Cyber Secure Coder (CSC-110) from Coursera

Dive into the critical world of secure software development with Cyber Secure Coder (CSC-110). This course equips you with the knowledge and skills to identify vulnerabilities, mitigate risks, and build resilient applications. Learn to safeguard against exploits and develop a deep understanding of secure coding practices, ensuring robust software integrity.

Your journey begins with an overview of security in software, delving into how vulnerabilities emerge and how secure requirements can be identified and implemented. Explore key aspects of software security, including vulnerability intelligence, error handling, and hashing techniques. From gathering security requirements to protecting against human-related risks, the course emphasizes practical applications through engaging assignments and activities.

The curriculum transitions into advanced topics such as secure design principles, risk management strategies, and countermeasures to common exploits. As you progress, you'll develop proficiency in coding guidelines, preventing buffer overflows, and understanding OWASP's top vulnerabilities across platforms, including web, mobile, IoT, and desktop.

Ideal for developers, IT professionals, and security enthusiasts, this intermediate-level course requires basic programming knowledge and an understanding of software development processes. Whether you're refining your coding skills or stepping into cybersecurity, this course provides essential tools to build secure software for today’s digital landscape.

What's inside

Syllabus

Security in Software

In this module, we will delve into the foundations of software security, exploring key vulnerabilities, attack patterns, and secure coding principles. You will learn how to gather and document security requirements, understand the phases of an attack, and implement secure practices such as password validation and hashing. Hands-on assignments and activities will reinforce your ability to identify and mitigate software vulnerabilities effectively.

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Provides essential tools to build secure software, which is crucial for developers and IT professionals in today's digital landscape

Covers OWASP's top vulnerabilities across web, mobile, IoT, and desktop platforms, which is highly relevant for security professionals

Requires basic programming knowledge and an understanding of software development processes, suggesting it builds upon existing skills

Explores strategies for managing vulnerabilities in software development, focusing on the risks posed by bugs, external libraries, and human error

Examines secure session management, user provisioning, password security, and encryption, which are foundational protections for application development

Teaches procedures for verifying application security during development and implementing monitoring and logging strategies to identify and respond to threats

Reviews summary

Introduction to secure software development

According to learners, Cyber Secure Coder (CSC-110) offers a solid foundation in secure coding principles. Many found the course content to be well-structured and appreciated the coverage of key topics like the OWASP Top Ten and secure design patterns. The course includes practical assignments and activities that help reinforce the concepts taught. However, some learners noted that while it covers a broad range of topics, the depth in certain areas might be insufficient for advanced practitioners, suggesting it's best suited for developers new to secure coding or those needing a comprehensive overview.

Covers many topics but some lack depth.

"The course touches on many areas of secure development, which is good, but doesn't go very deep into any single one."

"While the breadth is appreciated, I was hoping for more in-depth coverage on certain exploit types or mitigation techniques."

"It gives you a good overview of the landscape, but you'll need to supplement this with more focused learning for specific technologies."

More beneficial for those new to security.

"As an experienced developer, I found some parts a bit basic. This seems better suited for beginners in secure coding."

"If you already have some cybersecurity background, this might feel like a review rather than new material."

"It's labeled intermediate, but much of the content feels geared towards someone with basic programming skill but no prior security knowledge."

Includes important industry standard topics.

"Glad they covered the OWASP Top Ten in detail. It's crucial for anyone doing web development."

"Understanding common vulnerabilities like those in the OWASP list is a key takeaway from this course."

"The module on developing secure code, especially the OWASP section, was very relevant to my work."

Assignments and activities reinforce learning.

"The hands-on assignments were the highlight for me. They made the theoretical concepts much clearer and applicable."

"Doing the labs helped solidify my understanding of how these vulnerabilities actually work and how to fix them."

"I appreciated that there were practical activities throughout, not just lectures. It made the learning more engaging."

Provides essential concepts for secure coding.

"This course gave me a really good understanding of the fundamental principles behind writing secure code. It's a solid starting point."

"I feel much more confident identifying potential vulnerabilities after taking this course. It built a necessary foundation."

"If you're new to secure coding, this provides a comprehensive overview of the key concepts you need to know."

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 Cyber Secure Coder (CSC-110) with these activities:

Review Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE)

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Familiarize yourself with common vulnerabilities to better understand the course material.

