Cybersecurity and Its Ten Domains from Coursera

This course is designed to introduce students, working professionals and the community to the exciting field of cybersecurity. Throughout the MOOC, participants will engage in community discourse and online interaction. Participants will gain knowledge and understanding of cybersecurity and its domains. They will engage with expertly produced videos, gain insight from industry experts, participate in knowledge assessments, practice assessing their environmental awareness, and gain access to materials that address governance and risk management, compliance, business continuity and disaster recovery, cryptography, software development security, access control, network security, security architecture, security operations, and physical and environmental security. Learning will be assessed using strategies aligned to knowledge and understanding.

You do not need prior experience in IT security to do well in this course. All you need is a willingness to learn. We will point you to relevant open and free resources to assist you.

At the end of this course, you will have the option of applying for undergraduate level course credit at Kennesaw State University (dependent on admission to Kennesaw State University as a degree seeking or a non-degree seeking student). More information is available in final module "Receive Course (undergraduate) Credit at Kennesaw State University".

What's inside

Syllabus

Welcome and Course Overview

Checkout our marquee speaker. She's the Chief Privacy Officer at Coca Cola.

Introduction to Security, Access Control, and Software Development Security

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Introduces fundamental concepts and their application in cybersecurity domains

Provides opportunities for online interaction and engagement with others interested in cybersecurity

Covers a wide range of cybersecurity topics, including governance, risk management, compliance, and physical security

Led by experienced instructors in the cybersecurity field

Offers the option of earning undergraduate course credit at Kennesaw State University

Reviews summary

Broad introduction to cybersecurity domains

According to learners, this course offers an excellent, broad overview of cybersecurity's ten domains, making it approachable and understandable for beginners. Many found the structured way to explore the field and the high quality course materials to be particularly helpful, serving as a good starting point or useful for gaining a general understanding. However, a significant number of students felt the course lacks depth, remaining at a very high-level. Reviewers noted it is not for practical skills as there are no real labs or simulations and the content is more theoretical. It may be too basic for those with prior IT background.

Well-organized by domains, but quality varies.

"The breakdown into domains is very helpful for structuring the knowledge."

"Covers a wide range of topics, giving a good map of the cybersecurity field."

"Some modules were stronger than others... The non-technical domains (governance, legal) were surprisingly interesting and well-taught."

"The quality varies slightly between instructors. Some explain complex ideas very clearly, others less so."

Ideal for newcomers; less so for experienced.

"...perfect for a beginner like me wanting to understand the scope of the field... Highly recommend for newcomers."

"I was completely new to cybersecurity and this course made the subject approachable and understandable."

"If you're a professional looking to reskill or upskill, this might be too basic unless you are completely new to the field. It feels more suited for complete beginners or students."

Quizzes test memorization, not application.

"The quizzes were straightforward."

"It's basically just lectures and quizzes testing memorization."

"Exams test recall, not application."

"The assessment format is okay, standard quizzes."

Mostly theoretical; no hands-on labs mentioned.

"Disappointed with the lack of depth and practical application... there were no real labs or simulations."

"If you're looking for hands-on labs or practical skills for a job, this isn't it. It's more of a theoretical survey course."

"The weakest point is the lack of hands-on activities... learning theoretical concepts without applying them feels incomplete."

"Don't expect to learn how to *do* anything practical. It's mostly theoretical concepts."

Covers many domains but lacks depth.

"This course provided an excellent, broad overview of the cybersecurity landscape. It touched on all the major domains..."

"A very high-level look at cybersecurity... I found many parts too basic..."

"It does cover the ten domains, but only at a very surface level... Don't expect to learn how to *do* anything practical."

"The course is broad, yes, but that's its strength as an introductory course. It helped me identify which areas I might want to specialize in."

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 and Its Ten Domains with these activities:

Practice Password Management

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Review strong password creation and management techniques to enhance your understanding of access control.

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Review password strength guidelines
Practice creating complex and unique passwords
Explore password manager tools and their features

Review prior cybersecurity knowledge

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Build a foundation for the course by refreshing key cybersecurity principles.

Browse courses on Cybersecurity

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Look over previous work in the field that you're familiar with.
Re-read a textbook you used in a previous course.
Go over notes from a previous cybersecurity course.
Review practice questions used in past cyber exams for your classes.

Engage in peer learning groups

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Collaborate with peers to enhance understanding and perspectives.

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Form or join a study group with classmates.
Set regular meeting times and study topics.
Facilitate discussions, share knowledge, and solve problems together.

Eight other activities

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Show all 11 activities

Follow tutorials on access control principles

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Solidify understanding of access control mechanisms.

Browse courses on Access Control

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Search online for tutorials on access control principles.
Follow step-by-step instructions to implement access control in a simulated environment.
Experiment with different access control models and their implications.

Follow Security Tutorials

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Engage in guided video tutorials on topics such as software development security or cryptography to gain practical insights.

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Identify reputable sources for security tutorials
Select tutorials that align with course topics
Follow the tutorials step-by-step and complete the exercises

Read 'Domain 7: Cloud Computing' book

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Enhance understanding of cloud computing in cybersecurity.

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Read the assigned chapters related to Domain 7: Cloud Computing.
Take notes emphasizing key concepts such as cloud architecture, security models, and compliance.
Summarize findings from the book into a study guide.

Practice network security drills

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Develop proficiency in network security configuration and troubleshooting.

