As technology advances, the threat of cyber attacks becomes increasingly prevalent. Singapore, in its position as a finance and technology hub for the region is especially vulnerable with multiple major data breaches in the past few years. This rise in cyber crime has fueled a demand for cybersecurity professionals. In fact, Singapore’s cybersecurity market is forecasted to grow by 13.3 percent from 2022 to 2027.

What does all this mean for job seekers? Well, the growing demand for cybersecurity professionals means new job opportunities ranging from entry-level positions to high-level executive roles. If you’re looking to improve your salary or make a mid-career switch to a thriving industry, enrolling in a cybersecurity course can be a great move. More employers are recognising the importance of cybersecurity and are willing to pay for the expertise to protect their sensitive data and systems from cyber threats.

In this article, we’ll explore the 10 best cybersecurity courses and certifications available online. From implementing organisation-wide cybersecurity policies to keeping up with best practices, these courses and certifications will provide you with the skills and expertise necessary to stay ahead of cyber threats.

 

#1 Udemy – 2023 Beginner’s Guide to Cyber Security

The ”2023 Beginner’s Guide to Cyber Security” is hosted on Udemy and is one of the top-rated cybersecurity courses on the platform. It is an introductory course designed to provide beginner learners with a foundational understanding of cybersecurity concepts and best practices. Topics covered include: cybersecurity definitions, common threats to IT systems, best cybersecurity practices for individuals as well as how to start a career in cybersecurity.

The course content is split into 18 bite-sized video lectures with a total runtime of 1h 45min. Despite its short duration, the information is condensed nicely and learners will find a good fix of theoretical fundamentals, real-life scenarios and practical tips.

The course creators have over 15 years of experience in the field, and claim that upon completion of the course, learners will have “a strong foundation in Cyber Security, including an understanding of the CIA rating, knowledge of different types of malware and threats like brute force, DDoS, phishing, and social engineering, as well as the skills to protect yourself as an individual”.

Platform: Udemy
Difficulty level: Beginner
Duration: 1h 45min
Cost: S$47.98
Certification: Yes, upon completion

Explore the 2023 Beginner’s Guide to Cyber Security on Udemy.

 

#2 Udemy – Complete Cyber Security Course: Hackers Exposed

If you’re looking for a comprehensive cybersecurity course, Nathan House’s “The Complete Cyber Security Course” on Udemy is a great choice. House is the CEO of StationX with over 25 years of experience in internet security working as a consultant on a number of the UK’s mobile banking and payment solutions. This real-world experience makes him an excellent resource for up-to-date information and methods about online threats and cybersecurity.

This is the first volume of a four-part course, which focuses on giving learners an overview of the threat landscape and vulnerabilities where individuals and companies are most likely to be hacked. Other volumes include: Network Security, Anonymous Browsing and End Point Protection. According to Nathan, the course is primarily designed for an individual seeking a practical skillset in mitigating risk from malware, trojans, hacks and other online threats, but the content covered can also be applied to a business.

Overall, the course is well-structured and covers both basic and advanced topics in Cyber Security with over 12 hours of video lectures. With over 140K students enrolled, and an average rating of 4.5 from close to 25K ratings, “The Complete Cyber Security Course” is by far the highest rated on Udemy. If you’re serious about becoming a Cyber Security expert, this course is an excellent choice.

Platform: Udemy
Difficulty level: Beginner
Duration: 12h (for 1 volume)
Cost: S$53.98 (for 1 volume)
Certification: Yes, upon completing each volume

Explore The Complete Cyber Security Course on Udemy.

 

#3 Udemy – AWS Certified Security Speciality

The “AWS Certified Security Speciality” cybersecurity course on Udemy focuses on the AWS environment, which is widely used in enterprise settings. Aimed at IT or software engineers with basic working knowledge of AWS, the course is focused on preparing learners for the AWS industry exam, which is a widely recognised security certification in the digital industry.

With a whopping 287 video lectures totaling over 30h in length, the course content covers various real-world scenarios and explores why websites and businesses are hacked, and what business leaders can do to stop common attacks. It also covers important topics such as incident response, penetration testing, and data protection, which are essential skills for a cybersecurity professional. Finally, exam pointers as well as practice tests are also included.

With 4.6 stars out of over 6,500 ratings, this is one of the most well-reviewed cybersecurity courses on Udemy, with several testimonials praising the course’s in-depth coverage and how the contents have helped them passed the AWS certification exam on their first attempt.

