind of digital asset.

Cybersecurity is a wide-ranging term encompassing the process of identifying, mitigating, and counteracting these attacks and protecting computer systems, networks, programs, and data by applying the relevant technologies, processes, and controls.

There are various types of cybersecurity jobs one can take in the IT industry. Those jobs are also characterized by their difficulty levels. For example, depending on your skill set and knowledge, you can apply for entry, intermediate and advanced-level jobs.

Becoming a cybersecurity professional requires expanding your skillset over a wide range of abilities. The two primary skills required of a digital security expert include IT security expertise and cybersecurity laws. Many of the online cybersecurity courses listed below cover these topics in detail on various levels.

Once you train yourself in the rudiments of cybersecurity, you can become a specialist in penetration testing, malware, security architecture, or cybersecurity engineering. There are also lucrative careers in computer forensics, application security engineering, cloud security, database administration, and incident management.

Finding a career path in the cybersecurity industry offers the potential to land one of the aforementioned roles without a traditional degree or specific background. Some of the best cybersecurity courses online even claim to lend enrollees enough credibility via training and certifications to make them viable contenders for most cybersecurity posts.

Best Cybersecurity Courses Online 2024 – Top Picks

Udacity	Coursera	GetSmarter	Udacity
Cybersecurity	IT Cybersecurity	Cybersecurity	Security Architect
Nanodegree	Specialization	Harvard	Nanodegree
from $399/month	$59/month	$2,800	from $399/month
View Course	View Course	View Course	View Course

*Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. Read the full disclosure at the end of this post.

Note: This review aims to give an overview of the best cybersecurity courses online. We cannot claim comprehensiveness as there are many other cybersecurity classes available.

1. Introduction to Cybersecurity – Udacity

Introduction to Cybersecurity (visit website) is a nanodegree for aspiring IT professionals to start their careers in this ever-growing industry. Upon enrolling, you learn the foundational skills in evaluating, monitoring, and maintaining the security of computer systems.

To maximize their chances of completing this popular online cybersecurity course successfully, learners should have a basic familiarity with network connectivity and operating system fundamentals, including Windows and Linux.

In a series of four modules, students learn the ropes of becoming a security professional. In addition to monitoring computer security, there will be considerable focus on assessing threats responding to clients and implementing security controls to minimize risk and ensure security compliance.

After studying the security fundamentals, specific techniques, and core controls that ensure security-compliant systems and related concepts, you will begin acquiring skills that are applied in the defense of computer systems.

The third module will cover topics such as identifying threats, responding to attacks, understanding attack methods as well as the relationship between threats, threat agents, vulnerabilities, and exploits using the MITRE ATT&CK.

The final module will address the functions of governance, risk, and compliance in order to execute an effective cybersecurity strategy. This is one of the best cybersecurity courses online for beginners who want to enter the industry and need the right education.

Type: Nanodegree | Instructors: Ron Woerner, Jerry SMithChristine Izuakor
Capstone: Yes | Level: Beginners | Time: 4 months
Info: View course page. From $399/mo. Get up to 75% off. Includes certificate.

2. The Complete Cyber Security Course – Udemy

The Complete Cyber Security Course (visit website) is the first of a four-volume course on Cybersecurity. According to Udemy, completing all four volumes will enable learners to know more about security maintenance and privacy than 80% of security professionals, law enforcement agents, and the government.

A few prerequisites include an understanding of using the operating system, familiarity with networks, and a willingness to familiarize yourself with new software. As you begin your cybersecurity journey, your first stop will be a deep dive into the threat landscape. Here the focus will remain on dark markets, zero-day vulnerabilities, exploit kits, and much more.

Next comes dissecting security through compartmentalization and physical and virtual isolation. This section also covers related topics such as sandboxes, application isolation, virtual machines, etc. Toward the end, you learn about encryption, the nation-state secret tracking and hacking infrastructure, privacy, and patching over various operating systems.

By the end, students will be equipped with the practical skillset to defeat most, if not all, online threats and malware. It is among the best cybersecurity courses online for beginners and those looking for a budget-friendly online class option as well.

