Best Online Cyber Security Training Courses in 2024

Start your career in Cybersecurity with this list of the best online Cyber Security Training Courses. Pick the right cyber security course that is affordable in your budget:

Cybersecurity certification courses are readily available online. While we have free cyber security courses, we also have those that come with monthly or yearly subscriptions. Online cybersecurity courses are now the norm because they generate more attention than in-person training.

In this article, I will be showing you some of the best cybersecurity courses online and there will also be an emphasis on cybersecurity courses for beginners.

Online Cyber Security Training Courses: Top-Rated

Why Take a Cyber Security Course

Cyber security courses will help you to build and develop skills in system security and network security processes and practices. This cybersecurity training will teach you how to reduce security risk and improve information protection.

Enrolling in a cyber security course is an educational investment because of the greater benefits involved. Most employers are looking for employees who have experience and education which online cybersecurity courses or in-person cybersecurity courses will provide you.

But before you invest your time and money in any cybersecurity course, there are a few questions you should ask to ensure you are choosing the cybersecurity course that is best for you.

1. Which cybersecurity areas does the course cover, and how is it structured? 
2. Who is the faculty of the cybersecurity course? 
3. What is the reputation of the school or organizers of this course? 
4. What makes the cybersecurity course unique? 

What should you expect to learn in a beginner cyber security course? 

When you apply for online cyber security training courses for beginners you will learn a wide range of knowledge and skills about how to secure your network from bad actors and how hackers can exploit vulnerabilities in your system.

You’ll learn how to identify threats, minimize risk, and learn different strategies for defending and protecting your data.

List of the Best Online Cyber Security Training

Here’s a noteworthy list of Cybersecurity courses for you to consider selecting from:

1. Udemy The Complete Cyber Security Course: Hackers Exposed
2. Brainstation Cybersecurity Bootcamp 
3. Coursera Google Cyber Security 
4. FutureLearn introduction to cybersecurity
5. Coursera IBM Cybersecurity Analyst 
6. Udemy The Complete Cyber Security Course: Network Security
7. TryHackMe
8. Cybrary
9. CISA
10. Fullstack Academy
11. Hack The Box
12. Open Security Training
13. Bugcrowd University
14. SANS Cyber Aces Online
15. Heimdal Security
16. Federal Virtual Training Environment
17. Pentester Academy

Comparison Table of the Top Online Cyber Security Courses

Detailed reviews:

#1) Udemy The Complete Cyber Security Course: Hackers Exposed

Best for Ethical Hackers, SOC Analyst, Network Engineers.

In this course, you will learn how to fight and defeat online threats like hackers, viruses, malware, zero-day attacks, and cyber-criminals. The course will cover all Windows OS (Win 7, 8, 10) MacOS, and Linux.

This course is designed to guide you from a novice to an expert in cybersecurity. The discussion will revolve around the fundamental concepts of threat and vulnerability, and how to use sandboxes and virtual machines for creating isolated cases.

Who should take this course?

• This course is for anyone who wants to become an expert in security and data privacy.
• If you are someone who likes to mitigate security risks like malware, Trojans, hackers, cybercriminals, and any online threats.
• If you wish to keep sensitive files and data from the reach of bad actors.
• If you are an internet user interested in security, safety, and privacy.
• An organization can register its employees for this course as part of an employee development plan.

What will you learn? 

• Threat and Vulnerability Landscape
• Everything about Encryption
• How to set up a Testing Environment
• Security Bugs and Vulnerabilities
• How to reduce Threat Privilege
• Social Engineering and Every Social Media Offense.
• Everything about Security Domains

What we like: You have an option to claim CPE credits for taking this course.
What we don’t like: The job is not guaranteed
Verdict: This is one of the best Cybersecurity Courses on the Udemy Platform
Cost: The course rate is based on your location and it is also regularly discounted but can be in the range of $9 -$15.

#2) Brainstation Cybersecurity Course

Best for SOC Analyst, Security Analyst, and SOC Manager.

This Online Cybersecurity course is very good for anyone planning to be a cybersecurity expert. The training is practical and a project base where you get all the skills required of a cybersecurity expert.

There are benefits of interactive live sessions with subject instructors. Taking this course online will likely result in a high hiring percentage, although the job is not guaranteed.

Who should take this course?

• This course is for anyone who is looking at building their Cybersecurity Skills.
• Individuals who wish to enhance their security management skills can benefit from this course.
• It is for those who want to learn the core fundamental concepts of cybersecurity.
• If you desire to identify cyber-attacks and security vulnerabilities and devise strategies to stop them, then this course is for you.
• If you want to learn different cybersecurity tools to accomplish different cybersecurity assignments then I will advise you to take this course.

