Best Cybersecurity Courses in 2024 (Free & Paid) – Must Read!

Looking for the best cybersecurity courses in 2024? Be sure to read this article till the end.

Cybersecurity remains a high-demand field in this new year. With the ubiquitous use of the internet and ever-increasing cybercrime, the need for cybersecurity professionals continues to grow.

The good news? Anyone can learn this skill from home through the countless cybersecurity courses available online.

If you want to break into cybersecurity, make sure to choose a reputable course that caters to your experience level. Whether you’re a total beginner looking to learn ethical hacking, Linux, or complete cybersecurity, or you want to prepare for a certification exam, quality cybersecurity programs can teach you the skills you need.

This article spotlights the top 10 courses that can launch and advance your cybersecurity career.

How do we find the best cybersecurity courses?

I shortlisted and ranked these cybersecurity courses based on affordability, ratings, enrollment numbers, and curriculum. I also gathered feedback from past students on whether they would recommend the programs.

Explore all the featured courses, but choose the one that best suits your needs.

Top 10 Cybersecurity programs at a glance:

Now let’s dive into these programs:

1. StationX- The Complete Cybersecurity Courses

StationX is a premier cybersecurity training platform offering hundreds of courses in ethical hacking, penetration testing, and more. They also provide training for certifications like CompTIA, CISSP, CEH, and OSCP to help you land a cybersecurity job.

If you want to learn cybersecurity from the ground up, consider their Complete Cybersecurity Course Volumes 1-4. Created and taught by StationX founder Nathan House, this bestselling course is also available on Udemy.

Along with this program on StationX, you’ll also get a cybersecurity e-book and access to the Q&A Security forum.

Course Curriculum:

As mentioned above, this comprehensive course has four volumes covering beginner to expert-level training:

• Volume 1 – Hackers Exposed: Stop hackers, prevent tracking, advance anonymous browsing, and counter government surveillance.
• Volume 2 – Network Security: WiFi security, firewalls, Wireshark.
• Volume 3 – Anonymous Browsing: Internet privacy, Hacker OPSEC, Tor, proxy servers, VPNs.
• Volume 4 – Antivirus and Malware: Disk encryption, finding/removing hackers and malware.

The programs may sound complex but you’ll learn from the ground up with introductory lessons at the start of each section.

You can also join the StationX VIP membership for just $197, granting access to all StationX programs, top cybersecurity cert training, and more. This membership offers incredible value if you want a career in cybersecurity. Check out my StationX review for more information about this membership.

2. Google Cybersecurity Professional Certificate Program

Google Cybersecurity Professional Certificate is one of the best Cybersecurity courses on Coursera created by senior practitioners at Google as part of their Career Certificates.

Like other Google professional certificates, you don’t need any prior knowledge or experience to enroll. You’ll learn everything from scratch and build a strong cybersecurity foundation to qualify for entry-level jobs.

Course Curriculum:

This professional certification includes a total of 8-course series divided into modules. I’d recommend pursuing them in order so you don’t miss anything important and can learn effectively. These courses are:

1. Foundations of Cybersecurity:  Introduces cybersecurity foundation, how it works, and skills needed to excel in the industry.
2. Play It Safe: Manage Security Risks: Teaches about threats, risks, and vulnerabilities to business operations. Introduces Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) tools.
3. Connect and Protect: Networks and Network Security: Provides insights on network security and system hardening, important cybersecurity aspects.
4. Tools of the Trade: Linux and SQL: Learn to use Linux to navigate/manage file systems, and SQL to retrieve database information.
5. Assets, Threats, and Vulnerabilities: Identify and analyze attack surfaces to find risks and vulnerabilities. It covers social engineering, malware, web exploits, and threat modeling.
6. Sound the Alarm: Detection and Response: Covers basic syntax, and log/signature components in Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS), Network IDS tools, and SIEM tools.
7. Automate Cybersecurity Tasks with Python: Explore Python, and practice debugging code.
8. Put It to Work: Prepare for Cybersecurity Jobs: Engage with the community, prepare for interviews, and find/apply for jobs.

