Put It to Work: Prepare for Cybersecurity Jobs from Coursera

This is the eighth and final course in the Google Cybersecurity Certificate. Together, these eight courses will equip you with the skills you need to apply for an entry-level cybersecurity job.

In this course, you will focus on making decisions and escalating incidents to stakeholders. You'll develop the communication and collaboration skills needed to inform and influence stakeholders within an organization. In addition, you'll explore how to ethically operate as a cybersecurity professional. You'll discover how to engage with the cybersecurity community, explore jobs in the cybersecurity field, and complete practice interviews. You'll also write a resume and cover letter to prepare for applying and interviewing for jobs in cybersecurity.

Google employees who currently work in cybersecurity will guide you through videos, provide hands-on activities and examples that simulate common cybersecurity tasks, and help you build your skills to prepare for jobs.

Learners who complete this certificate will be equipped to apply for entry-level cybersecurity roles. No previous experience is necessary.

By the end of this course, you will:

- Determine when and how to escalate a security incident.

- Explain how having an ethical mindset supports a cybersecurity professional's ability to protect assets and data.

- Communicate sensitive information with care and confidentiality.

- Use reliable sources to remain current on the latest cybersecurity threats, risks, vulnerabilities, and tools.

- Engage with the cybersecurity community.

- Find and apply for cybersecurity jobs.

- Prepare for job interviews.

What's inside

Syllabus

Protect data and communicate incidents

You will recognize the importance of security professionals in the workplace. You'll discover how proper detection and escalation can impact an organization’s security posture.

Escalate incidents

You will explore the importance of incident prioritization and escalation. You'll learn how the decisions security professionals make help to keep business operations safe.

Communicate effectively to influence stakeholders

You will learn about important stakeholders in cybersecurity. In addition, you'll create clear and concise communications to stakeholders.

Engage with the cybersecurity community

You will prepare to stay up-to-date on the latest cybersecurity trends and explore how to engage with the security community.

Find and apply for cybersecurity jobs

You will prepare for your job search. You will explore career readiness techniques such as creating a resume, developing an elevator pitch, and preparing for the interview process. In addition, you'll use career resources that can help you find and apply for jobs in cybersecurity.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Explores cybersecurity incident response, which is standard in the cybersecurity industry

Focuses on ethical operations in cybersecurity, which is core in the industry

Teaches communication and collaboration skills needed for cybersecurity professionals

Shows how to engage with the cybersecurity community through job boards, forums, conferences, and other channels

Examines cybersecurity roles and responsibilities, as well as industry trends

Provides a resume and cover letter template for cybersecurity job applications

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 Put It to Work: Prepare for Cybersecurity Jobs with these activities:

Review basic networking concepts and protocols

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Review basic networking concepts and protocols, such as TCP/IP, subnetting, and routing, to strengthen your foundation and enhance your understanding of cybersecurity concepts and practices.

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Review textbooks or online resources on networking fundamentals.
Set up a home lab to practice networking configurations and troubleshooting.
Take online quizzes and tests to assess your understanding.
Participate in online forums and discussions to engage with others and clarify concepts.

Join a cybersecurity study group or online community

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Participate in cybersecurity study groups or online communities to connect with peers, share knowledge, and engage in discussions on current cybersecurity topics, expanding your understanding and enriching your learning experience.

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Identify and join relevant cybersecurity study groups or online communities.
Actively participate in discussions, ask questions, and share your insights.
Collaborate on projects and learning activities.
Seek feedback and support from group members to enhance your understanding.

Follow online tutorials on cybersecurity threat detection and analysis

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Engage in online tutorials and courses to learn about cybersecurity threat detection and analysis techniques, expanding your knowledge and improving your ability to identify and mitigate threats.

Browse courses on Threat Detection

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Identify reputable online platforms and courses that offer cybersecurity threat detection and analysis tutorials.
Choose tutorials that align with your skill level and learning goals.
Follow the tutorials carefully and take notes to reinforce your understanding.
Practice the techniques and tools covered in the tutorials to enhance your proficiency.

Four other activities

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Create a cybersecurity awareness presentation

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Develop and deliver a presentation that educates others on cybersecurity best practices, risks, and mitigation techniques, enhancing your communication skills and promoting cybersecurity awareness.

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Research and gather information on cybersecurity threats and best practices.
Develop a clear and concise presentation outline.
Create engaging and visually appealing presentation slides.
Practice delivering the presentation to build confidence and improve delivery skills.

Practice cybersecurity incident response drills

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Engage in simulated cybersecurity incident response scenarios to enhance your decision-making skills and improve your ability to handle real-world incidents effectively.

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Identify and analyze potential cybersecurity threats and vulnerabilities.
Develop and implement incident response plans and procedures.
Conduct regular drills and exercises to test incident response capabilities.
Evaluate and improve incident response strategies based on drill results.

Develop a cybersecurity incident response plan

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Create a comprehensive cybersecurity incident response plan that outlines procedures for detecting, responding to, and recovering from cybersecurity incidents, enhancing your preparedness and ability to protect critical systems.

