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January 14, 2025
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Get job-ready to launch your cybersecurity career . Build the information security skills and hands-on experience employers look for in less than 4 months. No prior experience required.
Instructors: IBM Skills Network Team
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(514 reviews)
The job-ready skills needed to get your first cybersecurity role, plus prep for the ISC2 Certified in Cybersecurity (CC) exam employers look for.
A solid grasp of IT essentials, including infrastructure, operating systems, network applications, data, hardware, and software.
Working knowledge of different security threats, breaches, malware, social engineering, and other attack, and tools for preventing these threats.
The most up-to-date practical skills and knowledge cybersecurity specialists use in their daily roles, supported by hands-on practical experience.
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Getting ISC2 Certified in Cybersecurity (CC) is the ideal way to start your cybersecurity career. This program gives you the knowledge you need to pass the CC certification exam and get your first job. No previous experience is required, and it proves to employers you have the fundamental cybersecurity skills they’re looking for.
Cybersecurity specialists help protect the security of an organization’s infrastructure, network, applications, and data. During this program, you’ll look at IT essentials, including hardware, operating systems, and software. You’ll learn how networks operate, troubleshoot connectivity issues, and secure data storage systems. Plus, you’ll explore cloud computing.
You’ll then dive into cybersecurity, learning to protect against threats like phishing and hacking, and explore security principles, incident response, and disaster recovery planning. You’ll gain practical experience with access controls, network security, and breach response. And you’ll complete a capstone project analyzing a real-world cybersecurity breach; great experience for interviews!
Once you’ve completed the program, you’ll be fully prepared for the ISC2 Certified in Cybersecurity exam. And, for a limited time, you’ll get free access to the exam. PLUS, you’ll have a professional certificate and digital credential from IBM!
If you’re keen to landyour first role as a cybersecurity specialist in just 4 months, enroll today!
Applied Learning Project
During this program, you’ll gain valuable practical experience through hands-on labs and projects so you have a demonstrable grasp of the technical knowledge you need to get your first job in cybersecurity.
Hands-on ProjectsInclude:
Installing essential updates, anti-virus software, and Windows Defender firewall to enhance system security
Managing browser privacy settings to safeguard your online activities
Using hardware components and device managers to manage devices
Configuring network devices and troubleshooting network issues
Identifying job postings that match the specific skills and qualifications
The Cybersecurity Capstone Project
In this project, you’ll analyze a cybersecurity breach and develop and implement a robust security plan to protecting the organization and its data from cyber-attacks. Great experience to talk about in interviews!
The Certified in Cybersecurity (CC) Practice Assessment
This practice test will help you prepare for the ISC2 exam.
Compare the roles and responsibilities of various careers within the cybersecurity field and how to progress from one level to the next level.
Map IT fundamental skills, technical skills, and soft skills to the different job roles at various levels in cybersecurity.
Identify the required certifications such as Security+, A+, CISSP, and CEH for different job roles and the contents of each certification.
Discover the right role for you in cybersecurity and learn how to prepare for your chosen career path.
Demonstrate an understanding of operating system fundamentals.
Recognize desktop and laptop hardware components and devices.
Identify and describe internal desktop and laptop computer components, interfaces, and peripherals.
Explain basic workstation setup, locate operating system settings, and identify good troubleshooting practices.
Classify, install, configure, and manage software including mobile platforms.
Discuss cloud computing and web browser concepts.
Explain software development models, techniques, and concepts.
Describe fundamental database management concepts.
Identify wired and wireless network types, explain physical and logical topology, differentiate network cable types and what each is used for.
List common network devices. Discover what packets are and how IP addresses work, and explain what protocols are and why models are necessary.
Determine how to set up and encrypt networks and mobile devices. Diagnose connectivity issues and utilize the command prompt and Windows Settings.
List network drive types, explain RAM, ROM, and RAID, and troubleshoot storage issues. Explain STaaS, and define file, block, and object storage.
Define cloud computing and explain essential characteristics, history, the business case for cloud, and the emerging technologies enabled by cloud
Describe the cloud service models- IaaS, PaaS, SaaS, and cloud deployment models- Public, Private, Hybrid; explain cloud infrastructure components
Explain emerging Cloud related trends including HybridMulticloud, Microservices, Serverless, Cloud Native, DevOps, and Application Modernization
List and describe services of popular cloud platforms including AWS, Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud, IBM Cloud, Alibaba Cloud, and others
Recognize the importance of data security, maintaining data integrity, and confidentiality
Demonstrate the installation of software updates and patches
Identify preferred practices for authentication, encryption, and device security
Discuss types of security threats, breaches, malware, social engineering, and other attack vectors
Welcome to course 1 of 5 of this Specialization, Security Principles.
