Play It Safe: Manage Security Risks from Coursera

This is the second course in the Google Cybersecurity Certificate. These courses will equip you with the skills you need to apply for an entry-level cybersecurity job. You’ll build on your understanding of the topics that were introduced in the first Google Cybersecurity Certificate course.

In this course, you will take a deeper dive into concepts introduced in the first course, with an emphasis on how cybersecurity professionals use frameworks and controls to protect business operations. In particular, you'll identify the steps of risk management and explore common threats, risks, and vulnerabilities. Additionally, you'll explore Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) data and use a playbook to respond to identified threats, risks, and vulnerabilities. Finally, you will take an important step towards becoming a cybersecurity professional and practice performing a security audit.

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:

- Identify the common threats, risks, and vulnerabilities to business operations.

- Understand the threats, risks, and vulnerabilities that entry-level cybersecurity analysts are most focused on.

- Comprehend the purpose of security frameworks and controls.

- Describe the confidentiality, integrity, and availability (CIA) triad.

- Explain the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) framework.

- Explore and practice conducting a security audit.

- Use a playbook to respond to threats, risks, and vulnerabilities.

What's inside

Syllabus

Security domains

You will gain understanding of the CISSP’s eight security domains. Then, you'll learn about primary threats, risks, and vulnerabilities to business operations. In addition, you'll explore the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s (NIST) Risk Management Framework (RMF) and the steps of risk management.

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Explores industry standard CISSP’s eight security domains

Examines risks, threats, and vulnerabilities of business operations

Familiarizes learners with the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Risk Management Framework (RMF) and the steps of risk management

Covers key components of confidentiality, integrity, and availability (CIA) triad

Provides hands-on practice in conducting a security audit

Emphasizes cybersecurity playbooks and their response to threats, risks, and vulnerabilities

Reviews summary

Foundational cybersecurity risk management

According to learners, 'Play It Safe: Manage Security Risks' offers a positive and accessible introduction to cybersecurity risk management for those targeting entry-level roles. Students appreciate its focus on industry-standard frameworks like NIST and the CIA triad, providing a solid foundational understanding. The course's exploration of SIEM tools and use of playbooks are particularly noted for their practical relevance. While it serves as an excellent starting point, some learners suggest it primarily covers foundational concepts and may not delve into advanced topics, making it ideal for beginners but potentially less comprehensive for experienced professionals.

Very well-suited for individuals new to cybersecurity concepts.

"As someone completely new to cybersecurity, I found the course content straightforward and easy to follow."

"The concepts were explained in a way that made them fully accessible, even without prior tech background."

"Truly, no prior experience was necessary to understand and succeed in this foundational course."

Provides valuable exposure to industry tools like SIEM and incident playbooks.

"Exploring SIEM tools and how to use playbooks was incredibly useful for understanding real-world tasks."

"The hands-on activities that simulated common cybersecurity tasks were extremely helpful."

"I found the practical examples and demos really solidified my understanding of incident response procedures."

Thoroughly covers crucial industry standards like NIST and the CIA triad.

"The explanations of NIST and the CIA triad were exceptionally clear and easy to grasp."

"I really valued the comprehensive overview of the most important security frameworks."

"Understanding the OWASP principles as part of this course was a significant learning outcome for me."

Delivers essential, applicable skills for entry-level cybersecurity roles.

"I gained practical tools and strategies I could immediately apply in my work."

"This course equipped me well for an entry-level cybersecurity position, truly relevant."

"The content directly relates to what I see and need to know in the cybersecurity field."

Focuses on foundational knowledge, may not satisfy advanced learners.

"While excellent for beginners, I felt some topics could benefit from more in-depth coverage for intermediate learners."

"It's a solid introduction, but I wouldn't recommend it for those seeking deep dives into advanced cybersecurity."

"I found it a good overview, though further study is definitely needed if you want to specialize or go beyond entry-level."

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 Play It Safe: Manage Security Risks with these activities:

Offer guidance to aspiring cybersecurity professionals

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Strengthens understanding of cybersecurity concepts by explaining them to others, enhances communication skills, and contributes to the community.

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Connect with students, mentees, or individuals seeking guidance in cybersecurity
Share knowledge and experience, providing support and guidance on technical concepts
Provide encouragement and motivation to aspiring cybersecurity professionals
Foster a sense of community and support within the cybersecurity field

Review foundational cybersecurity concepts

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Strengthen foundational understanding of key cybersecurity principles and concepts to enhance comprehension in the course.

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Review CISSP security domains to refresh awareness of the eight core security domains
Identify common threats and vulnerabilities to business operations to assess risk exposure
Explore security principles and tools used in the field to enhance understanding of security measures

Review NIST Special Publication 800-53

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Provides a comprehensive overview of security controls and risk management, enhancing understanding of industry standards and best practices.

View Enhancing the Resilience of the Nation's... on Amazon

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Obtain a copy of NIST Special Publication 800-53
Review the publication, focusing on security controls and risk management principles
Identify key concepts and their application in practical cybersecurity scenarios
Relate the information to the course material to deepen understanding

Four other activities

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Attend a cybersecurity workshop

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Provides hands-on experience in applying cybersecurity principles and enhances understanding of the course material.