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Identify potential cybersecurity threats and vulnerabilities.
Develop a clear and concise incident response process.
Assign roles and responsibilities to team members.
Create communication protocols and channels.
Test and refine the incident response plan to ensure its effectiveness.

Conduct a cybersecurity risk assessment

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Perform a cybersecurity risk assessment to identify potential vulnerabilities and threats to your organization's systems and data, enhancing your ability to prioritize and address cybersecurity risks effectively.

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Identify the scope and objectives of the risk assessment.
Gather information about the organization's assets, threats, and vulnerabilities.
Analyze the risks and assess their likelihood and impact.
Develop and prioritize risk mitigation strategies.
Report the findings and recommendations to management.

Career center

Learners who complete Put It to Work: Prepare for Cybersecurity Jobs will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Cybersecurity Analyst

Cybersecurity analysts collaborate with stakeholders across an organization to protect digital data including company and customer information from theft and misuse. This role may be primarily focused on cybersecurity, or it may cover information security more generally. This course can prove helpful to those who want to enter or advance in this role. In particular, it can help analysts refine their communication and escalation techniques.

See salaries and explore the career path for Cybersecurity Analyst

Cybersecurity Engineer

Cybersecurity engineers plan and implement security measures to protect their organization’s computer networks and systems. They also respond to security breaches and cyberattacks. This course could be particularly beneficial to those who wish to enter or advance in this role because it covers what cybersecurity engineers may not learn on the job, such as how to communicate to stakeholders throughout the organization about security measures and risks.

See salaries and explore the career path for Cybersecurity Engineer

Security Analyst

Security analysts identify, assess, and manage risks to an organization's information. This course may be helpful to those already working as a security analyst so that they can gain an understanding of how to communicate sensitive information, as well as how to escalate incidents and protect data.

See salaries and explore the career path for Security Analyst

Information Security Analyst

Information security analysts plan and implement security measures to protect an organization’s computer networks and systems. This course can prove particularly helpful for an information security analyst as it provides guidance on communication, collaboration, escalation, and ethics.

See salaries and explore the career path for Information Security Analyst

Cybersecurity Consultant

Cybersecurity consultants provide expert guidance to organizations on how to protect their computer networks and systems from cyberattacks. This course can provide useful guidance for those interested in a career in consulting, including how to communicate with and influence stakeholders.

See salaries and explore the career path for Cybersecurity Consultant

Security Engineer

Security engineers design, implement, and maintain security systems to protect an organization’s computer networks and systems. This course may be useful to those who are interested in this role as it provides knowledge and skills necessary to protect data and escalate incidents.

See salaries and explore the career path for Security Engineer

IT Auditor

IT auditors evaluate an organization’s IT systems and controls to ensure that they are secure. This course may prove helpful to those who wish to enter or advance in this role as it covers key knowledge and skills for IT auditors, such as escalation, communication, and ethical behavior.

See salaries and explore the career path for IT Auditor

Risk Analyst

Risk analysts identify, assess, and manage risks to an organization’s information. This course may be helpful to those who wish to pursue a career in risk management, as it covers how to identify and escalate risks, as well as communicate with stakeholders to influence decision-making.

See salaries and explore the career path for Risk Analyst

Chief Information Security Officer (CISO)

CISOs are responsible for developing and implementing an organization’s cybersecurity strategy and managing its cybersecurity risks. This course can prove helpful to individuals who want to enter or advance in this position as it covers cybersecurity strategy and risk management. Especially useful is the guidance on communications and escalation covered in this course.

See salaries and explore the career path for Chief Information Security Officer (CISO)

IT Security Manager

IT security managers plan, implement, and manage an organization’s security policies and procedures. This course may be useful to those in this role as it covers essential topics like communication, escalation, and data protection. In particular, the sections on prioritizing and escalating incidents is relevant to this role.

See salaries and explore the career path for IT Security Manager

Security Architect

Security architects design and implement security solutions to protect an organization’s computer networks and systems. This course may be helpful to someone in this role as it provides information on a variety of security topics, including communication, escalation, and data protection.

See salaries and explore the career path for Security Architect

Network Security Engineer

Network security engineers design, implement, and manage an organization’s network security systems. This course may be helpful as it covers relevant topics, including communication, escalation, and threat identification.

See salaries and explore the career path for Network Security Engineer

Security Researcher

Security researchers identify and analyze security vulnerabilities in software and systems. This course may be useful to individuals in this role as it covers topics such as threat identification, escalation, and communication.

See salaries and explore the career path for Security Researcher

Computer Forensics Analyst

Computer forensics analysts investigate computer crimes and recover evidence from computers and other electronic devices. This course may be helpful as it covers data protection, escalation, and communication.

See salaries and explore the career path for Computer Forensics Analyst

Information Security Manager

Information security managers plan and implement security measures to protect an organization's information assets. This course could prove helpful to those working as information security managers because it can help them develop their communication, collaboration, and escalation skills.

See salaries and explore the career path for Information Security Manager