Cybersecurity Fundamentals from Coursera

The course "Cybersecurity Fundamentals" provides a robust foundation in cybersecurity essentials, preparing you to recognize and manage threats in today's digital landscape. Across four comprehensive modules, you'll gain hands-on experience with malware identification, network traffic analysis, internet addressing, and IoT security protocols. In Module 1, explore the relationship between faults, vulnerabilities, and exploits, and learn essential malware identification techniques. Module 2 introduces NetFlow analysis with tools like SiLK and Wireshark, equipping you to collect and interpret network data. Module 3 deepens your understanding of IPv4 and IPv6, BGP routing, and host lookup tools, while Module 4 addresses IoT cybersecurity, where you’ll build a secure IoT framework using Docker and Node-Red.

This course stands out by combining practical exercises with foundational knowledge, ensuring you’re ready to apply what you learn to real-world situations. Whether you’re a beginner or expanding your cybersecurity expertise, completing this course will enhance your ability to protect networks, manage internet space, and secure IoT devices—skills in high demand across the IT sector.

What's inside

Syllabus

Course Introduction

This course covers the identification and analysis of various malware types, vulnerabilities, and exploitation techniques, including the evaluation of antivirus (AV) solutions. Students will utilize NetFlow and the SiLK toolkit to monitor and analyze network traffic for security insights. Additionally, the course includes understanding addressing, BGP lookup, and the security considerations associated with Internet of Things (IoT) devices.

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Provides hands-on experience with malware identification, network traffic analysis, and IoT security, which are essential skills for cybersecurity professionals

Enhances the ability to protect networks, manage internet space, and secure IoT devices, which are skills in high demand across the IT sector

Explores BGP routing and the structure of CIDR blocks, which are essential concepts for network engineers managing internet infrastructure

Introduces NetFlow analysis with tools like SiLK and Wireshark, equipping learners to collect and interpret network data for security monitoring

Addresses IoT cybersecurity and provides hands-on experience in building a secure IoT framework using Docker and Node-Red, which are valuable skills for IoT developers

Covers foundational exploitation techniques, including buffer overflows and SQL injections, which are important concepts for cybersecurity students to understand

Reviews summary

Solid cybersecurity foundation with practical labs

According to learners, this course provides a solid foundation in cybersecurity fundamentals through a blend of concepts and practical labs using relevant tools like Wireshark and Docker. Students found the content highly relevant for a cybersecurity career. However, some felt it assumes prior IT/networking knowledge and might be challenging for beginners. While it covers various topics, some desired more depth in certain areas.

Covers breadth, but depth can be limited.

"Some topics felt a little rushed, perhaps could benefit from more depth..."

"Covers a wide range of topics, which is good for breadth, though I agree with others that some areas could use more depth."

"My only minor critique is that some video explanations could be more detailed..."

"...I had to supplement with outside resources to fully understand topics..."

May require some IT or networking background.

"Decent overview, but definitely requires some prior IT or networking knowledge."

"While it's called 'fundamentals,' some sections move quite fast..."

"I found this course quite challenging as a complete beginner."

"It assumes a level of technical familiarity I didn't have."

Provides a strong base in cybersecurity concepts.

"This course provided an excellent foundation in cybersecurity fundamentals."

"Overall, a very solid introduction to cybersecurity."

"It balances foundational knowledge with current, practical applications."

"This course provides a strong base for anyone pursuing further study or a career in the field."

Relevant skills for IT/cybersecurity careers.

"I feel much more prepared to explore career options in this field."

"This is a great stepping stone."

"As someone transitioning into cybersecurity, this course was exactly what I needed."

"It feels very relevant to current industry needs."

Excellent hands-on exercises with industry tools.

"The hands-on labs were excellent, especially the ones using Wireshark and SiLK."

"Really appreciated the practical application through tools like Docker and Node-Red."

"Gaining experience with real-world tools is a major strength."

"The practical exercises with tools like Node-Red and the deep dive into BGP routing were highlights for me."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Cybersecurity Fundamentals with these activities:

Review Networking Fundamentals

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Reinforce your understanding of networking concepts, which are crucial for analyzing network traffic and understanding security vulnerabilities.

Browse courses on Networking Fundamentals

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Review the OSI model and TCP/IP suite.
Study common network protocols like HTTP, DNS, and SMTP.
Practice subnetting and IP addressing.

Create a Cybersecurity Resource List

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Improve your understanding of cybersecurity by compiling a list of useful resources, including websites, tools, and books.

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Gather links to reputable cybersecurity websites and blogs.
List useful cybersecurity tools and their functions.
Include a list of recommended cybersecurity books and courses.
Organize the resources into categories for easy reference.

Review 'Practical Packet Analysis'

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Enhance your ability to analyze network traffic by studying a dedicated resource on packet analysis.

View Putting Knowledge to Work on Amazon

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Read the chapters on packet capturing and filtering.
Practice analyzing sample packet captures with Wireshark.
Focus on the sections related to the protocols covered in the course.