Instructor: Nathan House | Level: Beginners | Video: 12 hours
Price: View course. From $11.99. Up to 95% off. Browse category on Udemy.

3. Cybersecurity: Managing Risk in the Information Age – Harvard, GetSmarter

Harvard’s 8-week Cybersecurity course (visit website) is designed for security analysts, security administration, information security managers, and individuals in similar specialist roles dealing with the complexities of the cybersecurity landscape. Coming out of the course, you will have the skillset needed to develop a foolproof cybersecurity plan.

As a risk analyst, this is among the best cybersecurity courses online to help you grow an advanced knowledge of cybersecurity in key areas of importance, cybersecurity fundamentals of systems and network security, and the various types of cyberattacks.

Your 8-module journey will begin with exposure to the idea of cybersecurity risks as business risks. This will be followed by modules dedicated to identifying threats, along with important business systems and assets.

Along the way, learners will pick up on the crucial role of leadership in the cybersecurity landscape. Once you understand the technology, it’ll be time to inspect cyber risk and law and conclude with modules on incident response, accountability, and designing and implementing a mitigation strategy.

Provider: Harvard University, GetSmarter | Time: 8 weeks | Certificate: Yes.
Level: Professionals, Analysts | Pace: Instructor-lead | Price: $2,900
Info: Visit course website. Get free prospectus. Browse all cybersecurity online classes.

4. Security Engineer – Udacity

Security Engineer (visit website) is a Udacity nanodegree program curated to help aspiring risk analysts and professionals in charge of security administration create the skill set needed to protect an organization’s digital assets. The prerequisites include a basic understanding of Python and experience configuring Windows and Linux environments.

Enrolling in this class will help you master the foundational skills in protecting a computer’s systems, network, applications, and infrastructure from security threats and attacks.

In the first module, you will learn the fundamentals of security engineering. As a security engineer, you will have to familiarize yourself with the basic principles, including evaluating, prioritizing, and communicating security topics and cryptography.

System Security, the next module, will help learners explore the basic system and its implementation at the operating system level. Some of the key topics include authorization, authentication, logging, monitoring, and auditing tools to alert people of system breaches.

Next comes security benchmarks, configurations, and controls, followed by the final module that discusses the fundamentals of a secure web application. This is one of the best cybersecurity courses online to start a career in the field of security engineering.

Type: Nanodegree | Instructors: Taylor Lobb, Rod Soto, Dev Badlu
Capstone: Yes | Prerequisites: Python, Windows, Linux | Time: 4 months
Info: View course page. From $399/mo. Get up to 75% off. Includes certificate.

5. IT Fundamentals for Cybersecurity Specialization – IBM, Coursera

Comprising a total of four modules, IT Fundamentals for Cybersecurity (visit website) is designed for individuals who wish to partake in the growing cybersecurity industry that is known for producing jobs that do not require a traditional college degree.

Some of the key skills taught include operating system security, database vulnerabilities, information security, networking basics, IBM new collar, malware, network security, and much more. Your first step in this journey will take you to the backstory that dictates the form the cybersecurity industry has taken today. Here, you will learn about the history of cybersecurity, as well as the types of and motives behind cyberattacks.

In the second module, you will learn about key cybersecurity roles within an organization, important processes, the architecture of multiple operating systems, and how virtualization relates to cybersecurity. After that, it will be time to acquaint yourself with the cybersecurity compliance framework, system administration, and industry standards.

Finally, learners will wrap up their journey with an in-depth dive into network security and database vulnerabilities designed specifically to help individuals understand the network components to guard an organization against malware and other threats.

Provider: IBM, Coursera | Type: Specialization
Pricing: Free trial. $59/month Coursera Plus. | Review: 4.6 ★★★★★
Info: View course. Browse: Search all cybersecurity courses on Coursera.

6. Fundamentals of Cybersecurity – University of Cape Town, GetSmarter

Fundamentals of Cybersecurity (visit website) aims to help professionals acquire the best methods of protecting an organization’s systems and digital assets. It is a cybersecurity course for beginners that employees at all levels of technical and managerial expertise can exploit. It covers both a South African perspective and also a global standpoint.

