Introduction to Cybersecurity

Because this course is self-guided, no extensions will be granted after the start of your enrollment.

You will have three months to complete the course from the time you make your purchase. Because this is a 100% online, self-paced course, you can complete the training on your own schedule during this time.

While a degree is not necessarily required for a cybersecurity job, most employers prefer students to have a minimum of an associate degree to begin working in the field. Of the job postings currently available, 11.4% require a minimum high school level education, with the remaining 88.6% desiring an associate degree or higher.

However, a recent study by McAfee found that most employers rank experience and professional certifications as more important when compared with formal education qualifications. If you are just starting out in this field, completing foundational training, and earning highly recognizable certifications will help provide you with the necessary skills to land an entry-level position. After gaining some experience in the field of cybersecurity, you should be able to progress in your career by earning more advanced certifications.

The median salary for cybersecurity professionals is $91,175, according to Burning Glass Technologies, a leading job analytics software company. They report that the highest 10% of cybersecurity professionals make $126,055 on average. However, this median salary varies widely depending on the education level of the professional in the role. For example, professionals with a high school education earn a median salary of $47,800, while those with a bachelor's degree earn $95,800. Professional certifications can also greatly affect salary by demonstrating that you have the technical skills and knowledge to do your job effectively.

Cybersecurity professionals are involved in a wide range of duties and specializations, ranging from highly technical to research and management. Some specific skill sets and specialization categories include the ability to secure data and critical assets through vulnerability management, monitoring security controls, network configuration, attack simulation, and data recovery.

Cyberattacks have rapidly increased over the past few years as the world has shifted to more remote and hybrid working environments. Therefore, the need for skilled cybersecurity professionals has exceedingly grown. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) has now identified information security analysts as the tenth fastest-growing occupation over the next ten years. The BLS estimates that this profession will see a 31% growth.

There are nearly 600,000 cybersecurity jobs currently available in the U.S. and 3.5 million positions globally. This is a high-demand career field with many more jobs than there are qualified professionals to fill these roles.