Today, the Internet is integral to the optimal functioning of our society. It has become fundamental to the important undertakings of government, military, corporate, and medical organizations that collect, process and store sensitive information on computers and other devices. Many of us depend on the Internet to carryout everyday tasks such as shopping and banking. Hence, securing data, networks, programs, and systems against the threats of cyber criminals has become extremely important. [1]
Organizations and individuals seek the help of cybersecurity experts to protect against online attacks from hackers that are domestic and foreign. There is a high demand for Cyber Security professionals today with over 300,000+ job openings in the USA. [2] With this growing demand for jobs in the field, a great remuneration package for those who are entering the field has become common. Today, the average salary of a Cyber Security specialist is over $100,000 USD.[3] If you are interested in entering the field or looking to advance your skills in cybersecurity, you do not need a college degree. There are a number of great options online if you are interested in becoming an expert in the field.
Related Topics (Ads):
Coursera
Coursera is a massive open online course (MOOC) provider that offers a large number of online courses on a range of topics, including cybersecurity. It collaborates with universities and other institutions to provide online degrees, courses, and certifications. [4] Coursera has courses that provide job-relevant skills from renowned universities. Universities such as University of Maryland and University of Minnesota, and well-known companies such as IBM and Google offer online courses on cybersecurity through this online platform. IBM, for example, offers IBM Cybersecurity Analyst Professional Certificate, which can be completed within 4 to 8 months. This certificate includes courses that cover the background of Cybersecurity and its key technology, people, processes such as Introduction to Cybersecurity, Tools and cyber attacks and Cybersecurity Roles, and Processes & Operating System Security. Students learn via video lectures by experts in the field. They also build an industry portfolio, completing hands-on projects to showcase their job readiness to the employers. [5] Students can finish a course by completing assignments that are auto-graded and peer-reviewed. Upon the completion of 8 courses, they can obtain an electronic Course Certificate for a small fee. [6] Some of these certificates cost thousands of dollars and Coursera offers financial aid.
Bootcamp Options
Bootcamps are a great way to gain professional certification in cyber security. There are bootcamps offered by institutions such as University of Pennsylvania, University of San Diego Extension School, University of Oregon, UT Austen Bootcamp and SecureSet Academy. Bootcamps can last between 14 to 24 weeks and offer intense, condensed and focused courses that are taught by experienced instructors in live classroom settings or online. [7] The University of Pennsylvania’s Penn Cybersecurity Bootcamp can be completed part time three days a week with flexible weekend and evening classes. This bootcamp delivers hands-on instruction in networking, databases, web technologies, systems, and defensive and offensive cybersecurity. This online program helps students gain experience in a number of important tools such as Metasploit, Wireshark, and Kali. Penn cybersecurity bootcamp is designed to teach skills that help students earn certification in CompTIA Security+, Network+, Linux+, Server+, Cloud+, and become a Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH). [8] These skills will increase your desirability and employability to prospective employers. Many of these bootcamps also offer career advice upon the completion of the certificate, helping students to find the right job.
Related Topics (Ads):
Udemy
Similar to Coursera, Udemy is an online platform that provides affordable and flexible online courses. Udemy is a great option for those who want to explore a new skill, but not yet ready to commit to an online certificate program that costs thousands of dollars. There are a range of cyber security courses on Udemy, including The Complete Cyber Security Course: Hackers Exposed! , The Complete Cyber Security Course: Anonymous Browsing!, The Absolute Beginners Guide to Cyber Security 2020, and TOTAL: CompTIA CySA+ Cybersecurity Analyst (CS0-002). The Complete Cyber Security Course: Hackers Exposed! is a popular course on Udemy. This is the first volume of four course series with video lectures and tutorials that can be completed within several hours. The course delves into principles of cybersecurity and equips students with pragmatic knowledge and skills to stop online threats such as advanced hackers, trackers, exploit kits, malware, and cybercriminals. [9] These courses are designed for beginners to become Cyber Security Specialists. Most courses on Udemy can be purchased for a small fee and the course instructors will award a certificate of completion. However, since anyone can teach on Udemy, it is important to do your research before purchasing a course. Unlike Coursera, the courses on Udemy are not accredited by universities or other organizations. Therefore, employers may not recognize Udemy certificates.
Research
There are a plethora of online cybersecurity courses available today. With so many options to choose from, finding the right course can be challenging. One effective way to obtain information about cybersecurity online courses is doing your own research. You can start by browsing the Internet for course offerings on the topic and compare the options that are available. Apart from universities, there are other organizations that offer courses in cybersecurity. Some of the popular courses offered online by companies include StationX VIP Membership, SANS Cyber Aces Online, Heimdal Cyber Security for Beginners, and Cybrary Introduction to IT and Cybersecurity. StationX VIP Membership, for example, offers access to a large number of cyber security courses that are created and taught by experts. These courses cover a range of topics such as cloud, coding, ethical hacking, Linux, digital forensics and penetration testing. A certificate will be awarded upon successful completion. [10] It is important to select cybersecurity courses that are within your budget and meet your career goals. If you are not convinced by online reviews and would like to find firsthand information from alternate sources, you can speak to friends, family, colleagues at work and classmates, who have pursued a course in cybersecurity or an expert in the field.
Related Topics (Ads):
Sources
[1] https://digitalguardian.com/blog/what-cyber-security
[2] https://courses.stationx.net/p/stationx-membership/
[2] https://www.ziprecruiter.com/Salaries/Cyber-Security-Salary
[4]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coursera
[5] https://www.coursera.org/professional-certificates/ibm-cybersecurity-analyst#howItWorks
[6] https://www.coursera.org/search?query=cybersecurity&
[7] https://elevenfifty.org/is-it-worth-it-to-do-a-cybersecurity-bootcamp/ [5] [8]https://bootcamp.sas.upenn.edu/cybersecurity/
[9] https://www.udemy.com/course/the-complete-internet-security-privacy-course-volume-1/
[10] https://courses.stationx.net/p/stationx-membership/?coupon_code=VIPREGULAR&affcode=58751_ly77iek4