The program will introduce learners to the integral elements of managing digital security. This includes principles of cybersecurity management, relevant legislative environment, the ability to evaluate cybersecurity risks, and analyzing corporate security policies.

Halfway through, you will learn about cybersecurity culture, the required software and hardware, and the CIS 20 critical security controls. Upon completing the final module on incident management, students will be equipped with all the credentials needed to create and apply a foolproof cybersecurity management plan to their setting.

Provider: Cape Town University, GetSmarter | Time: 8 weeks | Certificate: Yes.
Level: Professionals, Analysts | Pace: Instructor-lead | Price: $876
Info: Visit course website. Get free prospectus. Browse all cybersecurity courses online.

7. Security Architect – Udacity

With an exponential increase in cyber threats following the pandemic, there is now a growing demand for security architects. Udacity’s Security Architect (visit website) is an intense 4-month program and covers the core strategies, key skills, and implementation elements needed in the application of security infrastructure and its management.

Security Architect is an intermediate-level cybersecurity course. Students should bring administrative familiarity with Linux and AWS, as well as knowledge of setting up Linux servers and cloud environments, performing system configuration, understanding hardware systems, identifying encryption protocols, and knowing how to use Python.

There are also additional prerequisites, so learners are advised to perform thorough research before arriving at a conclusion. Your intensive 4-module journey in cybersecurity will begin with security architecture planning and design. Here learners will equip themselves with the skills to assess risk and support remediation efforts.

Next comes a module on enterprise identity and access control that will teach you how to implement access control and align it with the principle of least privilege. The third module will focus on security infrastructure, planning, and design, followed by a deep dive into planning, designing, and executing a strong set of incident response capabilities.

This is one of the best cybersecurity courses online to get an advanced role in IT security.

Type: Nanodegree | Instructors: Erick Galinkin, Abhinav Singh, Sjon-Paul Brown
Capstone: Yes | Prerequisites: Linux, AWS | Time: 4 months
Info: View course page. From $399/mo. Get up to 75% off. Includes certificate.

Popular platforms: Browse our lists of the best Coursera courses or Springboard bootcamps or Udacity courses or GetSmarter courses or edX courses to improve your skills further.

8. Introduction to Cyber Security Specialization – NYU University, Coursera

Coursera’s Cybersecurity specialization (visit website) helps students understand modern system protection technologies and methods in this series of four online cybersecurity courses. The path completes with a certificate authorized by NYU University.

A few of the core skills taught in this specialization include cryptography, risk assessment, cyber defense, knowledge of information security, and Denial-of-a-Service (DOS) attacks.  

This class will give you a modern understanding of the current security systems and system protection technology. NYU has tasked itself with instilling a sense of appreciation and a lifelong passion for cybersecurity among learners through this specialization.

After taking a foundational leap into the cybersecurity landscape, you will move toward a module dedicated to cyberattack countermeasures. It will cover different authentication solutions and protocols, the basics of cryptography, and important cryptographic techniques. Next is a class on real-time cyber threat detection and mitigation. You will master the techniques for designing firewall solutions such as packet filters and proxies.

The last class is about enterprise and infrastructure security and will render learners ready with hyper-resilience approaches to meet the emerging issues in blockchain, building algorithms, and IoT. It is one of the best cybersecurity courses online for beginners looking for an academic-based learning path to cybersecurity.

Provider: NYU University, Coursera | Type: Specialization
Pricing: Free trial. $59/month Coursera Plus. | Review: 4.7 ★★★★★
Info: View course. Browse: Search all cybersecurity courses on Coursera.

Tip: Explore more certifications in technology with our lists of best fintech courses or cryptocurrency courses, or machine learning courses or Web3 courses, or artificial intelligence courses or blockchain courses or data science courses.