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Research and identify relevant cybersecurity workshops in the area
Register for the workshop and prepare for active participation
Attend the workshop and engage in hands-on activities and discussions
Reflect on the workshop and apply the knowledge gained to the course

Conduct simulated risk assessments and security audits

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Reinforces the concepts of risk management and security auditing, improves practical skills, and deepens understanding of cybersecurity measures.

Browse courses on Risk Management

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Identify a simulated business environment or application to conduct a risk assessment
Apply the principles of risk management to identify and analyze potential threats and vulnerabilities
Create a security audit plan and conduct a thorough audit of the simulated environment
Document the findings and recommendations resulting from the audit

Develop a security playbook for incident response

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Enhances problem-solving and critical thinking skills by providing practical experience in developing a plan for handling cybersecurity incidents.

Browse courses on Incident Response

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Define the scope and objectives of the incident response playbook
Identify potential cybersecurity incidents and threats to address in the playbook
Create a step-by-step action plan for each incident scenario
Test and refine the playbook to enhance its effectiveness

Participate in cybersecurity competitions or hackathons

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Provides a challenging and immersive experience to apply and test cybersecurity skills and knowledge in a competitive environment.

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Identify and register for relevant cybersecurity competitions or hackathons
Prepare thoroughly by honing technical skills and studying attack and defense strategies
Collaborate with teammates or work individually to solve cybersecurity challenges
Analyze the results and learn from both successes and failures

Career center

Learners who complete Play It Safe: Manage Security Risks will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Security Analyst

Security Analysts help protect businesses from security breaches. They do this by analyzing a company's IT infrastructure and identifying potential risks. This course can help prepare you for this role by teaching you how to identify threats, risks, and vulnerabilities. You will also learn about security frameworks and controls, which are essential for protecting business operations.

See salaries and explore the career path for Security Analyst

Security Engineer

Security Engineers design and implement security solutions to protect businesses from cyberattacks. This course can help you prepare for this role by teaching you about security frameworks, controls, and tools. You will also learn how to respond to security incidents and conduct security audits.

See salaries and explore the career path for Security Engineer

Cybersecurity Consultant

Cybersecurity Consultants help businesses assess their security risks and develop strategies to mitigate them. This course can help you prepare for this role by teaching you about security frameworks, controls, and tools. You will also learn how to conduct security audits and develop security plans.

See salaries and explore the career path for Cybersecurity Consultant

Information Security Manager

Information Security Managers are responsible for overseeing the security of an organization's information systems. This course can help you prepare for this role by teaching you about security frameworks, controls, and tools. You will also learn how to develop and implement security policies and procedures.

See salaries and explore the career path for Information Security Manager

Network Security Engineer

Network Security Engineers design and implement security solutions for computer networks. This course can help you prepare for this role by teaching you about security frameworks, controls, and tools. You will also learn how to secure networks from cyberattacks.

See salaries and explore the career path for Network Security Engineer

Security Auditor

Security Auditors assess the security of computer systems and networks. This course can help you prepare for this role by teaching you about security frameworks, controls, and tools. You will also learn how to conduct security audits and report on your findings.

See salaries and explore the career path for Security Auditor

Penetration Tester

Penetration Testers simulate cyberattacks to identify vulnerabilities in computer systems and networks. This course can help you prepare for this role by teaching you about security frameworks, controls, and tools. You will also learn how to conduct penetration tests and report on your findings.

See salaries and explore the career path for Penetration Tester

Incident Responder

Incident Responders investigate and respond to security incidents. This course can help you prepare for this role by teaching you about security frameworks, controls, and tools. You will also learn how to conduct incident investigations and develop incident response plans.

See salaries and explore the career path for Incident Responder

Security Architect

Security Architects design and implement security solutions for complex systems. This course may help you prepare for this role by teaching you about security frameworks, controls, and tools. You will also learn how to develop and implement security architectures.

See salaries and explore the career path for Security Architect

Chief Information Security Officer (CISO)

CISOs are responsible for overseeing the security of an organization's information systems. This course may help you prepare for this role by teaching you about security frameworks, controls, and tools. You will also learn how to develop and implement security policies and procedures.

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

Information Technology (IT) Manager

IT Managers oversee the IT operations of an organization. This course may help you prepare for this role by teaching you about security frameworks, controls, and tools. You will also learn how to manage IT budgets and resources.

See salaries and explore the career path for Information Technology (IT) Manager

Chief Technology Officer (CTO)

CTOs are responsible for the technology strategy of an organization. This course may help you prepare for this role by teaching you about security frameworks, controls, and tools. You will also learn how to develop and implement technology strategies.

See salaries and explore the career path for Chief Technology Officer (CTO)

Project Manager

Project Managers plan and manage projects. This course may help you prepare for this role by teaching you about security frameworks, controls, and tools. You will also learn how to manage project budgets and resources.

See salaries and explore the career path for Project Manager

Business Analyst

Business Analysts analyze business processes and identify opportunities for improvement. This course may help you prepare for this role by teaching you about security frameworks, controls, and tools. You will also learn how to analyze business processes and develop solutions.

See salaries and explore the career path for Business Analyst

Software Engineer

Software Engineers design, develop, and test software applications. This course may help you prepare for this role by teaching you about security frameworks, controls, and tools. You will also learn how to develop secure software applications.

See salaries and explore the career path for Software Engineer