Four other activities

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Practice Malware Analysis on Sample Files

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Solidify your malware identification skills by analyzing sample malware files in a safe, isolated environment.

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Download sample malware files from reputable sources.
Set up a virtual machine for safe analysis.
Use tools like VirusTotal and PEiD to analyze the files.
Document your findings and compare them with known malware characteristics.

Review 'Hacking: The Art of Exploitation'

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Gain a deeper understanding of exploitation techniques by studying a classic text on hacking.

View Hacking: The Art of Exploitation, 2nd Edition on Amazon

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Read the chapters on buffer overflows and shellcoding.
Experiment with the code examples in a safe environment.
Relate the concepts to the vulnerabilities discussed in the course.

Create a Blog Post on IoT Security Risks

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Deepen your understanding of IoT security by researching and writing a blog post that explains common vulnerabilities and mitigation strategies.

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Research common IoT vulnerabilities and attack vectors.
Outline the key points you want to cover in your blog post.
Write the blog post, explaining the risks and providing practical advice.
Publish your blog post on a platform like Medium or LinkedIn.

Build a Home Network Security Monitoring System

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Apply your knowledge by building a system to monitor network traffic and detect security threats in your home network.

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Set up a network traffic capture tool like Wireshark or Suricata.
Configure the tool to monitor your home network traffic.
Analyze the captured traffic for suspicious activity.
Implement security measures to protect your network.

Career center

Learners who complete Cybersecurity Fundamentals will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Security Analyst

A security analyst works to protect an organization's digital assets from cyber threats. This role involves identifying vulnerabilities, monitoring network traffic, and responding to security incidents, all of which are covered in this Cybersecurity Fundamentals course. By learning how to analyze NetFlow data using tools like SiLK and Wireshark, a security analyst can detect unusual network activity. The course’s focus on malware identification, including understanding signatures and polymorphism, is particularly relevant to a security analyst's daily tasks. The course’s hands-on experience with network analysis and IoT security is exceptionally helpful.

See salaries and explore the career path for Security Analyst

Information Security Analyst

Information security analysts plan and carry out security measures to protect an organization's computer networks and systems. A course like Cybersecurity Fundamentals is invaluable because it directly covers topics relevant to the work of an information security analyst. This includes malware identification, network traffic analysis with tools like SiLK and Wireshark, and securing IoT devices with Docker and Node-Red. Understanding vulnerabilities, exploits, and the practical application of NetFlow make this course highly relevant for an information security analyst. The course’s thorough instruction in internet addressing and BGP routing gives the analyst the knowledge they need to protect the internet space of an organization.

See salaries and explore the career path for Information Security Analyst

Cybersecurity Specialist

Cybersecurity specialists are responsible for planning, implementing, and upgrading security measures to protect their organization from cyber threats. This course equips a cybersecurity specialist with hands-on experience in malware identification, network traffic analysis, and IoT security protocols. The course's modules on malware, vulnerabilities, and exploits are particularly helpful, as they will help a specialist recognize and respond to potential security incidents. By understanding BGP routing and using host lookup tools, as taught in this course, a cybersecurity specialist can better manage and secure internet resources, and build a more robust security framework.

See salaries and explore the career path for Cybersecurity Specialist

IT Security Specialist

An IT security specialist focuses on the security of an organization's information technology systems. This Cybersecurity Fundamentals course significantly supports the role of an IT security specialist, providing essential knowledge in malware, vulnerabilities, and exploits. The course equips the IT security specialist to identify and manage security threats, offering hands-on experience with network traffic analysis using SiLK and Wireshark. The course's modules on internet addressing, BGP routing, and IoT security further enhance an IT security specialist's ability to protect an organization’s digital infrastructure. The practical skills gained in creating a secure IoT framework in Docker and Node-Red are particularly useful.

See salaries and explore the career path for IT Security Specialist

Incident Responder

An incident responder is responsible for responding to and managing security incidents within an organization's network. The Cybersecurity Fundamentals course is directly relevant to an incident responder's role due to its focus on malware identification, network traffic analysis, and securing IoT devices. This course provides the knowledge necessary to recognize and respond to exploits. The course's instruction using tools like SiLK and Wireshark to analyze network data is immensely helpful. A deep understanding of vulnerabilities and exploits is critical for an incident responder. The course's instruction in BGP routing and host lookup tools can help an incident responder understand how threat actors interact with the network.

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IoT Security Engineer

An IoT security engineer focuses on protecting Internet of Things devices and networks from cyber threats. This Cybersecurity Fundamentals course is extremely relevant to this role because it includes a detailed module on IoT security. This hands-on module provides an opportunity to build a secure IoT framework using Docker and Node-Red. The course’s focus on IoT protocols and associated risks ensures that an IoT security engineer is well-prepared to handle potential security issues. The course’s discussion of malware, vulnerabilities, and exploits helps build a comprehensive understanding of security risks, which is helpful for an engineer who is focused on IoT devices.