9. Professional Certificate in Cybersecurity – University of Washington

Cybersecurity by the University of Washington (visit website) is a 6-month professional certificate program for all skill levels. Some of the primary goals of this professional online cybersecurity course include a thorough understanding of the vast array of roles in cybersecurity, the relationship between security technology and management, and identifying appropriate types of security controls according to the setting.

Towards the end of this online cybersecurity course, you will not only be thoroughly educated in the essentials of cybersecurity but also equipped with the skillset needed to assess your own knowledge and abilities needed to forge a career.

A series of four modules will take learners from the fundamentals of cybersecurity to building a cybersecurity toolkit and finding a career path in this landscape. During the classes, students will take on the task of dissecting operations and the role played by the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) in the industry.

The next modules focus on the challenge of developing a proper set of skills and characteristics that go beyond technical proficiency to become a well-rounded cybersecurity analyst. Finally, the last module will help you assess the various paths in cybersecurity and the accompanying challenges comprehensively.

Provider: University of Washington, edX | Type: Professional Certificate
Duration: 6 months. 2-5 hours/week | Pricing: from $796
Info: View course page. Browse: Search all online cybersecurity courses on edX.

10. Security Analyst – Udacity

Udacity’s Security Analyst (visit website) helps individuals meet the growing demand for cybersecurity professionals by mastering the necessary skills to become successful security analysts. Participants will also get the chance to gain hands-on experience with monitoring network traffic, analyzing alerts, and handling incident procedures.

Before enrolling, in this cybersecurity course, you should check out the full list of Udacity’s prerequisites. Students must have familiarity with Python, SQL, security fundamentals, database design, networking, and operating systems at the time of enrolment.

In the intro module, learners will encounter the complete range of functions dictating the role of a security analyst. They will also assess the core principles and philosophy and knowledge of the physical, logical, and administrative roles in cybersecurity.

The preliminary unit will be followed by module 2, which focuses on analyzing security threats. This is where learners will explore the current threat landscape and comprehensively identify the threat actors that organizations face.

In the third module, students uncover the importance of assessing vulnerabilities and ways of reducing risk. Here, the focus will also be on learning how to measure risks associated with discovered vulnerabilities.

Your learning journey will come to a final note with a dive into the importance of incident detection and analysis of automated alerts for false positives. This lecture will also lend you the chance to use Plunk for correlating security log data and Snort Intrusion Detection System to automate alerts.

Type: Nanodegree | Instructors: Richard Phung, Milind Adari, Chris Herdt
Capstone: Yes | Prerequisites: Python, SQL | Time: 4 months
Info: View course page. From $399/mo. Get up to 75% off. Includes certificate.

11. StationX Cybersecurity Online Training and Courses

StationX Cybersecurity is an online cybersecurity training and development program that invites aspiring security professionals to assess the needs of the time in innovative ways. StationX is a renowned cybersecurity company that helps individuals master digital security challenges via advanced training and mentorship.

Currently, they offer around 1,000 It and cybersecurity classes, virtual labs, practice tests, and exam simulations on various topics that are tied to the cybersecurity landscape. Some of these topics include ethical hacking and penetration testing, digital forensics and incident response, security information, IT Basics, networking, Linux, and much more. 

StationX lends you a hands-on experience with their virtual lab-based training for practical learning alongside dedicated career mentors who are there to offer deep consultation and a customized study roadmap based on your current skills and study goals. They offer some of the best cybersecurity courses online for professionals and individuals.

Platform: StationX | Style: Self-paced online cybersecurity training
Level: Beginners | Price: From $149/year VIP Membership. Access to all courses.

12. Become a Cybersecurity Analyst Bootcamp – Springboard

Become a Cybersecurity Analyst (visit website) is an intense 8-module Springboard bootcamp with a job guarantee. It is aimed at future security analysts, executives, and employees at managerial posts who wish to secure a thematic footing alongside hands-on experience with what the world of cybersecurity has to offer.

In a matter of six months, Springboard claims to render enrollees completely prepared with the skills needed to protect their organizations with the increasingly sophisticated cyberattacks that are starting to surface with greater frequency.

