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There are many free cybersecurity training courses online. Which ones are actually worth spending time on? In this article we review the ones that are the best for beginners, students and anyone looking to boost their CV.
Before we get into them, it's important to note that while these courses will significantly help anyone, you will need a degree in computer science before qualifying in cybersecurity. Many courses are promoted as free to take, but you’ll need to pay to get the certification. If, rather than courses and certifications, knowledge is all you’re after, then federal agencies like the National Security Agency (NSA) and Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) are excellent websites for free information.
4 Free Cybersecurity Training Courses Online
Let’s get straight into the list of courses. All these are free, have excellent ratings and reviews, and are created by cybersecurity experts.
1. Cybersecurity Course for Beginners - Level 01
This course is an excellent option for beginners and students interested in cybersecurity. It starts with the basic concepts and works its way up. There are 13 lectures, 15 video training sessions and supplementary materials. This course isn’t long and can easily be completed in just over an hour. It covers encryption and antiviruses, protecting your WordPress website and securing your online identity, transactions, email and shopping.
This is a self-paced course that you can pick up and drop whenever is convenient for you without worrying about a deadline. It is entirely free, but there is no certification or instructor assignments.
Requirements
- Computer or smartphone.
- Internet connection.
- Basic understanding of computers and the internet.
- Willingness to learn and an interest in cybersecurity.
2. Hack The Box
While not exactly a singular course, Hack The Box is a renowned website that considers itself a ‘university for hackers.’ It provides a platform for users to learn cybersecurity theory and practice their hacking skills without affecting systems in production. The website aims to make cybersecurity fun while ensuring users are learning to the fullest.
Users are given information in easy-to-digest chunks with examples alongside, a training area is provided so users can test out what they’ve learned, and to assess their level, hands-on exercises and assignments are given. The site includes free and paid tiers—for the free option, users are given ‘cubes’ that let them take Fundamental modules. Upon completion of those modules, more cubes are given that can be used on the next Fundamental level nodules.
However, you'll have to purchase a subscription plan if you want more structured, easy, medium, or hard modules.
Features
- Student subscriptions are available that are heavily discounted.
- Designed for beginners and anyone wanting to brush up on their cyber security knowledge.
- All of the job-role paths on the website will result in a certification.
- Users can obtain continuing professional education (CPE) credits by completing the academy modules.
3. Introduction to Cyber Attacks
Introduction to Cyber Attacks is a free course offered on Coursera by NYU and is a part of the specialization, Introduction to Cyber Security Specialization. This is a beginner-level course that can be completed in roughly 18 hours and is self-paced.
This course has four modules, which cover the basics of cyber security, security frameworks, and understanding security risk analysis. Some examples from this course include Trojan horses and simple Unix kernel hacks. This course starts by explaining what cyber security is and goes on to explain cyber attacks in real-world scenarios. The course then teaches you how to ward off these attacks. If you’re serious about a career in cyber security, then check out the specialization to reap maximum benefits.
Features
- Get a shareable career certificate.
- Learn from the top instructor at New York University.
- Supplementary resources include journals, TED talks, videos and articles.
- Rated 4.7 out of 5 stars by 2,769 reviewers.
4. Ethical Hacking Essentials (EHE)
EHE is an introductory cybersecurity course that covers ethical hacking and paves the path for a career in cybersecurity. The course introduces students to computer and network security through concepts like password cracking, OT attacks, wireless encryption, cloud computing threats, and more.
This course can be completed in 15 hours and is divided into 12 easy-to-learn modules. It is also a certified course with over 20,000 glowing reviews. This is one of the courses we recommend if you’re serious about a career in cybersecurity and have a basic understanding of networking.
Features
- Get a shareable career certificate.
- Assessments are a part of this course, and it includes 88 quizzes.
- In-depth information and training material on application-level attacks and network-level attacks.
- Can be easily learned on computer or mobile.
Is a Cybersecurity Certification Worth It?
A survey conducted by ISC revealed that 70% of the participating cybersecurity professionals were required by their employers to hold certifications. The survey also states that cybersecurity certification increases the salary by $18,000. Given these reasons and the fact that plenty of high-rated courses are available for free, there’s no downside to earning cybersecurity certification.
So, if you’re ready to kickstart your career in cybersecurity, check out the courses we’ve mentioned in the article, see which one is to your liking, and start learning!