You’ve finally decided that cybersecurity is the career for you, but you need to begin learning. Starting your career doesn’t have to break the bank. Whether you’re looking to switch careers, enhance your current skill set, or simply understand how to better protect yourself online, there are numerous high-quality free cybersecurity courses and certifications available that can help you get started. And we’ve listed a few great options for you to try today.
Top free cybersecurity courses
1. ISC2 Certified in Cybersecurity (CC)
ISC2 offers a free self-paced training course for entry-level cybersecurity basics. It includes a fee exam that provides a certificate once completed. Once you’ve passed, you do have to pay an annual membership fee to maintain the certification. Completely worth it.
Website: ISC2
Free certification: Yes
2. TryHackMe
TryHackMe is a great platform for beginners, especially if you’re interested in becoming a SOC Analyst or Ethical Hacker. They offer free training material and a limited lab environment as a starting point. You have the option to upgrade to a paid subscription which will unlock all available courses.
Website: TryHackMe
Free certification: No
3. EC-Council
EC-Council offers nine free online cybersecurity courses, each with certificates. Simply enroll to kickstart your cybersecurity career.
Website: Cybersecurity Exchange
Free certification: Yes
4. Infosec Institute
Infosec offers a load of free courses on different aspects of cybersecurity. Once you’re enrolled, you will have access to more than 100 free courses.
Website: Infosec Portal
Free certification: No
5. Cisco Networking Academy
The Cisco Networking Academy offers free cybersecurity and networking courses covering foundational skills and pathways to the Junior Cybersecurity Analyst certification. While there are great free training options, you will have to pay for the official certification.
Website: Cisco Netacad
Free certification: No
Taking the first step
Consider creating a structured learning approach to ensure you are able to complete the training. A simple method you can use is to schedule dedicated time each day to complete the training. Remember that you don’t have to complete everything at once. Take your time and enjoy the training – this is the start of one of the best careers in the world! Be secure!