Unit 1 in the course will set the foundation for your future success with the program and, hopefully, your career. It will deal with essential cybersecurity terms, an explanation of threat actor types, an introduction to the three-legged stool technique, and much more.

In the second module, you will discover the principles and practices of IT project planning and the foolproof way of creating your project plan. Unit 3 deals with host-based security which focuses on operating system hardening, system patching, and securing computer hardware and peripherals.

This will be followed by a module on network security, network design, securing wired and wireless networks, and firewalls. Next comes identity and security management, completing which you will move towards security assessment and operations. Finally, with application security, you will cover web security and database security.

There is an exam-based module for you to apply all of the concepts learned earlier. This is one of the most comprehensive, practical, and best cybersecurity courses online if you plan a career change and need a job guarantee.

Duration: 6 months | Certificate: Yes. | Info: Hands-on experience. Career support.
1:1 Mentoring: Yes | Job Guarantee: Yes | Fee: from $1,890/month or $11,340.
Info: View course page.

13. Cybersecurity Bootcamp – UCI, SimpliLearn

Caltech – a center for technology and management – helps aspiring cybersecurity employees and analysts kick-start their careers through a 26-week long bootcamp. UCI’s goal with this program is to help individuals equip themselves with the best understanding of the kind of security needed to prevent their organization’s digital assets.

Enrolling in this bootcamp will give you the opportunity to conduct live and interactive online cybersecurity classes, receive up to 26 CEUs from Caltech CTME and access their integrated cybersecurity labs. During 4 online cybersecurity courses, you learn everything from the foundations of cybersecurity to offensive and defensive security processes.

Following the intro, learners will embark on the path of essential cybersecurity elements related to networking and Python. Upon acquiring a detailed understanding of network and security essentials, it will be time for a proactive and adversarial approach to offensive security to protect an organization’s security systems, networks, and data.

The final class tackles the essentials of defensive security. Students learn about threat modeling, preventing recon, digital forensics, and other related concepts. This is among the best cybersecurity courses online if you are looking for a comprehensive and sophisticated training program with great career prospects.

Provider: Caltech, Simplilearn | Type: Online Bootcamp | Credits: 26 CEUs
Duration: 26 weeks. Self-paced. | Tuition fee: $10,000

14. Ethical Hacker – Udacity

Ethical Hacker (visit website) is a 2-month online cybersecurity course for those who wish to gain offensive security skills and protect their organizations from substantial threats.

Primarily designed to help individuals exploit vulnerabilities in various systems, this cybersecurity course also teaches you foundational skills to hack networks ethically and bypass security. Before enrolling, however, you must ensure that you have a functional understanding of and experience with networking, Linux, programming, and Windows OS.

Your entire learning curve will span over two intensive cybersecurity classes. The first unit is an intro module on ethical hacking where you will familiarize yourself with a broad set of techniques and job responsibilities that come with becoming an ethical hacker.  

In the next module, students will advance their learning by diving into the essentials of penetration testing and using them to perform cybersecurity assessments. By the end, they should be well-equipped to identify vulnerabilities, risks, and system flaws. This is among the best cybersecurity courses online to get into an ethical hacking career.

Type: Nanodegree | Instructors: Sagar Bansal, Paul Oyelakin
Capstone: Yes | Prerequisites: Linux, Networking, Programming | Time: 2 months
Info: View course page. From $399/mo. Get up to 75% off. Includes certificate.

15. Security Management – Learning Path, Pluralsight

Security Management (visit website) is a learning path based on multiple online cybersecurity courses that are split into beginner, intermediate and advanced categories.

The aim of this learning path is to help enrollees assess, design, and implement an enterprise-level information security strategy. In addition, there will be a special focus on the programs and policies that best apply to your organization’s needs and situation.

At the beginner level, you will learn to assess the process of developing a security plan, identify assets and define security protection. There will also be the chance to assess the risks accompanying the development of a security framework.

Past the preliminary stage, you’ll enter the intermediate phase, which mostly deals with incident management and investigation. Other key topics include business continuity management, security operations, control assessment, and the laws and ethics that govern security compliance.

