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Cybersecurity courses to help you switch or grow in your career in 2021

SOURCE: Frederic J. BROWN/AFP
A screen displays examples of potential hacking as Geoffrey Wood from auto cybersecurity firm Harman International speaks during the "Securing Mobility Summit" on the sidelines of the 2019 LS Auto Show on November 18, 2019 in Los Angeles, California.

Jan 1 | 3 minutes read |

By U2B Staff 

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The World Economic Forum (WEF) notes that there is a growing gap in skilled cybersecurity practitioners, necessitating more training for those in the field. Thankfully, there’s no shortage of online cybersecurity courses, more so in the throes of a pandemic. 

Apart from the availability of cybersecurity resources at your disposal, there are many reasons to upskill in the field. 

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With more people working remotely due to COVID-19, the WEF notes that this exposes us all to more cybercrime, with staff using their private devices and those provided by their employers at home without “apparent reinforcement of their private communication infrastructure”.

Numerous reports suggest a shortage of cybersecurity professionals. Research by cybersecurity company Kaspersky found that 73% of businesses agreed it was difficult to find enough IT security professionals.

Analytics software company Burning Glass Technologies notes that the number of cybersecurity job postings has grown 94% since 2013, compared to only 30% for IT positions overall. “That’s over three times faster than the overall IT market,” it said.

They added that cybersecurity jobs account for 13% of all information technology jobs, but on average, cybersecurity jobs take 20% longer to fill than other IT jobs, and they pay 16% more. “On average, that works out to more than US$12,700 per year.”

The US Bureau of Labor and Statistics projects that the employment of information security analysts is projected to grow 31% from 2019 to 2029, much faster than the average for all occupations. 

“Demand for information security analysts is expected to be very high, as these analysts will be needed to create innovative solutions to prevent hackers from stealing critical information or causing problems for computer networks,” it said.

So, whether you’re a complete neophyte or a seasoned professional looking for options to upskill in cybersecurity, these cybersecurity courses will help you get one step closer to your career goals this 2021:

Cybersecurity for Managers: A Playbook

This MIT programme is ideal for business leaders, managers, and executives in both technical and non-technical positions looking to build an action plan for a more cyber resilient organisation. 

MIT notes that there are no technical prerequisites for the programme. 

The course will provide students with actionable next steps for improving a culture of cyber awareness within your organisation in addition to practical interpretation of the tradeoffs between security and privacy, and a method for understanding your organisation’s priorities, to name a few.

The course takes six weeks to complete.

TryHackMe 

What better place to learn about cybersecurity than from cybersecurity enthusiasts themselves? 

TryHackMe teaches cybersecurity through short, gamified real-world labs, with content such as Linux Fundamentals, Web Hacking Fundamentals, and Cyber Defence to cater to complete beginners and seasoned hackers.

So whether you’re a beginner or already have some experience under your belt, you can find a course that suits your level of knowledge.

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Coursera

Coursera is a recognised MOOC provider that offers a plethora of cybersecurity-related courses from tech giants such as Google, to renowned institutions such as Yonsei University, to name a few.

You can find a variety of courses that help pave the way for you to gain the technical skills and eventually switch careers or grow in your career. 

SANS Cyber Aces

According to its website, SANS Cyber Aces is SANS’ philanthropic initiative to help individuals discover and develop skills and careers in cybersecurity. Their courses are developed by SANS Institute, a source for information security training and security certification.

Their online courses teach learners the core concepts needed to assess, and protect information security systems. Their course covers the three foundation areas of information security: Operating Systems, Networking and Systems Administration, and is free.

Udemy

Udemy has a wide range of cybersecurity courses taught by top-rated instructors; all courses have a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Whether you want to keep yourself safe while browsing the internet, or brush up on your penetration testing and network security analysis skills, you’re bound to find something that suits your personal and professional goals on Udemy.

    
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