The program has a comparatively bigger curriculum and it may take 3-6 to complete this program.

3. IBM Cybersecurity Analyst:

This is also a professional certification program that is offered by IBM, available on Coursera. This is also one of the best and most enrolled cybersecurity programs for beginners.

It also provides a comprehensive training offering by IBM aimed at providing individuals with the essential skills and knowledge required to thrive in the field of cybersecurity analysis.

This program, developed by IBM experts, covers a wide array of topics crucial for cybersecurity professionals.

Course Curriculum:

Similar to the previous Google Cybersecurity Professional Certificate, it also includes an 8-course series to master cybersecurity in-depth. On average, it may take 3-4 months to complete this program by studying 12 hrs per week.

Here are the major topics included in this program:

Overall, this program starts from scratch and makes you job-ready in the cybersecurity industry.

I have also published a detailed review of the IBM Cybersecurity Analyst Certification and you’d love to read it also.

4. Cyber Security Expert Certification:

This cybersecurity program is offered by Simplilearn. By Career Karma, this program ranks as one of the best cybersecurity training courses. Actually, it’s a Master’s certification program that starts from scratch and prepares you for CEH, CompTIA, and CISSP certifications to make you an expert in this industry.

Please note, that unlike other featured programs, this program provides live classes at a specific time. To pursue this program you need to possess an undergraduate degree or a high school diploma.

Course Curriculum:

This cybersecurity program curriculum covers various aspects of cybersecurity to prepare students for roles as cybersecurity professionals. Here is an overview of the course curriculum:

5. Introduction to Cyber Security Specialization

This cybersecurity specialization program is offered by New York University and is accessible on Coursera. It’s tailored for anyone interested in cybersecurity, whether you’re a student, developer, manager, or simply curious about safeguarding your online activities.

Emphasizing practical skills and insights from industry partners, the program delves into topics such as cyber threats, defense strategies, and enterprise security.

Completion of this specialization opens pathways to further learning in fields like Cybersecurity for Business and Applied Cryptography.

Course Curriculum:

This specialization program on cybersecurity includes four courses making your foundation strong in this industry. These course series are further divided into modules, quizzes, and assignments.

Here are the courses included in this program:

6. Microsoft Cybersecurity Analyst Professional Certificate:

This is also one of the best cybersecurity programs for beginners that is offered by Microsoft and available on Coursera.

The role of a cybersecurity analyst includes monitoring networks for vulnerabilities or potential threats, mitigating attacks on network infrastructures, and implementing strategies for data protection.

This program aims to prepare you for a cybersecurity analyst job role without any prior knowledge and experience. It includes a total of 9-course series that are:

1. Introduction to Computers and Operating Systems and Security:
2. Introduction to Networking and Cloud Computing:
3. Cybersecurity Threat Vectors and Mitigation:
4. Cybersecurity Identity and Access Solutions using Azure AD:
5. Cybersecurity Solutions and Microsoft Defender:
6. Cybersecurity Tools and Technologies:
7. Cybersecurity Management and Compliance:
8. Advanced Cybersecurity Concepts and Capstone Project:
9. Microsoft SC-900 Exam Preparation and Practice:

Overall, Microsoft’s cybersecurity program tailored for beginners is worth considering if you aim to embark on a cybersecurity career without prior knowledge or experience.

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So far, I have shared the best cybersecurity courses that are designed for beginners and take you to the next level. All the programs featured above are paid but they are affordable also.

Now I’m going to put the best free resources to learn cybersecurity from scartch and make a career in it. If you find it difficult to afford the above cybersecurity programs, consider exploring the below courses.

