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IBM

Beginners Guide to Cybersecurity

IBM via edX

Overview

Looking to develop foundational cybersecurity skills that are essential for a rewarding career in IT? This beginner-level course is designed to introduce you to the key concepts, tools, and best practices cybersecurity and IT professionals use to safeguard systems and data.

You’ll start by learning to identify common cyber threats, including data theft, tampering, phishing, and malware, and understand how these attacks typically unfold. You’ll also look at critical security measures, such as physical, environmental, and access controls, that help protect devices and facilities. Plus, you’ll strengthen your digital hygiene by learning how to create strong passwords, use password managers, apply multi-factor authentication, and avoid risks like password reuse, sharing, and default credentials.

In addition, you'll get hands-on practice with techniques like device hardening, using encryption tools, safe browsing practices, and configuring web browsers to minimize vulnerabilities. You'll also learn how to manage and safeguard sensitive information to prevent identity theft and privacy breaches.

With hands-on labs and a final project to reinforce your skills, this course offers practical experience to help you confidently apply cybersecurity principles.

Enroll now and take your first step toward a career in IT with cybersecurity skills that employers expect you to have.

Syllabus

Course Syllabus

Module 0: Welcome

  • Video: Course Introduction
  • Reading: General Information
  • Reading: Learning Objectives and Syllabus
  • Reading: Grading Scheme
  • Reading: How to make the most from this course

Module 1: Security Concerns

  • Confidentiality, Integrity, and Availability
  • Security and Information Privacy
  • Activity: Exploring Information Privacy
  • Reading: Intellectual Property and Types of Confidential Information
  • Threats and Breaches
  • Microsoft Windows Server Lab Environment
  • Hands-on Lab: Windows Update
  • Threat Types
  • Phishing, Social Engineering, and Other Attacks
  • Activity: Identifying an Attack
  • Reading: Physical Security for Computing Devices
  • Case Study
  • Activity: Identifying Malware Threats
  • Hands-on Lab: Windows Defender Antivirus
  • Hands-on Lab: Windows Defender Antivirus
  • Just for Fun - Hands-on Lab: Hacker Typer
  • Summary & Highlights
  • Practice Quiz: Security Concerns
  • Graded Quiz: Security Concerns

Module 2: Security Best Practices

  • Password Management Techniques
  • Authentication and SSO
  • Hands-on Lab: Enforce Strong Password Policies
  • Security Threats: Access Control, Authorization, and Authentication
  • Hardening Devices
  • Reading: Firewalls
  • Hands-on Lab: Windows Defender Firewall
  • Security Threats: Validation and Device Usage
  • Security Threats: Encryption Concepts
  • Managing Email and Spam
  • Activity: Identifying Phishing Attempts
  • Reading: Data continuity and Encryption
  • Reading: Password Management
  • Summary & Highlights
  • Practice Quiz: Security Best Practices
  • Graded Quiz: Security Best Practices

Module 3: Security Concerns and Safe Browsing

  • Application Ecosystem Security
  • Public Browsing Risks
  • Practices Plug-ins, Extensions, and Toolbars
  • Security Threats: Safe Browsing Techniques
  • Hands-on Lab: Managing Browser Security and Privacy Settings
  • Virtual Private Networks
  • Summary & Highlights
  • Practice Quiz: Configuring and Troubleshooting Networks
  • Graded Quiz: Configuring and Troubleshooting Networks

Module 4: Final Exam and Project

  • Reading: Case Study: Data Breach Yahoo!
  • Reading: Final Project: About this Project
  • Hands-on Lab: Perform Final Project Tasks
  • Final Project Submission and Evaluation
  • Final Exam: Networking and Storage Fundamentals

Module 5: Course Wrap-Up

  • Video: Course Wrap-Up
  • Glossary
  • Reading: Congratulations and Next Steps
  • Reading: Thanks from the Course Team
  • Reading: Course Rating and Feedback

Taught by

Skills Network

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4.6 rating at edX based on 75 ratings

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