Hackers lurking in the shadows, data breaches dominating headlines – the digital world demands robust cybersecurity skills. Whether you’re a career aspirant or a security-conscious citizen, choosing the right online course can be your path to mastering the digital shield. But with a plethora of options out there, finding the perfect fit can feel like navigating a tangled jungle. Fear not, intrepid explorer! This guide will equip you with the knowledge to discern the best online security courses and emerge from the digital wilderness as a cybersecurity champion.

Key considerations for choosing your online security course

Skill Level: Are you a curious novice or a seasoned pro seeking advanced training? Choose a course tailored to your existing knowledge base. Beginner-friendly offerings will demystify basic concepts, while advanced programs delve into the intricate depths of ethical hacking or penetration testing.
Learning Style: Do you thrive on interactive exercises or prefer video lectures? Options abound, from self-paced modules to live, instructor-led sessions. Consider your preferred learning style to maximize engagement and knowledge retention.
Course Content: Does the curriculum align with your desired career path or security interests? Look for courses covering specific areas like network security, malware analysis, or incident response. Specialization is key for honing your expertise.
Reputation and Credibility: Choose reputable platforms with experienced instructors and industry-recognized certifications. Reviews from past students can offer valuable insights into the course’s effectiveness.
Budget: While free resources exist, premium courses often offer comprehensive curricula, expert guidance, and career support. Determine your budget and seek the best value for your investment.

Shining a Light on the Path: Top Contenders in the Online Security Course Arena

Cybrary: Renowned for its extensive library of free, beginner-friendly courses, Cybrary provides a solid foundation in various cybersecurity domains.
SANS Institute: A leader in advanced security training, SANS offers high-caliber, industry-respected certifications like GIAC and GCIH, ideal for seasoned professionals.
Pluralsight: With a subscription model offering access to thousands of IT and security courses, Pluralsight allows for tailored learning journeys across various skill levels.
Offensive Security: Home to the famed OSCP certification, Offensive Security’s hands-on, practical courses equip aspiring ethical hackers with real-world penetration testing skills.
Udemy: This popular platform boasts a diverse range of security courses at various price points, catering to learners of all levels and budgets.

Top cybersecurity skills 2023

1. Risk assessment
2. Penetration testing
3. Cloud security
4. Blockchain Security
5. Digital forensics
6. 400;”>Artificial intelligence

Risk Assessment

The most important skill has nothing to do with a specific technology. It is the ability to assess the level of risk that an organisation face. The truth is that you can be in complete compliance with all required regulations and NIST guidelines and still be h*cked. A digitally connected enterprise cannot be guaranteed to be secured. You can assess your risk environment to identify vulnerabilities that an att*cker is likely to exploit. Knowing this information enables a company to devise a best defense strategy to preempt those risks.

2. Penetration testing

A penetration test, also known as a pen test, should be one of the procedures used in a risk assessment. A pen test is not the same as a vulnerability scan. A pen tester is a highly skilled security professional who is hired to breach a specific security system, such as an external or internal network, a web-based application, or a wireless network. This is distinct from an ethical h*cker, who att*cks an enterprise without regard for a specific target or scope. The person carrying out the pen test must approach the task in the same way that a h*cker would.

3. Cloud security

Because so many businesses are migrating digital assets and services to the cloud, cloud security professionals are scarce. This is due to the fact that cloud security employs different security protocols and tools than traditional on-premises datacenters. Active Directory, for example, employs security protocols such as LDAP, NTLM, and Kerberos, as well as Group Policy as its policy management system. The cloud relies on a portal management system to deliver policies and uses web-based authentication protocols such as SAML, OAUth, and WS-Federation. While the principles remain constant, the tools and approaches have changed.

You must have previous experience with a cloud platform such as AWS or Azure, as well as knowledge of various operating systems, web application firewalls, and Identity and Access technologies.

4. Blockchain Security

Blockchain security is a comprehensive risk assessment procedure used to ensure the security of a blockchain solution or network. To protect a blockchain solution from online fr*uds, breaches, and other cyberatt*cks, cybersecurity frameworks, security testing methodologies, and secure coding practises are implemented.

400;”>Blockchain technology has been in existence since 1991. The initial discovery of blockchain was limited to currency transactions, but in 2014, the latest developments and potential in other financial and inter-organizational transaction areas where new opportunities were explored were seen. And in the last few years, the adoption of Blockchain has increased across all industries for various use cases and deployments.

5. Digital forensics

A branch of forensic science concerned with the recovery and investigation of material discovered in digital devices, frequently in connection with computer crime. Cyber forensics, electronic forensics, and computer forensics are other terms for digital forensics. Digital forensics is the collection, retrieval, analysis, review, and storage of digital evidence in a legally acceptable manner for civil or criminal investigations and proceedings, as well as internal investigations.

6. Artificial intelligence

WHAT DOES ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE MEAN?

Artificial intelligence is a broad field of computer science concerned with the development of intelligent machines capable of performing tasks that would normally require human intelligence.

Machines can now mimic the capabilities of the human mind thanks to artificial intelligence. AI is becoming more prevalent in everyday life, from the development of self-driving cars to the proliferation of smart assistants such as Siri. As a result, many technology companies across a wide range of industries are investing in artificially intelligent technologies.

Easy Cyber security skills roadmap

Ask: The simplest way to excel in the Cybersecurity is to ask for help whenever you have a question(s), but do your homework first and don’t encourage spoon feeding.

Learn, take careful notes, and share: Keep yourself up to date, learn new things, and take notes online and offline. And don’t forget to share your knowledge so that others can learn from people like you, whether it’s through a blog, a video, or social media.

Subscribe to a security community newsletter: You can’t learn everything from one source, so sign up for a weekly/monthly security newsletter to stay up to date on that specific security topic/domain.

Try teaching: If you want to understand something with a clear mind, try teaching it. While studying for that topic, you will learn a lot and gain valuable experience in the security community. Present the topic at various security talks and conferences.

Don’t be afraid to buy books; they are the best investment: I still see people looking for free materials.. I would recommend purchasing some important printed books to which you will want to refer from time to time. Like Adam Shostack’s Threat Modeling, Stuttard Pinto’s WAHH, and David Wong’s Secure Code, Real-World Cryptography.

Be humble and willing to help others: From personal experience, I can say that when you are humble and willing to help others, you will receive assistance from unknown faces. That’s Karma for you 😉

Look for no shortcuts: No dumps, proxy interviews, proxy certificates, or anything else.

Spend some money to improve your skills: Update your knowledge and learn about security concepts, topics, and so on from free or paid online resources such as YouTube, Coursera, Udacity, acloud.guru, pluralsight, and Linkedin.

Remember: The journey to cybersecurity mastery is ongoing. Choose a course that ignites your passion, offers continuous learning opportunities, and keeps you up-to-date with the ever-evolving digital landscape. With dedication and the right tools, you’ll transform from a vulnerable internet traveler to a skilled guardian of the digital world.

By implementing these tips, you can increase your article’s visibility and attract readers seeking the best online security courses to conquer the ever-evolving cyber jungle. Bon voyage, digital warrior!