Once you’re ready for the advanced level, it will be time to review your organization’s security disposition through governance and audit. In addition, students will be able to define the various ways to implement a security awareness program for their organizations.

Platform: Kevin Henry, Pluralsight | Duration: 2.5 hours | Type: Learning Path
Level: Beginner | Price: View course. $29/month. Get free 10-day trial.

16. Cybersecurity Micromasters Program – RIT, edX

The Cybersecurity Micromasters Program (visit website) is an intense 10-month journey and dive into the cybersecurity essentials. This path is aimed at individuals who wish to learn how to set up and secure basic computer systems, implement network security solutions, and conduct digital forensics investigations admissible in court.

Upon enrolment, you will encounter a total of five online cybersecurity courses beginning with a module on detecting threats, protecting systems, and anticipating potential cyber-attacks. Once past the preliminaries, students will dive into computer forensics which covers the methods needed to investigate and obtain data related to cybersecurity.

In the third module, students will figure out the key principles of risk analysis, risk mitigation, and information security using different approaches. This will be followed by an assessment of the network security process, evidence collection, network auditing, and contingency planning against the attacks.

Before the award of the certificate, you will have to finish the cybersecurity capstone project to demonstrate the skills and knowledge picked up in the previous modules. It is one of the best cybersecurity courses online to conduct a career change.

Provider: RIT, edX | Type: MicroMasters Program
Duration: 8 months. 10-12 hours/week | Pricing: from $1,436
Info: View course page. Browse: Search all online cybersecurity courses on edX.

Other Best Online Cybersecurity Courses

17. Network Engineering + Cyberops Training – NGT.Academy

Aimed at ambitious folks who wish to kickstart a career in cybersecurity in no more than 4 months, this online cybersecurity course will cover the full-stack network essentials. The class also offers various related projects that should give you an understanding of a complete HQ/Branch network, implementing your own full-stack network, and applying the core and fundamental technologies related to network engineering.

Their Cyber Security Accelerator is the second part of the online cybersecurity program that teaches students all of the foundational concepts that fall within the cyber range.

18. Cyber Security Operations (Cisco) – FutureLearn

Cisco and The Open University have collaborated over this beginner-level micro-credential that teaches learners the rudiments of cyber security. Brace yourself for a dive into the world of cybersecurity professionals, the ways of responding to imminent and active cyber threats, and conducting legally defensible investigations of any potential cybercrime.

You will also cover the purpose of various cybersecurity technologies, evaluate different cryptographic techniques, and investigate the evidence from a cybersecurity incursion.

19. Fundamentals of Cybersecurity – Codecademy 

With a staggering 3.5 million unfilled cybersecurity jobs estimated by 2025, this online cybersecurity course aims to help learners gain the skills needed to seal the void.

Some of the key topics that you will cover in this cybersecurity class include understanding basic social engineering techniques, gaining the ability to differentiate between various types of cyberattacks, and exploring strategies that actual cybersecurity professionals exploit to protect their organizations from digital threats.

20.  Cisco Networking Academy Online Cybersecurity Courses

Currently, the Cisco Networking Academy offers six different online cybersecurity courses that touch upon various facets of cybersecurity and cybercrime. While some of these online cybersecurity courses are foundational, others offer a more specialized focus on a particular challenge in the world of cybercrime.

Depending on your career goal, you can enroll yourself in cybersecurity classes dealing with cloud security, CyberOps, IoT fundamentals, network security, etc.

21. SANS Online Cybersecurity Training Courses 

SANS is offering learners a free beginner-level course on the fundamentals of cybersecurity. This online cybersecurity class can assist students strapped for cash but with a desire and curiosity toward the world of cybercrime.

You can learn from a total of three modules that discuss operating systems, networking, and system administration. Coming out of the program, you should have a functional understanding of most, if not all, of the core concepts, methods, and techniques used in identifying and mitigating cyber threats.

22. Cybersecurity for Beginners – Heimdal  

Heimdal’s Cybersecurity for Beginner is another free online cybersecurity course that involves five weeks of intensive training around core cybersecurity concepts.  