See salaries and explore the career path for IoT Security Engineer

Cyber Threat Analyst

A cyber threat analyst identifies and mitigates potential threats to an organization's network and systems. This course is very useful to a cyber threat analyst because of its focus on malware identification, network traffic analysis, and IoT security. Understanding how to identify malware is crucial, and this course includes instruction in malware signatures and polymorphism. The skills learned using tools like SiLK and Wireshark to analyze network traffic is a highly practical skill for a cyber threat analyst. This course helps build a foundation for an analyst to evaluate and respond to threats. The practical experience with IoT security also prepares a cyber threat analyst to address the unique vulnerabilities of these devices.

See salaries and explore the career path for Cyber Threat Analyst

Security Engineer

A security engineer designs, implements, and manages the security systems of an organization. This Cybersecurity Fundamentals course provides the skills and knowledge necessary for a security engineer through its practical approach to malware identification, network traffic analysis, and IoT Security. The course's focus on network data analysis using tools like SiLK and Wireshark directly aligns with security engineers' work. The modules on internet addressing and BGP routing will help a security engineer properly configure an organization’s internet-facing infrastructure. The course’s hands-on module on building a secure IoT framework is particularly relevant for a security engineer.

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Network Administrator

Network administrators maintain and manage an organization's computer networks, ensuring their stability and security. Cybersecurity is crucial in this role, and this course helps by providing a foundation understanding of network traffic analysis, internet addressing, and security protocols. This course offers the practical experience that a network administrator would use to understand IPv4 and IPv6, including the structure of CIDR blocks, and how to use tools like WHOIS, an invaluable skill for managing internet resources and maintaining network security. The course's module on NetFlow and the SiLK toolkit directly enhances a network administrator's ability to monitor and analyze network traffic.

See salaries and explore the career path for Network Administrator

Vulnerability Analyst

A vulnerability analyst identifies and assesses security weaknesses in an organization's systems and networks. This course, with its detailed instruction on malware, vulnerabilities, and exploits, serves as a good foundation for a vulnerability analyst. The course’s focus on malware identification is extremely helpful to an analyst, which also includes a discussion of malware catalogs and techniques for tracking malware. The hands-on experience with NetFlow and tools like SiLK and Wireshark is highly useful for a vulnerability analyst’s work. This course explains how to approach security threats from multiple angles.

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Penetration Tester

A penetration tester, also known as an ethical hacker, simulates cyber attacks to find vulnerabilities in an organization's systems. A course that covers malware, vulnerabilities, and exploits provides valuable knowledge for a penetration tester. This course also discusses how to use tools like SiLK and Wireshark to analyze network traffic. Understanding common attack vectors is crucial for penetration testers, and this course covers key malware types and exploitation techniques. This course, with its hands-on instruction using Docker containers, helps to build a more complete view of a potential attack vector.

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Cloud Security Specialist

A cloud security specialist focuses on securing an organization's cloud infrastructure and applications. This course, with its focus on malware identification, network analysis, and IoT security, may be useful to a cloud security specialist's understanding of security risks. Cloud environments are often integrated with IoT devices and networks, so this Cybersecurity Fundamentals course provides helpful context. The course's instruction on internet addressing, BGP routing, and host lookup tools is valuable for cloud security professionals who need to understand the underlying network architecture. The understanding of threat vectors and vulnerabilities provided in this course is helpful to the work of a cloud security specialist.

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Digital Forensics Analyst

A digital forensics analyst investigates cybercrimes and security incidents, analyzing digital evidence to determine what happened and who was responsible. This Cybersecurity Fundamentals course may be useful to a digital forensics analyst by providing an understanding of malware types and how they work. The course's instruction in how to analyze network traffic using tools like SiLK and Wireshark is helpful for tracking the path of an attack and to identify its source. Likewise, the course's module on vulnerabilities and exploitation techniques helps a digital forensics analyst understand the typical vectors of an attack.

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IT Auditor

An IT auditor assesses an organization's IT systems to ensure they comply with security policies. This Cybersecurity Fundamentals course may be useful for an IT auditor, as it provides a fundamental understanding of malware, vulnerabilities, and exploits. The course also focuses on network traffic analysis, and IoT security, giving a broad overview of cybersecurity risks and how they are addressed. This course's instruction in BGP routing and host lookup tools can help an auditor to examine network infrastructure. Understanding these security risks and how to analyze them is vital for an auditor.

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System Administrator

A system administrator is responsible for maintaining the computer systems of an organization. This Cybersecurity Fundamentals course may be useful for a system administrator because of its focus on network traffic analysis, with tools like SiLK and Wireshark. The course’s instruction in internet addressing and BGP routing can be valuable for managing and troubleshooting network issues. This course provides a good overview of common vulnerabilities and exploitation techniques, which can help a system administrator ensure system security. This course's focus on IoT security may also be useful for a system administrator who manages IoT devices.

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Cybersecurity Fundamentals

What's inside

Syllabus

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Reviews summary

Solid cybersecurity foundation with practical labs

Activities

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