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Explore the NIST National Vulnerability Database (NVD).
Read descriptions of recent CVEs.
Identify the types of vulnerabilities.

Review 'Writing Secure Code'

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Gain a deeper understanding of secure coding principles and practices.

View Writing Secure Code on Amazon

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Read the chapters on buffer overflows and input validation.
Study the examples of secure coding techniques.
Take notes on key concepts and best practices.

Practice Static Analysis Tools

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Improve your ability to identify vulnerabilities by practicing with static analysis tools.

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Download and install a static analysis tool (e.g., SonarQube, FindBugs).
Analyze sample code for potential vulnerabilities.
Review the tool's findings and understand the identified issues.
Fix the vulnerabilities in the code.

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Create a Secure Coding Checklist

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Reinforce your understanding of secure coding practices by creating a checklist.

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Research common secure coding guidelines.
Compile a list of essential security checks.
Organize the checklist into categories (e.g., input validation, authentication).
Share the checklist with peers for feedback.

Build a Secure Web Application

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Apply your knowledge by building a web application with security features.

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Plan the application's features and security requirements.
Implement secure authentication and authorization.
Protect against common web vulnerabilities (e.g., XSS, SQL injection).
Test the application for security flaws.

Review 'The Web Application Hacker's Handbook'

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Deepen your understanding of web application vulnerabilities and attack techniques.

View The Web Application Hacker's Handbook on Amazon

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Read the chapters on common web vulnerabilities (e.g., XSS, SQL injection).
Study the examples of attack techniques.
Practice identifying vulnerabilities in sample web applications.

Contribute to a Security-Focused Open Source Project

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Gain practical experience by contributing to an open-source project focused on security.

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Find a security-focused open-source project on GitHub or GitLab.
Review the project's code and documentation.
Identify potential vulnerabilities or areas for improvement.
Submit a pull request with your changes.

Career center

Learners who complete Cyber Secure Coder (CSC-110) will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Application Security Engineer

An Application Security Engineer specializes in ensuring the security of software applications throughout the development lifecycle. This role requires a deep understanding of secure coding practices, vulnerability assessment, and risk mitigation. The Cyber Secure Coder course is directly relevant, as it covers secure design principles, lifecycle security practices, and methods for handling errors without compromising security. By implementing the strategies taught in the course, such as preventing buffer overflows and addressing OWASP's top vulnerabilities, the Application Security Engineer can build resilient and secure applications.

See salaries and explore the career path for Application Security Engineer

DevSecOps Engineer

A DevSecOps Engineer integrates security practices into the software development lifecycle, working closely with development and operations teams. This role requires a strong understanding of secure coding, vulnerability management, and automated security testing. The Cyber Secure Coder course is highly relevant, as it covers secure design principles, lifecycle security practices, and methods for handling errors without compromising security. A DevSecOps Engineer should take this course to implement security measures across various platforms, web, mobile, IoT, and desktop.

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Information Security Analyst

An Information Security Analyst protects an organization's information assets by implementing security measures. As systems become more complex with software at the core, software vulnerabilities become a greater threat. The Cyber Secure Coder course is relevant, as it covers secure design principles, lifecycle security practices, and methods for handling errors, and these are essential when analyzing security incidents. By taking this course, the Information Security Analyst will be well-positioned to prevent buffer overflows and address OWASP's top vulnerabilities.

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Security Analyst

A Security Analyst plays a vital role in safeguarding an organization's digital assets by identifying vulnerabilities and implementing security measures. This role involves assessing risks, monitoring systems for suspicious activity, and responding to security incidents. The Cyber Secure Coder course helps build a foundation in secure coding best practices, vulnerability management, and risk mitigation which are essential for a security analyst. The module on handling vulnerabilities, along with OWASP's top ten, in particular, will further enhance your ability to analyze and address security threats effectively. The course's comprehensive approach to software security makes it ideal for aspiring security analysts.

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Software Developer

Software Developers create and maintain applications, and increasingly, they are expected to write secure code from the outset. As a Software Developer, you must prioritize creating code that is free from vulnerabilities. The Cyber Secure Coder course emphasizes secure coding principles, risk management strategies, and countermeasures to common exploits, making it invaluable for software developers. The focus on preventing buffer overflows, understanding OWASP's top vulnerabilities, and building secure code across web, mobile, IoT, and desktop platforms directly translates into the skills needed to develop robust and secure software.