7. HarvardX: CS50’s Introduction to Cybersecurity

Harvard offers “CS50’s Introduction to Cybersecurity” on edX, a program designed to introduce the fundamentals of cybersecurity. This course covers various aspects, including threat models, cryptography, software security, network security, and web security.

It’s a free 5-week course focused on cybersecurity training. You’ll learn about common vulnerabilities and attacks like buffer overflows, SQL injection, and cross-site scripting, along with strategies to mitigate these risks.

The program offers hands-on experience through practical assignments and projects, enabling participants to apply their knowledge in real-world scenarios. It also emphasizes ethical considerations and responsible cybersecurity practices.

Through interactive lectures, readings, and assessments, participants gain a solid understanding of cybersecurity principles and techniques. Upon completion, participants receive a certificate from HarvardX, recognizing their proficiency in cybersecurity fundamentals.

8. TryHackMe: Intro to Cyber Security:

TryHackMe is a cybersecurity training platform that offers both free and paid courses. This intro-level program is completely free and open to enrollment for anyone interested.

With this course, you’ll gain core skills, explore different careers in cybersecurity, and also learn to hack your first application. It also includes 8 hands-on labs so that you get the practical training.

Here are three sections included in this course to start your learning:

1. Introduction to Cyber Security: In this first section, you’ll be introduced to offensive and defensive security, and explore different careers that you can pursue in the cybersecurity industry.
2. Introduction to Offensive Security: In this section, you’ll learn about different types of security required such as web application security, operating system security, and network security.
3. Introduction to Defensive Security: This last section will teach you about digital forensics, and security operations.

Overall, this intro-level cybersecurity course is excellent for beginners. As mentioned, this program offers numerous free programs on cybersecurity training. So, feel free to explore other programs offered by this platform.

9. Hack The Box Cybersecurity Training

Hack the Box (HTB) is another free cybersecurity platform that offers the best training programs for beginners. You’ll be surprised to know that, from newbies refreshing their basics to professionals honing advanced techniques, more than 900,000 users are learning at the HTB Academy.

Their content is made by real cybersecurity experts. Courses cover offensive, defensive, and general cybersecurity topics that give you skills employers want.

Here are the five HTB Academy courses (or modules) for beginners in cybersecurity that you can access without paying any bucks. Each course in this list was picked to teach real-world skills you’d need as a beginner.

For more information about these courses, you can check out this amazing guide created: 5 free beginner-friendly HTB Academy modules

10. Cybrary: IT and Cybersecurity Foundations:

Similar to TryHackMe and HTB, Cybrary is also among the top free resources for learning cybersecurity. This foundational program offered by the platform provides everything you need to kickstart your cybersecurity career journey, even without prior knowledge or experience.

This pathway covers fundamental skills upon which all cybersecurity roles and job functions are built. You’ll gain proficiency in key concepts and skills such as Wireshark, NMAP, Cryptography, Firewall, IDS, and Vulnerability scanner basics.

Upon completion of this program, you’ll be well-prepared to embark on your search for your first cybersecurity role. While more specialized skills may be required for your desired position, this pathway is designed to familiarize you with essential concepts and on-the-job skills, instilling the confidence to commence the application and interview process.

Upon finishing this course, you can also explore numerous other courses offered by Cybrary for free.

Now It’s Your Turn:

So, in this article, I’ve highlighted the top cybersecurity programs for beginners in 2024. Each program is tailored to those starting from scratch, offering essential skills for entry-level positions in cybersecurity.

Now, I’d like to know: Which cybersecurity program from this list are you considering? Is it a paid or a free one?

If you’re serious about delving into cybersecurity and building a career, I recommend opting for a paid program such as Google, IBM, or Microsoft Professional Certificate.

While free programs have value, investing financially often correlates with greater commitment and a higher completion rate. However, if finances are a concern, you can still explore the free cybersecurity programs mentioned in this article.

Happy Learning!

(To support my writing, I may use affiliate links in this post. Rest assured, they do not affect my reviews.)