What will you learn? 

• Introduction to Cybersecurity
• Cyber Attacks
• Risk Management
• Incident Management

#3) Coursera Google Cyber Security

Best for Cybersecurity Analysts, SOC Analysts, Students and Entry-Level.

This course contains 8 courses that will be anchored by subject matter experts from Google. You’ll receive training to gain cybersecurity skills for entry-level roles such as cybersecurity analyst and SOC analyst, among others. If you spend less than 10 hours per week you can still complete the certificate in less than 6 months. 

You will have the opportunity to apply for Google jobs and other major companies right after you finish the course. This course also prepares you for the CompTIA Security+ exam. Each course comes with portfolio activities that you can showcase and share with any potential employers.

Who should take this course?

• This course is for anyone who is looking at building a Cybersecurity career.
• The program is designed for individuals with no previous experience or college degree.
• An entry-level Cybersecurity Analyst.
• A recently graduated student.

What will you learn? 

• You will know the importance of cybersecurity practices and their impact on various organizations.
• You will be able to identify common risks, threats, and vulnerabilities, and the different ways you can use to mitigate them.
• You will know how you can protect your organization’s IT resources, Network, and data from unauthorized access and cyber-attacks using Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) tools.
• You will have practical experience in how to use Python, Linux, and SQL.

#4) The Open University Introduction to Cyber Security

Best for Incident Response Analyst, Cybersecurity Analyst, SOC.

This is one of the best Cybersecurity courses online and it’s designed by the Open University. It’s designed to train you how to recognize any security threats that could harm you and your organization and how to quickly mitigate such threats.

Furthermore, you will be instructed on the implementation of different approaches, including firewalls and VPNs, to secure your data on a network.

Complete training will be provided on intrusion detection systems (IDS) and honeypots, enabling you to effectively detect attacks. There are diverse techniques and approaches, such as cryptography, that can be implemented to safeguard your information.

Who should take this course?

• This course is for anyone who is looking at building a Cybersecurity career.
• This course is designed for anyone interested in improving their security experience.
• An entry-level Cybersecurity Analyst.
• A recently graduated student.

What will you learn? 

• Understanding basic cyber security terminology, having the ability to identify important information assets, and staying up-to-date with current cybersecurity happenings.
• Basic authentication mechanisms involve developing the skills to improve your login security features and knowing various authentication methods available.
• Identify different malware types, how this malware operates, and the skills needed to mitigate against malware threats.
• You will learn everything about cryptography and you will be able to use it for your email and any other cryptography process.
• You will be trained on firewalls, virtual private networks, network intrusion detection systems (NIDs), and network intrusion prevention system (NIPs) technologies.

#5) Coursera IBM Cybersecurity Analyst

Best for Cybersecurity Analysts, SOC Analysts, Students and Entry-Level.

This Cybersecurity course will provide you with all the technical skills you need to become a Cybersecurity expert like taking up a Cybersecurity Analyst role. The training will provide you with access to labs where you will learn network security, endpoint protection, incident response, threat intelligence, penetration testing, and vulnerability assessment.

This is expert cybersecurity training from IBM, where you will be taught how to develop a portfolio-ready project and earn an employer-recognized certificate from IBM.

Who should take this course?

• This cybersecurity course is for anyone who is looking at building their Cybersecurity career.
• The target audience for this cybersecurity course includes those who aim to pursue a career in cybersecurity, regardless of their previous experience or educational qualifications.
• An entry-level Cybersecurity Analyst.
• A recently graduated student.

What will you learn? 

• You will develop knowledge of different cybersecurity tools you can use for data protection, endpoint protection, systems, and network fundamentals.
• You will learn about how compliance and threat intelligence are key to the cybersecurity landscape.
• You will learn how to use real-life cybersecurity experience for incident responses and forensics case studies.
• You will learn how to use industry-specific and open-source Security tools to efficiently and effectively carry out your daily cybersecurity tasks.

#6) Udemy The Complete Cyber Security Course: Network Security

Best for Network Administrators, System Administrators, and Security Engineers.

This Cybersecurity Course will train you how to discover security vulnerabilities in your network by using different techniques.

The primary goal of this course is to furnish you with the indispensable practical skill sets needed to safeguard your network against potential threats like hackers, malware, viruses, and numerous others. The course will cover topics on network security, Wi-Fi security, firewalls, Wireshark, and password management.

Who should take this course?