Browse courses on Network Security

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Set up a simulated network environment.
Configure network security devices such as firewalls and intrusion detection systems.
Run network security drills to test and refine configurations.
Analyze logs and troubleshoot network security issues.

Attend industry conferences and meetups

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Expand professional network and stay updated on industry trends.

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Research upcoming cybersecurity industry conferences and meetups.
Register and attend events.
Network with speakers, attendees, and potential mentors.
Gather information on the latest cybersecurity technologies and best practices.

Solve Cybersecurity Practice Problems

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Test your understanding of cybersecurity concepts through practice problems and simulations, focusing on areas like risk management and network security.

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Join online platforms for cybersecurity challenges
Subscribe to cybersecurity newsletters with practice exercises
Work through practice exams or quizzes

Design and implement a cybersecurity incident response plan

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Apply cybersecurity principles to a practical project, reinforcing incident response best practices.

Browse courses on Incident Response

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Develop a comprehensive cybersecurity incident response plan.
Implement the plan in a simulated environment.
Test the effectiveness of the plan through simulated incidents.
Evaluate and refine the plan based on the results of testing.

Create a blog or article on a cybersecurity topic

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Deepen understanding by explaining cybersecurity concepts to others.

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Choose a specific cybersecurity topic to focus on.
Research and gather information from reliable sources.
Develop an outline and write the blog or article.
Proofread and edit for clarity and accuracy.

Career center

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

Chief Information Security Officer

A Chief Information Security Officer is responsible for developing, implementing and enforcing an organization's information security strategy. The course's comprehensive treatment of the field, including modules on cryptography and security architecture, can help you lay the foundation for a successful career in this role.

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

Information Security Analyst

An Information Security Analyst identifies, assesses, and mitigates security risks to an organization's information systems. By gaining knowledge from this course, particularly in areas such as access control and security governance, you can enhance your ability to protect sensitive information.

See salaries and explore the career path for Information Security Analyst

Cybersecurity Engineer

A Cybersecurity Engineer designs, implements, and maintains security systems to protect organizations from cyber threats. The course provides a solid grounding in the technical aspects of cybersecurity, including network security, cryptography, and security architecture, which are essential for this role.

See salaries and explore the career path for Cybersecurity Engineer

Penetration Tester

A Penetration Tester evaluates an organization's security systems by simulating cyberattacks. The course explores various aspects of security, such as access control, software development security, and security operations, which can help you develop the skills needed to identify vulnerabilities and improve security measures.

See salaries and explore the career path for Penetration Tester

Security Architect

A Security Architect designs and implements security solutions for organizations. The course covers topics such as security architecture and design, network security, and cryptography, which are essential for understanding the principles and best practices of security architecture.

See salaries and explore the career path for Security Architect

Compliance Manager

A Compliance Manager ensures that an organization complies with relevant laws and regulations related to information security. The course's modules on legal, regulations, investigations, and compliance provide valuable insights into the regulatory landscape, helping you develop the knowledge needed to effectively manage compliance in this field.

See salaries and explore the career path for Compliance Manager

Risk Manager

A Risk Manager identifies, assesses, and mitigates risks to an organization's information systems. The course covers topics such as information security governance and risk management, as well as business continuity and disaster recovery planning, which are essential for understanding and managing risks in cybersecurity.

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Cloud Security Engineer

A Cloud Security Engineer secures cloud computing environments. The course's focus on access control, software development security, and network security provides valuable knowledge for understanding the challenges and best practices of securing cloud environments.

See salaries and explore the career path for Cloud Security Engineer

Incident Responder

An Incident Responder handles security breaches and incidents. The course provides a comprehensive overview of cybersecurity, including modules on security operations, cryptography, and legal, regulations, investigations, and compliance, which can help you develop the skills needed to effectively respond to and manage security incidents.

See salaries and explore the career path for Incident Responder

Security Consultant

A Security Consultant provides advice and guidance to organizations on cybersecurity matters. The course covers various aspects of cybersecurity, including governance, risk management, compliance, and security architecture, which can help you develop the knowledge and expertise needed to provide valuable insights to clients.

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Network Administrator

A Network Administrator maintains and manages computer networks. The course's modules on network security, security operations, and telecommunications provide valuable knowledge for understanding and managing the security of computer networks.

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Systems Administrator

A Systems Administrator maintains and manages computer systems. The course's modules on software development security, security operations, and cryptography provide valuable knowledge for understanding and securing computer systems.

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Forensic Computer Analyst

A Forensic Computer Analyst investigates and analyzes computer systems to uncover evidence in legal cases. The course's modules on legal, regulations, investigations, and compliance provide valuable knowledge for understanding the legal and technical aspects of forensic computer analysis.

See salaries and explore the career path for Forensic Computer Analyst

Cybersecurity Auditor

A Cybersecurity Auditor evaluates the effectiveness of an organization's cybersecurity controls. The course covers various aspects of cybersecurity, including governance, risk management, compliance, and security architecture, which can help you develop the knowledge and skills needed to effectively audit cybersecurity controls.

See salaries and explore the career path for Cybersecurity Auditor

Cybersecurity Researcher

A Cybersecurity Researcher investigates and analyzes cybersecurity threats and trends. The course provides a comprehensive overview of cybersecurity, including modules on cryptography, network security, and security architecture, which can help you develop the knowledge and skills needed to conduct research in this field.

See salaries and explore the career path for Cybersecurity Researcher