How to Become an Ethical Hacker: A Career Guide
November 21, 2024
Article · 7 min read
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Unlock your cybersecurity professional potential. Develop fluency in essential Cybersecurity skills and competencies and safeguard your digital assets.
Instructors: IBM Skills Network Team
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Beginner level
No prior work experience is required. Basic knowledge of IT and networking terminology is recommended for better understanding of the content.
(108 reviews)
Recommended experience
Beginner level
No prior work experience is required. Basic knowledge of IT and networking terminology is recommended for better understanding of the content.
Identify common security threats and risks; explain characteristics of cyberattacks and best practices to guard against them
Discuss cybersecurity fundamentals, including topics like the five security principles, CIA triad, IAM, endpoint security, and security domains
Explain how organizations respond to, recover from, and continue to operate during unplanned disruptions
Explain cybersecurity roles, including their key responsibilities, daily tasks, career path, relevant certifications, and salary ranges
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Vigilance against cyberthreats and attacks becomes increasingly important year over year as we continue to accelerate the amount of sensitive information in digital, web-accessible formats. Do you want to arm yourself with the required knowledge to ensure protection for yourself or your organization? Take this cybersecurity Specialization to learn the basics!
This cybersecurity fundamentals program from IBM can help every individual with limited or no experience in IT or cybersecurity, whether you are a developer, a manager, an IT professional, or a digital consumer interested in learning about issues in the field and the measures you can take to ensure organizational security.
This specialization will equip learners with an understanding of the fundamental concepts, processes, tools, and strategies of cybersecurity, in combination with hands-on exercises and activities, to gain the experience necessary to implement security best practices and take informed decisions in case of a cyberattack.
Investigate topics like authorization, authentication, encryption, firewalls, detection, safety practices, and safe-guarding applications, data, and networks. Explore cybersecurity-related roles and career paths. Get started with your cybersecurity learning today!
Applied Learning Project
This Specialization emphasizes applied learning and includes a series of hands-on activities and projects. In these exercises, you’ll take the theory and skills you’ve gained and practice them with real-world scenarios.
You will explore networking ports and protocols and perform network troubleshooting. You will install Windows updates, anti-virus software, and use Windows Defender firewall. Additionally, manage browser privacy settings and configure a secure network. Regarding cybersecurity-related careers, you will search for job postings with the required skills and qualifications for specific roles and even start to develop your own resume and portfolio.
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
Describe the five foundational principles of cybersecurity and the Confidentiality, Integrity, and Availability (CIA) triad
Summarize the different areas that a cybersecurity architect must adopt to develop a secure enterprise solution
Discuss the different security domains, including IAM, endpoint security, network security, application security, and data security
Demonstrate your proficiency in recommending methods to improve network security in a given scenario
Job-ready encryption and cryptography skills for cybersecurity employers need in just 4 weeks.
How to classify cryptographic algorithms and key exchange protocols and identify their applications in securing data
How to identify and apply encryption techniques to secure communication and ensure data privacy.
How to use hashing algorithms and digital signatures in blockchain to secure transactions, validate identities, and ensure data integrity.
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.
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.
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Anyone interested in getting a basic understanding of cybersecurity concepts. Basic knowledge of IT and networking terminology is recommended for better understanding of the content.
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 Specialization 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 completing this program.
The specialization is self paced and can be completed as quickly or slowly you prefer. If spending 10 hours a week you can complete the specialization in 1 month. Spending 2-3 hours a week will take about 3 months.
After completing the specialization you will be able to:
Identify common security threats and risks; explain characteristics of cyberattacks and best practices to guard against them.
Discuss the foundational concepts of the five cybersecurity principles and the CIA triad.
Explain how organizations respond to, recover from, and continue to operate during unplanned disruptions.
Explain cybersecurity roles, including their key responsibilities, daily tasks, career path, relevant certifications, and salary ranges.
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 Specialization, you’re automatically subscribed to the full Specialization. Visit your learner dashboard to track your progress.
Yes. In select learning programs, you can apply for financial aid or a scholarship if you can’t afford the enrollment fee. If fin aid or scholarship is available for your learning program selection, you’ll find a link to apply on the description page.
When you enroll in the course, you get access to all of the courses in the Specialization, and you earn a certificate when you complete the work. If you only want to read and view the course content, you can audit the course for free. If you cannot afford the fee, you can apply for financial aid.
Financial aid available,