• If you want to become an expert in Network security, Data privacy, and security.
• If you are someone who would love the aspect of mitigating risk from cyber criminals, malware, Viruses, and any other threats.
• If you are someone who likes to keep sensitive files and data from the reach of the bad actors.
• If you are an internet user interested in security, safety, and privacy.
• This course is designed for personal and home Internet security users.
• An organization can register their employees for this course as part of an employee development plan.

What will you learn? 

• How to start a career in cyber security and become a cyber security specialist.
• Advanced practical skill set to ensure a secure network.
• You will be able to easily use network hacking skills and vulnerability to discover security vulnerabilities across your entire network.
• You will know the best password managers to use and why you should use them.
• How you can crack passwords and how to mitigate password attacks.
• Understand how your network gets tracked online.
• How to configure and architect a small secure network.

#7) TryHackMe

Best for Ethical Hackers, Pentesters, and Web App Security Testers.

It’s a platform where people can be trained on offensive and defensive cybersecurity. If you are new to cybersecurity and want to practice your hacking skills then this is one the best platforms you can use, the capturing the Flag exercises with a walk-through guide will help you to approach and solve different security problems.

Who should take this course?

• Beginners with no computing knowledge and who need a guide on where to start their cybersecurity career.
• It’s for those who have basic computing knowledge and have used Linux.
• It’s for those who know how computers work and have basic security experience.
• An Advanced person interested in cybersecurity and penetration testing can take the course.

What will you learn? 

• Skills needed to become a Red Team Operator.
• Core skills required to start a career in cyber security.
• Necessary skills to start a career as a penetration tester.
• Detect, analyze, and defend against real-world cyber-attacks.
• How attackers can compromise AWS environments and how you can defend it.
• Core skills required to start a career in cyber security.

#8) Cybrary

Best for SOC Analyst, Cybersecurity Analyst, Red Team, and Security Engineer.

This is an accessible and affordable training platform to guide you on your career paths. This is a cybersecurity platform for cybersecurity experts at all levels and where you can prepare for your certification. Beginners, intermediate, and advanced learners can use this platform.

Who should take this course?

• If you are new to the field of cybersecurity and want to build a strong understanding of the fundamentals of security. It contains various foundational courses about cybersecurity concepts.
• If you are an IT professional transitioning to cybersecurity, Cybrary’s training platform will help you acquire the needed skills needed to excel in the cybersecurity career and bridge the gap between general IT and security knowledge.
• Those already working in security roles can take this course. You can find advanced courses on topics like threat analysis, incident response, and network security. These courses will enhance and improve your current skills and help you to be regularly updated on cybersecurity.
• If you are someone who likes offensive security, Cybrary has a lot of courses on penetration testing and ethical hacking. These courses will provide you with practical skills to identify vulnerabilities and secure your network.
• For organizations who want to improve the current skills of their security teams. They have different training paths that can be customized to your team’s needs.

What will you learn? 

• Some of the courses have career-focused paths that will help guide you on your cybersecurity career journey.
• Learn how to prepare for your certification and ace your exams. The course contents are prepared by industry-leading instructors.
• Make use of the hands-on lab for real-world attacks and learn the latest vulnerabilities and threats.
• Learn cutting-edge skills, specialized security concepts, operational tactics, and leadership skills

What we like: You will earn Continuing Education Units (CEUs) or Continuing Professional Education (CPE).
What we don’t like: The job is not guaranteed
Verdict: This is one of the best Cybersecurity platforms online.
Cost:  There is a free plan. The Insider Pro costs $49.50 for a monthly subscription and $33.25 for an annual subscription.

#9) Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA)

Best for IT Infrastructure Engineer, IT Auditors, and Cybersecurity Analyst.

It’s an agency in charge of critical infrastructure security and protecting America against threats and cyber-attacks. They offer various training programs meant for government and private organizations’ employees.

Who should take this course?

• Critical Infrastructure employee.
• Government and Organization decision makers.
• It’s for government staff.

What will you learn? 

• Cybersecurity Awareness Program
• Vulnerability Disclosure skills
• You will learn everything about Incident Response and Management.
• Enhanced Cybersecurity Services
• Learn about Insider Threat Mitigation
• Risk and Vulnerability Assessment

#10) Fullstack Academy

Best for Software Engineers, Data Protection Officer, Incident Response Officer, Cybersecurity Analyst.

Fullstack Academy is one of the most reputable boot camps you can find online due to its immersive active learning approach. The Academy will prepare you for a cybersecurity career by providing you with real-life events and environments where you can carry out real-life simulations.

Aside from Cybersecurity training the academy will also teach you how to write your resume, how you can negotiate salary, and help you on your cybersecurity career path.

Who should take this course?

