The Best Free Online Cybersecurity Courses with Certificates

Given the rapid increase of complex cyber attacks, cybersecurity is expected to grow as the most dynamic and challenging industry in the future. With so many opportunities and a promising career outlook, the cybersecurity industry offers growth for both aspiring and experienced professionals. As projected by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the employment of “Information Security Analysts” is expected to grow from 35 percent from 2021 to 2031, much faster than the average for all occupations (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2022). While many entry-level cybersecurity jobs demand a bachelor’s in computer science, having specific skills and training can help career starters achieve long-term success and professional advancement. If you are an aspiring cybersecurity professional wondering how to get started, enrolling in the best free online cybersecurity courses, especially those that offer certificates, can be a good option. Moreover, with the industry battling hard to overcome a growing skills gap, organizations are willing to hire skilled candidates with lucrative compensation packages. According to a recent forecast, the average base salary of a cybersecurity engineer is $100,110/ year. (PayScale, 2023). Therefore, leveraging the free cybersecurity courses online can help you build foundational knowledge and demonstrate your technical competence to recruiters. This blog will discuss the benefits of a cybersecurity course and the best free cybersecurity certifications for beginners that will make candidates job-ready with zero or minimum investment.

The Benefits of Taking Cybersecurity Courses and Certifications

With many people seeking to establish their careers in cybersecurity, obtaining a certification helps suitable candidates stand out in the crowd with specialized skills. The benefits of acquiring a cybersecurity certification are as follows:

• Building a solid foundation: Cybersecurity certifications are an excellent way to get introduced to fundamental concepts, terminologies, and the latest technologies. Depending on one’s goals, a candidate can start with entry-level courses and then progressively build additional competencies with advanced courses for better career progression.
• Hands-on experience: Most cybersecurity certifications offer hands-on learning to help candidates understand real-life challenges and hone their critical thinking skills. This allows professionals to develop practical skills and application knowledge
• Cost-effective: Unlike traditional education, which can be expensive and time-consuming, cybersecurity courses are more affordable and accessible.
• Flexible learning: Most online cybersecurity courses are self-paced and allow students time flexibility in completing the courses. In addition, these courses are offered in various forms like videos, tutorials, and lab training to help candidates customize and choose their preferred mode of learning.

Are cybersecurity courses the best option for beginners?

As a dynamic field, cybersecurity requires professionals to stay updated on the latest trends and technologies. Cybersecurity enthusiasts who would like to start a career in this field must demonstrate their skills and proficiency to land their dream jobs and reap long-term professional benefits. Therefore, getting started with free online cybersecurity courses with certificates can be beneficial to candidates who want to start their careers. Here are some reasons why cybersecurity courses are the best option for beginners:

• They build increased awareness.
• They help candidates become job-ready.
• They keep you updated with the latest technologies and trends.
• They offer candidates a competitive edge in the job market.
• They enhance career prospects.

Where can I get free cybersecurity courses online?

Choosing the best free cybersecurity courses can be overwhelming for a beginner. Fortunately, EC-Council offers career starters a wide range of free online courses to help them build their foundation in cybersecurity. Be it ethical hacking, cloud computing, or digital forensics, these courses are designed with today’s most highly-demanded cybersecurity skills in mind. Here is a curated list of the EC-Council’s free online cybersecurity courses with certificates that you may choose to kickstart your cybersecurity career:

Ethical Hacking Essentials (E|HE)

This free cybersecurity certification helps enthusiasts learn the fundamentals of ethical hacking and penetration testing. With a hands-on practical exam, the course introduces learners to essential concepts such as threats and vulnerabilities, IoT and OT attacks, pen testing fundamentals, and more. The E|HE certification is a great way to achieve formal recognition and increase your visibility with prospective employers.

• Cost: Free
• Certificate of Completion: Yes
• Time: 15 hours

Network Defense Essentials (N|DE)

This beginner-level course introduces participants to the fundamentals of network defense and information security. Candidates learn information security key concepts such as identification, authentication and authorization, virtualization, cloud computing, and more. The primary purpose of the N|DE is to ensure that learners acquire the practical knowledge they need to land a job.

• Cost: Free
• Certificate of Completion: Yes
• Time: 14 hours

Digital Forensics Essentials (D|FE)

This course offers some of the best free cybersecurity training for students who want to get introduced to digital forensics. Candidates undertaking this course will learn computer forensics fundamentals, the forensics investigation process, its phases, anti-forensics techniques, countermeasures, and more.

• Cost: Free
• Certificate of Completion: Yes
• Time: 11 hours

Essential Series

The Essential Series by EC-Council is the first MOOC certification course that covers all the fundamentals of cybersecurity—ethical hacking, network defense, and digital forensics. This comprehensive course includes the E|HE, D|FE, and N|DE certifications in a single package. With its free e-courseware and video training, this training series is an ideal gateway for any aspiring professional wanting to build a cybersecurity career.

