Security and Troubleshooting Essentials

Updated in May 2025. This course now features Coursera Coach! A smarter way to learn with interactive, real-time conversations that help you test your knowledge, challenge assumptions, and deepen your understanding as you progress through the course. Build a strong foundation in IT security and troubleshooting with this essential course designed to equip you with practical, real-world skills. By the end of this course, you'll confidently address security risks, protect systems, and apply structured troubleshooting techniques to resolve IT issues effectively. The course begins with Security, covering fundamental principles such as confidentiality, integrity, and data availability. You’ll explore data protection strategies, encryption, and authentication methods to safeguard sensitive information. Practical topics include antivirus solutions, ransomware prevention, firewalls, safe browsing habits, and the importance of system updates. Next, the course dives into Troubleshooting, introducing the 8-step CompTIA troubleshooting methodology. You’ll learn a step-by-step process to identify, analyze, and resolve IT problems. Real-world examples will help you understand how to apply these methods to hardware and software issues effectively. This course is ideal for beginners and IT support enthusiasts. Whether you’re looking to enhance your IT security knowledge or master troubleshooting techniques, this course provides the essential tools and frameworks needed for IT success. No prior experience is required—just a desire to learn.