• A technical and non-technical person can attend this cybersecurity academy or take a course.
• If you are looking to transition to a cybersecurity career.
• If you are a recent graduate or an experienced professional who is aiming for career growth.

What will you learn? 

• Gain Real-World Cybersecurity techniques and also the ability to use cybersecurity tools like Kali Linux, Command Line, Python, Wireshark, Bash, Nmap, Metasploit, and many more.
• Learn Cybersecurity Fundamentals.
• Analyze Cyber-criminals’ strategies.
• Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity.
• Learn Cloud Security.

#11) Hack The Box

Best for Ethical Hackers, Pentesters, security researchers, and security engineers.

It’s a platform where you can develop cybersecurity skills for your IT team. It’s a platform where you can get hacking experience from beginner to expert level. Education institutions also make use of content you can find on this platform to help their students close the gap between theory and practical

Individuals, businesses, and universities can find the tools they need to continuously improve their cybersecurity strength from this platform.

Who should take this course?

• Individuals like Pentesters, ethical hackers, security researchers, and security engineers can use this platform to upskill.
• Businesses and Organizations can harness the benefits this platform creates to continue to improve their IT Team cybersecurity capabilities.
• Universities and Students can continue to use the platform to enhance their cybersecurity skills,
• If you are planning to write a hands-on cybersecurity exam the platform provides you with real-world experience.

What will you learn? 

• Ethical hacking skills.
• Learn how to become a proficient cybersecurity professional by experiencing real-world situations through hands-on sessions.
• Learn different cybersecurity topics like OSINT and SQL Injection and many more.

#12) Open Security Training

Best for System Administrators, Ethical Hackers, Penetration Testers, and Cybersecurity Analyst.

This is an open platform where you can find materials for your cybersecurity training which are freely available under open-source licenses. Every instructor can use this material and can update it and a new instructor can pick up where a previous one left off.

The training will equip you with the relevant skills you need to work in high-skill, high-pay cybersecurity jobs. The platform is designed for you to take self-paced classes anytime.

Who should take this course?

• If you are aspiring to become a cybersecurity professional you can take the training.
• If you are a student or a researcher you can learn a lot of cybersecurity topics on this platform as it contains a lot of resources.
• Penetration Testers and Ethical hackers can find this platform very resourceful with the operational ready hands-on environment.
• System Administrators can take several courses on this platform to upskill, so they can be more efficient in identifying vulnerabilities and securing their networks.

What will you learn? 

• How to prepare for the CISSP exam and other certifications.
• Conduct an exploitation within a compromised environment.
• Exploit software and understand some common software vulnerabilities.
• How to detect, identify, and assess vulnerabilities within a system.
• Learn Reverse Engineering Malware.
• Learn Offensive, Defensive, and Forensic Techniques in identifying threat actors.

#13) Heimdal Security

Best for Cybersecurity Analysts, SOC Analysts, Students, and Entry-Level Analysts.

This is a cybersecurity platform that can help you handle cyber-attacks by delivering 20 lessons through email once every two days. It’s one of the best mediums you can easily access to cybersecurity materials that can help boost your cybersecurity career.

Who should take this course?

• If you are aspiring to become a cybersecurity professional you can take the training.
• It is best for beginners in cybersecurity.
• So if you are someone who loves gadgets, apps, and everything that the Internet has to offer then this is one of the best courses to take.

What will you learn? 

• You will learn fundamentals of cybersecurity on how to set up your security system either private or official network.
• How to make use of the right tools and techniques that can protect you from viruses and malicious content.
• You will be able to detect, prevent, and eliminate security threats within your system which can make your system vulnerable.
• You will learn how to protect your email, social media, and cloud account.
• You will learn cybersecurity skills that can help you discover how cyber-attacks work and how to avoid viruses and malware.

#14) Federal Virtual Training Environment

Best for US Government Staff, Cybersecurity Analyst, Entry Level Analyst.

The Federal Virtual Training Environment (FedVTE) is a valuable resource center for US Government staff who need cybersecurity training. It contains over 500 hours of cybersecurity training in different domains.

Who should take this course?

• Critical Infrastructure employee.
• Government and Organization decision makers.
• It’s for government staff.

Cost: It is free.

#15) Pentester Academy

Best for Ethical Hackers, Penetration Testers, and Web Application Tester.

This is a platform where you can find comprehensive, hands-on, and technically challenging cybersecurity courses online. It also contains fundamentals courses that a beginner can take and gradually move to more advanced courses.

These courses can be completed between 6-12 hours making sure every student is given adequate knowledge on any course taken.

Who should take this course?