Platform: Udemy
Difficulty level: Advanced users with existing AWS knowledge
Duration: 30h
Cost: S$29.98
Certification: No

Explore the AWS Certified Security Speciality cybersecurity course on Udemy.

 

#4 Coursera – IBM Cybersecurity Analyst

Hosted on Coursera, the “IBM Cybersecurity Analyst Professional Certificate” contains 8 cybersecurity courses and prepares complete beginners for a career in cybersecurity. The selling point for this cybersecurity course is the ability to receive professional-level training from IBM, one of the world’s largest technology companies and a well-known name in the security industry.

The courses are designed to be practical, with hands-on labs and simulations with a focus on developing the skills necessary to protect organizations from cyber threats in real-world scenarios. The programme covers a wide range of topics, including endpoint protection, network security, incident response, threat landscape assessment, compliance frameworks, penetration testing, and cyber threat intelligence.

The programme culminates with a capstone project and an assessment to test your understanding of the concepts taught. After you’ve completed all the courses, you’ll earn an employer-recognised certificate from IBM that qualifies you for in-demand Junior Cybersecurity Analyst roles.

The entire programme is self-paced and takes an estimated 3 months to complete at 10 hours a week. The cost of the course is $49 per month, although Coursera offers a seven-day free trial and financial aid for those who require additional support to start.

Platform: Coursera
Difficulty level: Beginners
Duration: 3 months at 10 hours a week
Cost: $49/mth
Certification: Yes

Explore the IBM Cybersecurity Analyst programme on Udemy.

 

#5 Coursera – Google Cybersecurity Professional

Hosted on Coursera, the “Google Cybersecurity Professional Certificate” is a cybersecurity programme designed to equip beginners with job-ready skills. The programme contains eight comprehensive courses that cover cybersecurity topics like incident identification, mitigation and prevention.

If you’re looking for a general cybersecurity course that will give beginners a strong foundation in all aspects of cybersecurity for entry-level roles, this might be the right fit for you. Since the course is backed by Google’s name, it’s also invaluable for adding credibility to your resume.

The program costs $49 per month, with an estimated duration of 5 months to complete at 10 hours a week. Upon completion of the course, students will receive a certificate that recognises their knowledge and skills to identify and mitigate cybersecurity threats, as well as protect data from unauthorized access and cyberattacks. Students will also learn to use SQL queries to analyze and report on data, use Python to automate common cybersecurity tasks, and work with Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) tools, including Chronicle and Splunk, and Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS), including Suricata.

Platform: Coursera
Difficulty level: Beginners
Duration: 5 months at 10 hours a week
Cost: $49/mth
Certification: Yes

Explore the Google Cybersecurity Professional programme on Udemy.

 

#6 FutureLearn – Introduction to Cyber Security

“Introduction to Cyber Security” is a beginner-level cybersecurity course offered by FutureLearn designed to teach participants the fundamentals of cybersecurity. One of the highlights of the course is that it is supported and accredited by the UK Government’s National Cyber Security Programme, so you know its contents have been vetted by leading industry professionals. Furthermore, the course is rated 4.7 stars out of 483 reviews with over 330,000 learners enrolled before.

The syllabus is split into 8 topics, each taking a week to complete with an estimated weekly study time of 3 hours. The 8 topics are: Threat Landscape, Authentication, Malware, Networking and Communications, Cryptography, Network Security, What to Do When Your Defences Fail and Managing Security Risks. The course uses real-world examples and case studies to explain cybersecurity concepts and their applications. Participants are taught how to identify threats, protect personal and professional digital assets, and understand the significance of good cyber hygiene practices.

At the end of the course, participants are awarded a certificate of completion, which can be used to showcase their cybersecurity knowledge and commitment to potential employers.

Platform: FutureLearn
Difficulty level: Beginners
Duration: 8 weeks
Cost: $39.99/month
Certification: Yes

Explore the Introduction to Cyber Security course on FutureLearn.

 

#7 LinkedIn Learning – Become a Cybersecurity Professional

“Become a Cybersecurity Professional” is a learning path on LinkedIn Learning that is aimed at beginners exploring a career in the fast-growing cybersecurity field. The 5 courses that make up the learning path are designed to give learners an understanding of basic cybersecurity concepts and prepare them with the foundational knowledge to start diving more deeply into more specialised fields.

The 5 cybersecurity courses are: Cybersecurity Foundations, The Cybersecurity Threat Landscape, Learning the OWASP Top 10, Cybersecurity Careers and Certifications as well as Land Your First Cybersecurity Job. The first cybersecurity course introduces learners to the basics of cybersecurity and explains the fundamentals of security management, cyber threats, and risk assessment. Following that, the learning path delves deeper into specific topics, including network security, ethical hacking, and cryptography. The path also covers advanced topics such as security operations, security assessments, and incident response.

