Starting a career in cyber security can lead to personal financial security. Experis, in fact, reported a four percent year-on-year salary increase coming into 2018, with other analysts reporting a seven percent salary increase for cyber security specialists in 2018 – the biggest for IT professionals in Europe.
If you’re looking to become a cyber security professional but lack practical experience or the finances to take classes in a university, there are plenty of ways you can get into the industry.
Here are five of our top free beginner cyber security resources and course to get you started:
Introduction to Cyber Security
Learn the fundamentals of cyber security to protect private and personal data. Know the basics of authentication, networking, threat identification, cryptography application, risk management, recovery, and the law surrounding cyber security.
The Open University offers this eight-week course through Future Learn, with support from the UK Government’s National Cyber Security Programme and accreditation from GCHQ Certified Training, APMG International, and the IISP.
The free version gives you a 10-week access to all the educational materials, but you’ll have to pay for certification.
Cyber Security: Safety at Home, Online, in Life
Considering how much personal data is stored online through the proliferation of smart devices, social media use, and online shopping, the threat of cyber attacks has increased. With this course, you’ll understand the practical applications of cyber security on the everyday goings-on of the average individual and how that relates to commercial businesses.
Newcastle University offers this three-week course through Future Learn. Enrolling in this course for free gives you access for five weeks. You will have to pay to get certification.
Network Security
Establish foundational knowledge on cryptography, cryptanalysis, and systems security in the context of securing networks. Lessons are taught through seminal papers and monographs that have impacted the industry, developing your security research skills in the process.
The Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) offers this 16-week course through Udacity.
This free course nets you instructor videos and interactive quizzes, but you will not receive any accreditation unless you are part of the Georgia Tech OMSCS program.
Cyber Security for Small and Medium Enterprises: Identifying Threats and Preventing Attacks
While the biggest cyber crimes people hear about concern multinational corporations and industry giants, small- and medium-sized businesses are just as vulnerable to cyber attacks. This course teaches you how to identify risks and prevent threats that SMEs uniquely face when it comes to cyber security.
Deakin University will be offering this two-week course through Future Learn. You can only get credit for this online course if you complete the entire Cyber Security Management program it is part of.
Secure Android App Development
Mobile applications have become an integral part of modern living, with so much confidential information tied to these apps. The freedom and flexibility of app development on Android, however, comes at the price of great cyber security risks. Learn how to identify and solve common security problems in mobile apps that can be fixed in the development stage with the use of HPE Fortify SCA.
The University of Southampton’s Cyber Security Academy offers this four-week course through Future Learn.
Once you have developed these beginner skills, take the next step in your education by looking for advanced cyber security courses through our very own network of providers. If you’re ready for that career defining first job, then check out our sister site, Cyber Security Jobs.