• If you are aspiring to become a cybersecurity professional you can take the training.
• If you are a student or a researcher you can learn a lot of cybersecurity topics on this platform as it contains a lot of resources.
• Penetration Testers and Ethical hackers can find this platform very resourceful with the operational ready hands-on environment.
• System Administrators can take several courses on this platform to upskill, so they can be more efficient in identifying vulnerabilities and securing their networks.

What will you learn? 

• You will learn fundamentals course which will take you through the basics of getting started with system programming on Windows system.
• How to make use of the right tools and techniques that can protect you from viruses and malicious content.
• You will be able to detect, prevent, and eliminate security threats within your system which can make your system vulnerable.
• You will participate in Pentesting and web application security challenges. The challenges will be categorized into Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced Levels.
• You will learn cybersecurity skills that can help you discover how cyber-attacks work and how to avoid viruses and malware.

#16) Bugcrowd University

Best for Ethical Hackers, Penetration Testers, and Web Application Tester.

Bugcrowd is designed to innovate and secure the reputation of every business and protect its customers against cyber-attacks. It is one of the largest companies specializing in bug bounty programs and vulnerability disclosure.

What do they offer?

• They don’t offer courses but rather bug bounty programs that beginners to advanced people can take part in. They have a resource library where you can find cybersecurity guides, Webinars, and ebooks that can help you in your career path.

Cost: They have tons of free Resources in their Resource Library.

Our Ranking Criteria: How do we select these Cybersecurity Courses? 

The selected online cyber security training courses are based on positive reputations and positive reviews about the cybersecurity courses listed above.

Further Reading => Top Rated Cyber Insurance Companies of the Year

Tips for Pursuing a Cyber Security Career

Cyber security career is another career that many people are now jumping into and if you are interested in pursuing a career in cyber security then you need to plan your career and engage yourself in different professional development which will help you to build skills and knowledge for this career route.

When you engage yourself in different cybersecurity activities will help you build your career and grow to pursue new roles.

Some of what you need to do if you want to excel in this career are these:

#1) Pursue a Tertiary Education: If you intend to pursue a cybersecurity career, one major thing you can do is to hold a bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity, computer science, software engineering, information management systems, or any other similar field.

What this degree will offer you is valuable skills and knowledge that can help boost your resume to stand out to employers during a job search. After gaining this undergraduate degree you may decide to further your study to the master’s or doctorate level.

#2) Choose a Cybersecurity Role: There are many cybersecurity roles, so when you are planning your career always choose an area that closely aligns with your skills and interests. As you kickstart your career as an entry-level candidate you need a clear direction on the best route to follow.

Do research into different cybersecurity roles and pursue internships and many job opportunities online to learn the cybersecurity area you would like to specialize in and the cybersecurity training courses you can apply for online.

#3) Get Relevant Certifications: It’s ideal to seek relevant certifications that speak to your area of interest. These certifications will help you to gain more proficiency in a particular field. Speak to experts in the field for advice on the best certifications to earn and you can also do research online as to the different certification routes available.

When you earn certifications, it will open more job opportunities for you. Apply to cybersecurity training online that is specific to the certification you want to earn.

#4) Gain Relevant Industry Experience: It is recommended to seek industry experience via internships or volunteer roles which you can find online or through referrals. When you gain professional experience, that will help you develop to stand firm and successfully drive you in your chosen career.

The experience that you are going to get from this option will prepare you for future roles and opportunities. Always endeavor to seek cyber security courses for beginners online as you gain relevant industry experience.

#5) Build a Professional Network: It is recommended to build a very strong professional network when you are new to the cybersecurity industry. When you do this will open some opportunities for you that are not open to the public. Participate actively in local communities, international bodies, and cybersecurity conferences and hackathons. The professional network you build will someday lead to a new professional role for you.

#6) Continuous Career Development: As you continue to grow in your cyber security career, it’s recommended to keep learning by keeping pace with the constant changes in trends and technologies that could affect your role.

There are different platforms online where you can continue to build your career, by refreshing your skills with cybersecurity training, cybersecurity courses, webinars, and workshops. When you look at different avenues to develop your career will prepare you for any future job opportunities.

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

Whether free or paid online cyber security training courses, applying for cybersecurity training online will always prepare and open the door to job opportunities.

The list of online cyber security training courses in this article is the best cybersecurity courses online but you can do further research on the cybersecurity training you would like to apply and be determined to follow through and finish up with the desired course.

If you are kickstarting your cybersecurity career you can check cyber security courses for beginners, whether it can be a free cyber security course or not does not matter but the content the training will offer your career path is what should be your focus.

Further Reading => List of the Best Cyber Security Bootcamps