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Security Architect

Security Architects design and implement secure systems and networks for organizations. They must have a broad understanding of security principles and practices. The Cyber Secure Coder course builds a foundation in secure coding, vulnerability management, and risk mitigation, helpful for security architects. A Security Architect can ensure robust software integrity and protection against vulnerabilities by taking this course, which includes modules on security in software, implementing common protections, and testing and maintaining software security.

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Penetration Tester

Penetration Testers, also known as ethical hackers, simulate cyberattacks to identify vulnerabilities in systems and applications. Understanding how vulnerabilities arise and how to exploit them is crucial for this role. The Cyber Secure Coder course provides an in-depth look at common vulnerabilities, attack patterns, and secure coding principles that are invaluable for penetration testers. With modules covering security in software, handling vulnerabilities, and implementing common protections, this course can provide a strong understanding of security weaknesses, which are essential for effectively testing and securing systems.

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Security Consultant

Security Consultants advise organizations on how to improve their security posture, assess risks, and implement security measures. They need a broad understanding of security principles and practices. The Cyber Secure Coder course helps build a foundation in secure coding practices, vulnerability management, and risk mitigation, making it a valuable asset for security consultants. With the knowledge gained from this course, a Security Consultant can offer informed advice on secure software development, application security, and compliance, ensuring the client's digital assets are well-protected.

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Software Architect

Software Architects are responsible for designing the structure of software systems, ensuring they are scalable, reliable, and secure. A key aspect of this role is integrating security considerations into the design phase. The Cyber Secure Coder course can provide software architects with the knowledge to design secure systems from the ground up. This course includes modules on designing for security, risk management strategies, and countermeasures to common exploits, and this background forms a valuable foundation in ensuring software integrity and protection against vulnerabilities.

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Cloud Security Engineer

Cloud Security Engineers specialize in securing cloud-based systems and applications, addressing the unique security challenges of cloud environments. This role requires a strong understanding of cloud security best practices, vulnerability management, and compliance. The Cyber Secure Coder course helps to build the foundation to develop secure code and applications. As a Cloud Security Engineer, you can utilize the techniques taught in the course such as implementing common protections to cloud-based environments.

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IT Security Manager

IT Security Managers oversee an organization's security infrastructure and ensure the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of data. This role involves developing security policies, managing security incidents, and ensuring compliance with security standards. The Cyber Secure Coder course helps build the foundation to understand secure coding vulnerabilities, which is of great help when managing security incidents. The course's emphasis on risk management, secure design principles, and vulnerability mitigation offers valuable insights for protecting an organization's IT assets.

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Data Protection Officer

Data Protection Officers are responsible for overseeing an organization's data protection strategy and compliance with data privacy regulations. The Cyber Secure Coder course helps provide insights into secure coding practices and vulnerability management, which are essential for protecting sensitive data. Understanding how vulnerabilities in software can lead to data breaches is crucial for a Data Protection Officer. The course's coverage of secure session management, password security, and encryption provides valuable knowledge for implementing robust data protection measures.

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Network Security Engineer

Network Security Engineers are responsible for designing, implementing, and maintaining network security infrastructure, protecting networks from cyber threats. While this is focused on infrastructure, the course helps to provide an understanding of how software vulnerabilities lead to network infiltration. The Cyber Secure Coder course helps to build the foundation for software security. A Network Security Engineer can implement countermeasures to reduce the potential of network intrusions.

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Compliance Officer

Compliance Officers ensure an organization adheres to relevant laws, regulations, and internal policies, including those related to data security and privacy. Understanding security requirements is crucial for this role. The Cyber Secure Coder course may be useful, as it covers handling vulnerabilities and implementing protections. Also, the Compliance Officer will be well-positioned to evaluate and improve an organization's adherence to secure coding standards.

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Security Awareness Trainer

Security Awareness Trainers educate employees on security best practices, helping to reduce human-related security risks. The Cyber Secure Coder course focuses on securing software risks. While the Security Awareness Trainer role is not coding specific, this course may be useful to provide trainers with a well-rounded view of the cybersecurity landscape. Also, trainers are able to provide awareness training targeted at software developers.

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Cyber Secure Coder (CSC-110)

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What's inside

Syllabus

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Reviews summary

Introduction to secure software development

Activities

Career center

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