Cybersecurity for Businesses -The Fundamental Edition

This free online cybersecurity course helps candidates understand the importance of protecting businesses from evolving cyber threats. By the end of the course, candidates will build primary concepts around cyber insurance, understand key concepts, and gain critical insights into reducing the potential impacts of cyber attacks on businesses. The course also offers a certificate of completion.

• Cost: Free
• Certificate of Completion: Yes
• Time: 2 hours

A Practical Introduction to Cloud Computing

This beginner-level course equips candidates with basic knowledge of cloud computing, its evolution, and its advantages. Candidates get an enhanced understanding of traditional deployment models, characteristics of cloud services, an overview of the cloud service models of IaaS, PaaS, SaaS, and XaaS, and more.

• Cost: Free
• Certificate of Completion: Yes
• Time: 3 hours

Introduction to the Dark Web, Anonymity, and Cryptocurrency

This is the best cybersecurity course that introduces candidates to the dark web and its security risks. It teaches participants to navigate the dark web safely, access information while being anonymous to everyone, and use the Tor Browser and Proxychain.

• Cost: Free
• Certificate of Completion: Yes
• Time: 3 hours

Can you get a cybersecurity job with just a certificate?

Yes, you can get a job in cybersecurity with just a certificate, but additional factors play a critical role. It is necessary to spend time researching some of the available courses on the market and critically analyze their benefits by matching them with the in-demand skills employers look for in candidates. Choosing the best cybersecurity course that aligns with your career interests is essential. Employers often prioritize candidates with practical skills; therefore, selecting a course that provides hands-on experience will always be a better idea to gain a competitive edge among hundreds of cybersecurity job applicants. Many of the best free online cybersecurity courses with certificates introduce students to real-life attack presentations and challenges. Choosing such courses will help expand your job opportunities. EC-Council’s Certified Cybersecurity Technician (C|CT) was especially created for individuals planning to start their cybersecurity careers. The C|CT is the world’s most unique entry-level cybersecurity course that trains through 85 hands-on labs. With multidisciplinary learning in domains like ethical hacking, digital forensics, and security operations, this course helps validate your technical proficiencies to employers. Here are some of the C|CT’s key offerings:

• strong foundational coverage
• live range experience
• capture-the-flag challenges
• skills to help acquire many other certifications

Can I get a job with free cybersecurity courses and certificates?

Some of the free cybersecurity courses available today offer decent job opportunities. But the probability of getting a job increases with the right course having high credibility in the market. To be able to get a job with a certification, it is essential to carefully evaluate your career interests before taking a pick from the various free cybersecurity courses online. Determining the quality of a free cybersecurity course with a certificate also plays a critical role. Therefore, it is essential to consider only the courses that reputable organizations or institutions offer. Leverage EC-Council’s C|CT scholarship for career starters to pave the way for a promising career in cybersecurity. This program is a full-tuition certification scholarship that equips candidates with skills to pursue careers as network engineers, SOC analysts, IT managers, and more. Whether the candidate is currently on a specific career path or changing tracks, this scholarship initiative can be availed by high school students, university students, or working professionals ready to embark on entry-level cybersecurity jobs.

FAQs

1. Do free cybersecurity courses have credibility?

The credibility of the free cybersecurity certifications depends on which organizations offer them and the quality of course content. Some may hold a high reputation, while others may be less credible and lack recognition from employers. Learners must choose the proper certification by critically evaluating the course modules, instructor credentials, and whether the course covers topics on par with the latest industry requirements and best practices.

2. What are the various entry-level cybersecurity job opportunities

Cybersecurity is a vast, fast-paced field that requires professionals with varying degrees of competence to fit into various entry-level, mid-level, and senior-level roles. Some of the standard entry-level cybersecurity job titles that aspiring professionals can aim for with free cybersecurity courses online include the following:

• information security specialist/manager
• IT auditor
• incident responder
• penetration tester
• digital forensic examiner

3. What are some of the cybersecurity domains that entry-level professionals can consider?

An entry-level cybersecurity professional can target several roles depending on interests, proficiencies, and career aspirations. Candidates just getting started in this field may choose one from the popular fields like network security, information security, application security, or incident response. By opting for free online cybersecurity courses with certificates, aspiring professionals can build foundational skills and then progress to specialized roles with advanced courses.

4. Is prior experience required to enroll in free cybersecurity courses?

Since the free cybersecurity courses train candidates on foundational cybersecurity skills, most certifications available in the market today can be opted for by professionals with no prior experience in cybersecurity. However, a basic understanding and IT expertise can be beneficial in grasping the core quickly.

References:

Payscale. (2023). Average Cyber Security Engineer Salary. https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Cyber_Security_Engineer/Salary U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2022). Occupational Outlook Handbook. https://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/information-security-analysts.htm