Cybersecurity has grown as an issue for people and businesses alike. If you are considering a career in cybersecurity and are looking to get started, a cybersecurity course for beginners can greatly help.
Regardless of your reasons for intending to dive into the world of cybersecurity, there is likely a course that will be perfect for you. Teaching tools can vary in terms of scope, accessibility, suitability for various levels of competence, and price.
There are many options to pick from, due t this the selection process can become overwhelming. That is why we have put together a list of the top ten online cybersecurity courses out there.
- Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH)
- CompTIA Security+
- Certified Information System Security Professional (CISSP)
- Certified Information Security Manager (CISM)
- Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA)
- Offensive security certified professional (OSCP)
- Certified cloud security professional (CCSP)
- ISO27001 Lead Implementer
- Advanced Penetration Testing (APT)
- Offensive security certified expert (OSCE)
1) Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH)
As a Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH), you learn to think in a similar manner to a cyber criminal, which is necessary to stopping cyber attacks. Enrolling in a cyber security course that teaches the same techniques that cyber criminals have down pat will put you one step closer to becoming a Certified Ethical Hacker.
For CEH training and certification, there is no specific eligibility criteria, but it is recommended that one should have basic knowledge of TCP/IP.
Once you are certified, you may qualify for a few interesting roles, such as intrusion analyst, security manager, and more.
The average annual salary for CEH certificate holders is currently $24,760 to $111,502.
2) CompTIA Security+
A CompTIA Security+ course will teach students the skills they need for installing and configuring systems to secure networks, applications, and devices. Students also learn to perform threat analyses and respond with appropriate mitigation techniques, and get to participate in risk mitigation activities, while operating with an awareness of applicable policies, laws, and regulations.
If you want to build a solid IT foundation and learn the fundamentals from the ground up, this cyber security course can be a great option. Notably the U.S. Department of Defense requires that all their employees earn a CompTIA Security+ certification.
Receivers of a CompTIA Security+ certification may have several career options, such as security specialist, manager, and administrator. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, individuals in these roles earn more than $86,000 USD per year on average.
The average annual salary for CompTIA Security+ certificate holders is currently $86,000.
3) Certified Information System Security Professional (CISSP)
The Certified Information System Security Professional (CISSP) is another education program to consider. Many IT departments classify this type of certification as a base requirement.
This certification can help give you an edge on the competition if you are looking to work as an IT security manager, system engineer, or analyst. If you are already working in this industry, this certification can help you grow your career, which can mean a higher salary. In fact, if your goal is to work in a Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) role, this certification is a necessity.
This certification is not for beginners, as it requires at least five years of professional full-time work experience in two or more of the eight domains of the CISSP – CBK 2018. Those lacking this experience will instead receive an ISC2 associate title, which will eventually be replaced with the CISSP certificate once you gain enough experience.
The average annual salary for CISSP certificate holders is currently $73,627 to $119,184.
4) Certified Information Security Manager (CISM)
Similarly, to the CISSP certification program, eligibility for becoming a Certified Information Security Manager (CISM) requires at least five years of professional experience, with three years of experience working as an information security manager. additionally, this professional experience must be gained in three of the four CISM domains. If you are already experienced in the field of cyber security and looking to fast-track your career, this certification will likely be perfect for you.
An increasing number of businesses are expecting that their cyber security professionals are also Certified Information Security Managers. Due to this, it is an important steppingstone for any IT professional looking to advance their career.
Those in information technology roles who are interested in taking on cyber security duties can usually expect their earning potential to increase substantially after taking this cyber security course and becoming certified.
The average annual salary for CISM certificate holders is currently $52,402 to $243,610 USD.
5) Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA)
The CISA certification is focused on information auditing. With this type of certification, you show potential employers that you are not only skilled in the world of information technology, but that you also have significant audit experience.
In a CISA program, students gain expertise in the acquisition, development, testing, and implementation of information systems, as well as learn the guidelines, standards, and best practices of protecting them.
To receive your CISA certification, your employers will need to verify all relevant experience. The experience should have been gained within five years of passing your certification exam, or within the 10-year period before applying for the position.
The average annual salary for CISA certificate holders is currently $52,459 to $122,326.
6) Offensive security certified professional (OSCP)
The OSCP course will give you the necessary skills to understand the penetration testing process and life cycle. Candidates are asked to sit a 24-hour certification based on real world situations. This provides real world benefits, including the ability to identify vulnerabilities in security systems, compromise vulnerable PHD scrips, write simple Bash/Python scrips, and carry out controlled attacks.
A prerequisite for this course is the Penetration Testing with Kali Linux training course.
The average annual salary for OSCP certificate holders is currently $60,000 to $80,000
7) Certified cloud security professional (CCSP)
CCSP is becoming more popular with the spread of cloud computing systems. Creators of the course mainly designed it for information security professionals with a minimum of 5 years work experience, including a minimum of 1 year of cloud security experience and 3 years of information security experience.
This certification program is suitable for mid- to advanced-level professionals involved with information security, cloud security engineering, IT architecture, governance, risk and compliance, as well as IT auditing.
The average annual salary for CCSP certificate holders is currently $81, 374.
8) ISO27001 Lead Implementer
This course gives you the knowledge to implement and maintain an Information Security Management System (ISMS) which is compliant with ISO27001.
This course is relevant for anyone involved in a company’s ISMS. This includes consultants, managers and those responsible for maintaining ISO27001 compliance.
The average annual salary for ISO27001 Lead Implementer certificate holders is currently $81,000 to $100,000.
9) Advanced Penetration Testing (APT)
The APT course prepares ethical hackers for real world scenarios. Students must overcome defenses as well as discover targets, similar to situations one could encounter in ‘the real world’. Not only does the course teach you how to perform a professional security test, but it also shows you how to then present your findings in reports. For IT professionals who are serious about a career in information security, this course could be a valuable addition to your skills and qualifications.
The average annual salary for APT certificate holders is currently $81,000 to $100,000.
10) Offensive security certified expert (OSCE)
The OSCE course is another ethical hacking certification. The OSCE course is designed for professional penetration testers. The exam itself involves a vulnerable network which has been designed to be penetrated within a 48-hour period. The course awards a variety of hosts and points for each network you can compromise.
These are just some of the cyber security certifications out there. Depending on your aspirations, there may be other programs that may be more aligned with your career goals.