Upon enrolling, you will encounter essential topics related to cyber threats. It includes the right tools and tactics needed to shield yourself from malware, detection and prevention, and safer ways to explore the web. Upon finishing this cybersecurity course, you are aware of how cyberattacks work, how you can avoid viruses, and how to counteract them.

23. IT and Cybersecurity Training – Cybrary

Cybrary’s IT and Cybersecurity Training is aimed at learners who are new to this career and still unsure about which cybersecurity role to take on.

In this online cybersecurity course for beginners, you will have the opportunity to uncover the roles of network administrators, incident responders, system administrators, cybersecurity managers, cloud engineers, privacy analysts, and penetration testers.

There are separate modules that dissect and analyze each of these roles in great detail and will hopefully bring greater clarity around the kind of role most suited to you.

How to Choose the Best Cybersecurity Courses Online

While searching for the best cybersecurity courses online, it will help if you have a good assessment of not only your skill level but also the nature of the role you’d like to take on.

As stated earlier, cybersecurity is an all-encompassing term that houses various natures of jobs and functions. You can choose to be a Cloud security analyst fortifying the Cloud. Or, you could become a security engineer designing and implementing security plans. Another popular career is malware detector identifying threats.

More often than not, cybersecurity courses choose to target a specific role within cybersecurity than simply providing an overview. At times, however, the class may only lend a theoretical overview of what this field entails.

Therefore, it is imperative that you conduct your own research with due diligence and avoid unnecessary setbacks and thematic blockades in the future.

There are also other factors you must take into account. These include

1. Duration of the course. This should coincide with your work/study schedule and future plans. Most online cybersecurity courses listed above can extend anywhere from 3-6 months. You must plan in advance to avoid any work/study overlap. 
2. Cost of the course. This will be one of the key considerations. Working professionals may have a bit more financial freedom. But if you’re a student with little to spare, it’s better to enroll yourself in a free cybersecurity course to test the waters. 
3. Course difficulty level. While it seems like a no-brainer, you’d be surprised by the number of times students feel underwhelmed or overwhelmed by the nature of the content. To save yourself the disappointment, investigate the difficulty level, topics covered, and projects involved in a class before settling for one. 

Best Cybersecurity Courses Online 2024 – Verdict

Wrapping up our review of the best cybersecurity courses online in 2024.

The sudden increase in cybercrimes has not only left companies scrambling on their feet looking for trained cybersecurity professionals. It has also become responsible for the onset of various cyber security online courses that provide the relevant training.

The list of cybersecurity classes provided here is by no means exhaustive. However, it is a good starting point for anyone who either wants to quench their curiosity, kick start a career, or expand their skillset.

Since individual needs and learning requirements differ from person to person, there are no universal criteria set in stone for what makes a course the best solution. You need to perform your own research and decide on the best online cybersecurity courses to amplify your growth.

Other Cybersecurity Courses Online

• IBM Cybersecurity Analyst – Coursera
• Cybersecurity for Everyone – University of Maryland
• Google IT Support – Coursera
• Palo Alto Networks Security
• Cyber Security: Beginner’s Training Guide to Online Safety! – Udemy
• Online Cybersecurity Course for Beginners – FutureLearn
• Cyber Security Training for Beginners – Edureka
• Cybersecurity in 7 Minutes – Simplilearn, YouTube – View

Cybersecurity Learning Resources

• Daniel Miessler – Blog
• Graham Cluley – Blog
• IT Security Guru – Blog
• The Hacker News- Website

What is a Cyber Attack?

A cyberattack is an unauthorized access to a computer system by a third party with the intention of damaging, stealing, exposing, altering, or disabling information.

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What are the best cybersecurity courses online for 2024, in your opinion? Which cybersecurity online classes have you taken? What have you learned? Please let us know in the comments below, or contact us via email for questions.

Sources: What is cybersecurity? –1 | What is a cyber attack? – 2 | Hackers Attack – University of Maryland – 3 | What is ethical hacking? – 4 | U.S. Bureau of Labour Statistics – 5 | What is computer forensics? – 6

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