Foundations of Cybersecurity from Coursera

This is the first course in the Google Cybersecurity Certificate. These courses will equip you with the skills you need to prepare for an entry-level cybersecurity job.

In this course, you will be introduced to the world of cybersecurity through an interactive curriculum developed by Google. You will identify significant events that led to the development of the cybersecurity field, explain the importance of cybersecurity in today's business operations, and explore the job responsibilities and skills of an entry-level cybersecurity analyst.

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 the eight courses in the Google Cybersecurity Certificate will be equipped to apply for entry-level cybersecurity roles. No previous experience is necessary.

By the end of this course, you will:

- Identify how security attacks impact business operations.

- Explore the job responsibilities and core skills of an entry-level cybersecurity analyst.

- Recognize how past and present attacks on organizations led to the development of the cybersecurity field.

- Learn the CISSP eight security domains.

- Identify security domains, frameworks, and controls.

- Explain security ethics.

- Recognize common tools used by cybersecurity analysts.

What's inside

Syllabus

Welcome to the exciting world of cybersecurity

Begin your journey into cybersecurity! You'll explore the cybersecurity field, and learn about the job responsibilities of cybersecurity professionals.

The evolution of cybersecurity

You will explore how cybersecurity threats have appeared and evolved alongside the adoption of computers. You will also understand how past and present cyber attacks have influenced the development of the security field. In addition, you'll get an overview of the eight security domains.

Protect against threats, risks, and vulnerabilities

You will learn about security frameworks and controls, which are used to mitigate organizational risk. You'll cover principles of the CIA triad and various National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) frameworks. In addition, you'll explore security ethics.

Cybersecurity tools and programming languages

You’ll discover common tools used by cybersecurity analysts to identify and mitigate risk. You'll learn about security information and event management (SIEM) tools, network protocol analyzers, and programming languages such as Python and SQL.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Explores the evolution of cybersecurity and how it came to be a necessary field in the present

Introduces learners to the role of a cybersecurity analyst and how they contribute to organizational security

Guides learners into the world of cybersecurity through a curriculum designed by Google employees

Covers various core security domains, frameworks, and controls to help learners understand how organizations protect their systems and data

Includes hands-on activities, examples, and tools commonly used by cybersecurity analysts

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 Foundations of Cybersecurity with these activities:

Write a Blog Post on a Cybersecurity Topic

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Enhance your understanding and writing skills by creating a blog post on a cybersecurity topic. This will help you communicate complex technical concepts effectively.

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Choose a specific cybersecurity topic
Research the topic thoroughly
Create an outline for your blog post
Write the first draft
Proofread and edit your blog post

Complete Online Cybersecurity Quizzes and Exercises

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Sharpen your cybersecurity knowledge by completing online quizzes and exercises. This will help you reinforce the concepts learned in the course and identify areas where you need additional practice.

Browse courses on Security Concepts

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Find reputable online cybersecurity quizzes and exercises
Complete the quizzes and exercises regularly
Review your results and identify areas for improvement

Follow Online Tutorials on Cybersecurity Tools and Techniques

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Expand your skills by following online tutorials on specific cybersecurity tools and techniques. This will help you stay up-to-date with the latest advancements in the field.

Browse courses on network security

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Identify areas where you want to improve your skills
Find reputable online tutorials on those topics
Follow the tutorials and complete the exercises

Four other activities

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Show all seven activities

Create a Cybersecurity Plan for a Small Business

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Apply the principles learned in the course by developing a cybersecurity plan for a small business. This will help you solidify your understanding of the practical aspects of cybersecurity.

Browse courses on Risk Assessment

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Identify the assets and risks of the business
Conduct a risk assessment
Develop mitigation strategies
Create a cybersecurity plan document

Attend Cybersecurity Workshops and Webinars

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Stay informed about the latest cybersecurity trends and technologies by attending workshops and webinars. This will allow you to learn from experts and network with other professionals in the field.

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Find reputable cybersecurity workshops and webinars
Register for the events that interest you
Attend the events and actively participate

Create a Cybersecurity Training Program for Employees

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Apply your knowledge by creating a cybersecurity training program for employees. This will help you understand the challenges of educating non-technical audiences about cybersecurity.

