In 2024, you can find 3 free online cybersecurity courses with certificates available. The demand for cybersecurity professionals is projected to skyrocket to more than 30% globally. In fact, you would be hard pressed to find an industry or company that does not need cybersecurity specialists and professionals in some way or another. Demand for this work is projected to increase by 32% over the next few years according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, which is much faster than the average job growth rate, and the cybersecurity market is expected to grow by almost 8% worldwide according to analysts.
Additionally, thanks to its digital nature, many cybersecurity roles can be performed remotely, so you can work from home while making significant money in the cybersecurity industry, which is of course a huge bonus.
But you’re most likely wondering, what is cybersecurity anyway and why is it important?
Customers and stakeholders trust a company with their information, and cybersecurity protects this personal information, such as account data, passwords, and personal identifiers such as date of birth, bank details, and I.D. Cybersecurity roles revolve around stopping malicious attacks that come in the form of spyware, viruses, and other intruders that intercept networks, devices, and systems.
What Are Some Cybersecurity Jobs?
Some examples of popular cybersecurity jobs include:
1. Cybersecurity/information security analyst
2. Cybersecurity engineer
3. Cybersecurity architect
4. Penetration tester (ethical hacker)
5. Cybersecurity consultant (including freelance cybersecurity consultant)
6. Chief Information Security Officer (CISO)
7. Incident responder
8. Cryptographer
9. Cybersecurity software developer
10. Vulnerability assessor
11. Forensic computer analyst
12. Network security administrator
13. Identity and Access Management (IAM) specialist
14. Compliance and risk analyst
15. Malware analyst
What Is The Average Salary Range For Cybersecurity Jobs?
While cybersecurity is generally a high-income skill to develop, as a subset of information security, the actual salaries for roles requiring this skill can vary significantly depending on the specific role and function that you choose, including seniority level.
For example, an ethical hacker’s average salary in the U.S. is $110,184, while a consultant is $135,000; in sharp contrast, a CISO’s makes $244,000 on average, according to Salary.com estimates. Of course, the more certifications and niche skills you have, the greater chances you have to increase your salary, land promotions, and become highly sought after in your field.
Free Cybersecurity Courses And Certifications
Not every learning opportunity needs to cost you a penny. Here are some ways to upskill and gain essential cybersecurity knowledge, totally free:
1. Google’s cybersecurity
Is available for free on Coursera if you qualify for funding; you will learn in-demand skills such as cybersecurity practices, threats and vulnerabilities, and Python, Linux, and SQ. The course is aimed at beginners with zero industry experience, and you can share the certificate on your LinkedIn profile upon completion. Link: https://www.coursera.org/professional-certificates/google-cybersecurity
2. ISC2’s Certified In Cybersecurity
ISC2, the leading membership association within the cybersecurity industry, provides ongoing training and certifications, and live events, for its members and those who are interested in carving their career in the industry. One recent initiative is their Certified in Cybersecurity training and exam, which is free of charge for a limited time, and is part of their goal to get one million professionals into cybersecurity. The only stipulations is that you will need to pay a $50 annual fee to become a certified member of ISC2 after passing your exam. Link : https://www.isc2.org/landing/1mcc
3. Palo Alto Networks Free Cybersecurity Education Courses
Palo Alto Networks provides free courses covering network security, cloud security, and SOC fundamentals on its website, and completion of these course. Link: https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/free-cybersecurity-education-courses