Our article earlier this month provided an insight into the cybersecurity industry for those considering an alternative career path to physical security. We were overwhelmed with responses from readers who asked for links and sites that can help with training individuals and equipping them with skills needed to fulfil cybersecurity roles. For anyone who needs further guidance, loo not further. The team at QCS have compiled a list of options for you to consider.
Types of courses
Contrary to popular belief, cybersecurity training can vary in many forms. From academic university courses to tailored online and college modules, training can be taken in many formats. You don’t need to have a tech or IT background to do these types of courses. These courses will help you familiarise yourselves with programs and software which will be used in various cybersecurity roles.
What cybersecurity training is best for me?
We thought we should outline a few types of courses that might be of interest. We don’t have time to delve into every single cybersecurity training course out there but here are a few that might help narrow down your search
- Sans- This is a free online course with a range of cybersecurity modules readily available for anyone to access. Prior to training, you can view demos to see if this is a course that is right for you. The Sans institute is a globally recognised organisation when it comes to foundational security.
- Open University- This is the online university that allows you to delve into courses via distance learning, the range of courses is limited for cybersecurity with computer science and IT being the main course that cyber security comes under. However, this type of course allows you to get a qualification and even fit learning around your schedule through part time learning. Ideal for anyone who wants to fit studying around work and personal commitments.
- Udemy- Some of the courses on Udemy are free to access which includes the cybersecurity course for beginners. So if you are completely unsure on where to begin, this might be a great starting point. As you go onto advanced courses, you may be charged but the prices are affordable.
- Fortinet- the lockdown settings we have seen since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic has led to companies using remote IT settings to access work systems and software. Companies like Fortinet have acted on this to encourage more people to learn and gain knowledge on cybersecurity topics. For the remainder of this year, all courses will be free to access. To find out more about courses available you can check here.
- Harvard- The big universities also offer short-term online courses. Courses like these provide you with weekly modules and around 8-11 hours of studying. This is ideal if you want to focus on training short term but learn large quantities of information in weekly instalments.
These are just some of the courses which have been recommended but of course, there are plenty more free and paid courses which may be of interest to you Tech Radar’s article provides you with a range of cybersecurity training links which can be tailored to suit your needs.
The global pandemic has emphasised how technology and the movement into the digital world has created a gap in the market of workers in cybersecurity. Even if you don’t intend on going into cybersecurity, the skills gained from these courses can be very valuable for work settings especially if companies use a lot of IT devices and software. The increase in cyber threats, hacking and phishing means that the cybersecurity industry will require more individuals the relevant skill set to combat all these threats. Our dependency on the new digital world mean that the skills and knowledge gained in this field is something that will be crucial for daily work and personal purposes for years to come.
We hope you have enjoyed our article. Our aim at Quick Click Security is to centralise access to jobs, training and knowledge - creating a community and working together to professionalise the private security sector.