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Identify the target audience and their needs
Develop learning objectives
Create training materials
Deliver the training
Evaluate the effectiveness of the training

Volunteer at a Cybersecurity Organization

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Gain practical experience and make a valuable contribution by volunteering at a cybersecurity organization. This will allow you to apply your skills in a real-world setting and learn from experienced professionals.

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Find a reputable cybersecurity organization
Inquire about volunteer opportunities
Attend training or workshops offered by the organization
Participate in projects or initiatives as assigned

Career center

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

Security Analyst

Security Analysts are cybersecurity professionals who monitor and analyze security systems to detect and prevent threats. Graduates of this program may work closely with IT professionals to protect networks, systems, and data from unauthorized access, use, disclosure, disruption, modification, or destruction.

See salaries and explore the career path for Security Analyst

Information Security Analyst

Information Security Analysts implement, and maintain security measures to protect an organization's computer networks and systems. Graduates with this certification can expect to perform tasks such as monitoring networks for suspicious activity, analyzing security logs, and responding to security incidents.

See salaries and explore the career path for Information Security Analyst

Cybersecurity Analyst

Cybersecurity Analysts are responsible for protecting organizations from cyber attacks. They identify vulnerabilities in computer systems and networks, develop and implement security measures, and monitor networks for suspicious activity. The course helps build a foundation in cybersecurity principles and practices, and provides hands-on experience with common cybersecurity tools.

See salaries and explore the career path for Cybersecurity Analyst

Cybersecurity Engineer

Cybersecurity Engineers are responsible for designing, implementing, and maintaining cybersecurity systems. They work to protect organizations from cyber attacks, data breaches, and other security threats.

See salaries and explore the career path for Cybersecurity Engineer

Security Architect

Security Architects design and implement security solutions for organizations. They work to protect organizations from cyber attacks, data breaches, and other security threats. The course provides a foundation in security architecture principles and practices, and helps students develop the skills needed to design and implement secure systems.

See salaries and explore the career path for Security Architect

Network Security Engineer

Network Security Engineers design, implement, and maintain network security systems. They work to protect networks from unauthorized access, denial of service attacks, and other threats. The course provides a foundation in network security principles and technologies, and helps students develop the skills needed to design and implement secure networks.

See salaries and explore the career path for Network Security Engineer

Security Auditor

Security Auditors are responsible for auditing the security of computer systems and networks. They work to identify vulnerabilities that could be exploited by attackers, and to develop and implement security measures to mitigate these vulnerabilities.

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Security Consultant

Security Consultants provide advice and guidance to organizations on how to improve their security posture. They work with organizations to identify and mitigate security risks, and to develop and implement security policies and procedures. The course provides a foundation in security consulting principles and practices, and helps students develop the skills needed to provide effective security consulting services.

See salaries and explore the career path for Security Consultant

Penetration Tester

Penetration Testers are responsible for testing the security of computer systems and networks. They work to identify vulnerabilities that could be exploited by attackers, and to develop and implement security measures to mitigate these vulnerabilities. The course provides a foundation in penetration testing principles and practices, and helps students develop the skills needed to perform effective penetration tests.

See salaries and explore the career path for Penetration Tester

Chief Information Security Officer (CISO)

Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs) are responsible for overseeing the security of an organization's information systems. They work to develop and implement security policies and procedures, and to manage the organization's security team. The course provides a foundation in information security management principles and practices, and helps students develop the skills needed to be an effective CISO.

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

Incident Responder

Incident Responders are responsible for responding to security incidents. They work to contain the damage caused by the incident and to restore the organization's systems to normal operation.

See salaries and explore the career path for Incident Responder

Security Operations Center (SOC) Analyst

Security Operations Center (SOC) Analysts are responsible for monitoring and analyzing security events to detect and respond to threats. They work to identify and mitigate security incidents, and to provide security advice to the organization.

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Threat Intelligence Analyst

Threat Intelligence Analysts are responsible for collecting and analyzing information about threats.

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Forensic Analyst

Forensic Analysts are responsible for investigating security incidents. They work to collect and analyze evidence to determine the cause of the incident and to identify the attackers.

See salaries and explore the career path for Forensic Analyst

Malware Analyst

Malware Analysts are responsible for analyzing malware to determine its purpose and how to mitigate its effects.

See salaries and explore the career path for Malware Analyst