Each course is taught by their respective expert, and ranges from 30 mins to 3 hours long. Upon completion of the path, learners will receive a certificate that they can proudly display on their LinkedIn profile to show that they have the knowledge and skills necessary to pursue a career in cybersecurity.

Platform: LinkedIn Learning
Difficulty level: Beginners
Duration: 7h 15min
Cost: $28/mth
Certification: Yes

Explore the Become a Cybersecurity Professional learning path on LinkedIn Learning.

 

#8 edX – Essentials of Cybersecurity

“Essentials of Cybersecurity” is a cybersecurity program by the University of Washington on edX that’s an ideal springboard for individuals looking to begin a career in cybersecurity. The programme is fully online and self-paced, consisting of 4 comprehensive courses for a thorough understanding of the cybersecurity landscape. Here are the names of the 4 courses: Introduction to Cybersecurity, Cybersecurity: The CISO’s View, Building a Cybersecurity Toolkit and Finding Your Cybersecurity Career Path.

Overall, “Essentials of Cybersecurity” covers various topics, including cybersecurity threats, security controls, and management strategies. Additionally, it also introduces students to the role of Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) in today’s world so learners will not feel completely lost when they enter the workforce.

Completing all the courses will take approximately 6 months with 2 – 5 hours of learning per week. At the end of the program, you’ll receive a Cybersecurity Professional Certificate that serves as proof of your skills and knowledge.

Platform: edX
Difficulty level: Beginners
Duration: 6 months
Cost: $28/mth
Certification: Yes

Explore the Essentials of Cybersecurity programme on edX.

 

#9 ZTM – Complete Cybersecurity Bootcamp

“Complete Cybersecurity Bootcamp” is a cybersecurity course hosted on Zero to Mastery that promises to take learners from zero to hired as a cybersecurity engineer. The course teaches the latest best practices, techniques and tools used for network security to prevent hackers from getting to an organisation’s precious digital assets.

The course is taught by Aleksa Tamburkovski who has over 5 years of experience in ethical hacking and cyber security discovering vulnerabilities for multiple companies and governments while also working as a freelancer testing private web applications. The format is primarily video lectures with supporting documents available to download and refer to as you go through the lessons.

Topics covered by the bootcamp include cybersecurity fundamentals, understanding hackers, bugs and vulnerabilities, social engineering, end-point protection, network security, advanced cybersecurity strategies, cyber tracking, anonymity and privacy as well as ethical hacking. While there is a comprehensive range of topics covered, the course promises to take learners from beginner to capable of embarking on a cybersecurity career as efficiently as possible.

Platform: Zero to Mastery
Difficulty level: Beginners
Duration: 11 hours
Cost: $39/mth
Certification: Yes

Explore the Complete Security Bootcamp on Zero to Mastery.

 

#10 Codecademy – Introduction to Cybersecurity

“Introduction to Cybersecurity” is a free cybersecurity course hosted on Codecademy that aims to give students a foundational understanding of the basics of cybersecurity. The course contents provide an overview of common cybersecurity threats, cryptography, authentication, network security basics, how to secure your personal devices as well as case studies of notable cybersecurity breaches.

It is an excellent starting point for anyone interested in learning about cybersecurity but not sure where to start! The syllabus for the cybersecurity course consists of video lessons, informational articles as well as quizzes and projects so you can test your knowledge and practice your skills in a hands-on environment.

Platform: Codecademy
Difficulty level: Beginners
Duration: 6 hours
Cost: Free
Certification: Only with paid plans

Explore Introduction to Cybersecurity on Codecademy.

 

Learn Cybersecurity in Singapore’s Context

Online courses are great for convenience, but when it comes to cybersecurity, the lack of a governing body and regional content providers can make the actual content hit or miss. That’s why it’s important to find cybersecurity courses taught by experienced professionals who can provide relevant insights and best practices specific to your location.

That’s where FirstCom Academy comes in. Our cybersecurity course focuses on local insights and best practices taught by experienced practitioners with years of job experience in the industry. This way, you can learn crucial cybersecurity skills and get useful tips to help you kickstart your career faster. If you’re looking to upgrade your cybersecurity skills or preparing for a career switch into the cybersecurity industry, consider enrolling for FirstCom Academy’s Cybersecurity course!

 

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