After completing this course, the participant will be able to: Discuss the foundational concepts of cybersecurity principles. - Recognize foundational security concepts of information assurance. - Define risk management terminology and summarize the process. - Relate risk management to personal or professional practices. - Classify types of security controls. - Distinguish between policies, procedures, standards, regulations and laws. - Demonstrate the relationship among governance elements. - Analyze appropriate outcomes according to the canons of the (ISC)2 Code of Ethics when given examples. - Practice the terminology and review security principles. Agenda Course Introduction Module 1: Information Assurance Module 2: Risk Management Process Module 3: Security Controls Module 4: Governance Module 5: (ISC)2 Code of Ethics Module 6: Course Summary This training is for IT professionals, career changers, college students, recent college graduates, advanced high school students and recent high school graduates looking to start their path toward cybersecurity leadership by taking the Certified in Cybersecurity entry-level exam. There are no prerequisites to take the training or the exam. It is recommended that candidates have basic Information Technology (IT) knowledge. No work experience in cybersecurity or formal education diploma/degree is required.
Welcome to course 2 of 5 of this Specialization, Incident Response, BC, and DR Concepts.
This course focuses on the availability part of the CIA triad and the importance of maintaining availability of both human and system resources. These are usually accomplished through the implementation of Incident Response (IR), Business Continuity (BC) and Disaster Recovery (DR) plans. While these three plans may seem to overlap in scope, they are three distinct plans that are vital to the survival of any organization. After completing this course, the participant will be able to: Explain how organizations respond to, recover from and continue to operate during unplanned disruptions. - Recall the terms and components of incident response. - Summarize the components of a business continuity plan. - Identify the components of disaster recovery. - Practice the terminology of and review incident response, business continuity and disaster recovery concepts. Agenda Course Introduction Module 1: Incident Response (IR) Module 2: Business Continuity (BC) Module 3: Disaster Recovery (DR) Module 4: Incident Response, Business Continuity, and Disaster Recovery Review This training is for IT professionals, career changers, college students, recent college graduates, advanced high school students and recent high school graduates looking to start their path toward cybersecurity leadership by taking the Certified in Cybersecurity entry-level exam. There are no prerequisites to take the training or the exam. It is recommended that candidates have basic Information Technology (IT) knowledge. No work experience in cybersecurity or formal education diploma/degree is required.
Welcome to course 3 of 5 of this Specialization, Access Control Concepts.
In Course 1, we introduced access control concepts. Now, we will take a more detailed look at the types of access control that every information security professional should be familiar with. We will discuss both physical and logical controls and how they are combined to strengthen the overall security of an organization. This is where we describe who gets access to what, why access is necessary, and how that access is managed. After completing this course, the participant will be able to: Select access controls that are appropriate in a given scenario. - Relate access control concepts and processes to given scenarios. - Compare various physical access controls. - Describe logical access controls. - Practice the terminology of access controls and review concepts of access controls. Agenda Course Introduction Module 1: Key Concepts Module 2: Administrative Controls Module 3: Physical Controls Module 4:Logical Controls Module 5: Controls Review This training is for IT professionals, career changers, college students, recent college graduates, advanced high school students and recent high school graduates looking to start their path toward cybersecurity leadership by taking the Certified in Cybersecurity entry-level exam. There are no prerequisites to take the training or the exam. It is recommended that candidates have basic Information Technology (IT) knowledge. No work experience in cybersecurity or formal education diploma/degree is required.
Welcome to course 4 of 5 of this Specialization, Network Security.
In this course, we will look at computer networking and securing the network. In today’s world, the internet connects nearly everyone and everything, and this is accomplished through networking. While most see computer networking as a positive, criminals routinely use the internet, and the networking protocols themselves, as weapons and tools to exploit vulnerabilities and for this reason we must do our best to secure the network. We will review the basic components of a network, threats and attacks to the network, and learn how to protect them from attackers. Network security itself can be a specialty career within cybersecurity; however, all information security professionals need to understand how networks operate and are exploited to better secure them. After completing this chapter, the participant will be able to: Explain the concepts of network security. - Recognize common networking terms and models. - Identify common protocols and ports and their secure counterparts. - Identify types of network (cyber) threats and attacks. - Discuss common tools used to identify and prevent threats. - Identify common data center terminology. - Recognize common cloud service terminology. - Identify secure network design terminology. - Practice the terminology of and review network security concepts. Agenda Course Introduction Module 1: Network Concepts and Models Module 2: Common Network Threats and Attacks Module 3: Network Security Infrastructure Module 4: Network Security Review This training is for IT professionals, career changers, college students, recent college graduates, advanced high school students and recent high school graduates looking to start their path toward cybersecurity leadership by taking the Certified in Cybersecurity entry-level exam. There are no prerequisites to take the training or the exam. It is recommended that candidates have basic Information Technology (IT) knowledge. No work experience in cybersecurity or formal education diploma/degree is required.
Welcome to course 5 of 5 of this Specialization, Security Operations.
This course focuses our attention on the day-to-day, moment-by-moment active use of the security controls and risk mitigation strategies that an organization has in place. We will explore ways to secure the data and the systems they reside on, and how to encourage secure practices among people who interact with the data and systems during their daily duties. After completing this course, the participant will be able to: Explain concepts of security operations. - Discuss data handling best practices. - Identify important concepts of logging and monitoring. - Summarize the different types of encryption and their common uses. - Describe the concepts of configuration management. - Explain the application of common security policies. - Discuss the importance of security awareness training. - Practice the terminology of and review the concepts of network operations. Agenda Course Introduction Module 1: Understanding Data Security and Encryption Module 2: Controls and Asset Management Module 3: Best Practice Security Policies Module 4: Understand Security Education Training and Awareness (SETA) Module 5: Security Operations Review Final Assessment This training is for IT professionals, career changers, college students, recent college graduates, advanced high school students and recent high school graduates looking to start their path toward cybersecurity leadership by taking the Certified in Cybersecurity entry-level exam. There are no prerequisites to take the training or the exam. It is recommended that candidates have basic Information Technology (IT) knowledge. No work experience in cybersecurity or formal education diploma/degree is required.
Hands-on experience in analyzing cybersecurity case studies to identify threat tactics and assess vulnerabilities you can talk about in interviews
Demonstrable, practical skills for applying response frameworks and forensic techniques to real-world breach scenarios
Expertise in penetration testing and compliance analysis to evaluate organizational security regarding compliance successes and failures
Hands-on experience with researching real-world data breach scenarios and analyzing them to propose recommendations
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When you complete this Professional Certificate, you may be able to have your learning recognized for credit if you are admitted and enroll in one of the following online degree programs.¹
This Professional Certificate has ACE® recommendation. It is eligible for college credit at participating U.S. colleges and universities. Note: The decision to accept specific credit recommendations is up to each institution.
At IBM, we know how rapidly tech evolves and recognize the crucial need for businesses and professionals to build job-ready, hands-on skills quickly. As a market-leading tech innovator, we’re committed to helping you thrive in this dynamic landscape. Through IBM Skills Network, our expertly designed training programs in AI, software development, cybersecurity, data science, business management, and more, provide the essential skills you need to secure your first job, advance your career, or drive business success. Whether you’re upskilling yourself or your team, our courses, Specializations, and Professional Certificates build the technical expertise that ensures you, and your organization, excel in a competitive world.
ISC2 is an international nonprofit membership association focused on inspiring a safe and secure cyber world. Best known for the acclaimed Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP®) certification, ISC2 offers a portfolio of credentials that are part of a holistic, programmatic approach to security. www.isc2.org
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Anyone interested in launching a career in cybersecurity, particularly as a cybersecurity specialist. No prior experience is necessary.
No prior experience is necessary to get started.
A Cybersecurity Specialist is a trained professional specializing in protecting computer systems, networks, and data from various cyber threats and attacks. Their primary role is to ensure an organization's confidentiality, integrity, and availability of digital information and technology resources.
Overall, the role of a Cybersecurity Specialist is critical in today's digital age, as organizations increasingly rely on technology and data, making them more susceptible to cyberattacks. These professionals help safeguard digital assets and maintain the trust of customers, partners, and stakeholders by ensuring the security of sensitive information.
Cybersecurity Specialist role is an entry level role that does not require any particular prerequisites whereas Cybersecurity Analyst is a mid-level role that requires greater skills and experience in Cybersecurity. The two PCS are designed accordingly.
The IBM Cybersecurity Specialist PC covers IT and Cloud Fundamentals and is suitable for those with little or no IT background. Whereas the prerequisite of Analyst PC requires basic IT knowledge.
This course is completely online, so there’s no need to show up to a classroom in person. You can access your lectures, readings, and assignments anytime and anywhere via the web or your mobile device.
This Professional Certificate is open for anyone with any job and academic background.
Yes, it is highly recommended to take the courses in the order they are listed, as they progressively build on concepts taught in previous courses.
At this time, college credit is not available for taking this program.
If you subscribed, you get a 7-day free trial during which you can cancel at no penalty. After that, we don’t give refunds, but you can cancel your subscription at any time. See our full refund policy.
Yes! To get started, click the course card that interests you and enroll. You can enroll and complete the course to earn a shareable certificate, or you can audit it to view the course materials for free. When you subscribe to a course that is part of a Certificate, you’re automatically subscribed to the full Certificate. Visit your learner dashboard to track your progress.
¹ Median salary and job opening data are sourced from Lightcast™ Job Postings Report. Data for job roles relevant to featured programs (2/1/2024 - 2/1/2025)
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