Free Cybersecurity Courses for Beginners and Educators – Break Into Cybersecurity
Students who want to break into the cybersecurity realm stand a lot to gain from exploring free cybersecurity courses. You can acquire fundamental knowledge and skills in the information security domain and hone your skills while only paying through your time and effort.
The cybersecurity job market is projected to grow quickly over the next few years. Cyberattacks are a matter of concern for both private organizations and government bodies, increasing the demand for skilled cybersecurity professionals. Despite this demand across multiple domains, there is a widening skill gap and many unfilled job positions due to the lack of trained personnel.
Why Choose the Essentials Series? Free Cybersecurity Courses for Beginners
According to a study by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), 82% of employers face a cybersecurity talent pool shortage in response to the growing talent drought.
EC-Council’s Essentials Series was launched to tackle this crisis—this is a cybersecurity workforce development initiative. Experts have designed the free 3-course series to offer baseline knowledge certifications for ethical hacking, digital forensics, and network security. As part of its first MOOC series, EC-Council makes cybersecurity learning and training accessible for all.
The Essentials Series was developed to help students, early-career professionals, beginners, and educators acquire entry-level cybersecurity skills and build strong foundations to start their cybersecurity careers. These free cybersecurity courses for beginners are designed by experts to enable you to acquire the most in-demand skills in the domains of:
- Ethical Hacking
- Network Defense
- Digital Forensics
The Essentials Series: An Overview
- 36 expert-designed modules
- 40+ hours of premium, self-paced learning videos
- 30+ add-on labs mapped to the course curriculum
- Certificate of Achievement
Table of Contents
- Ethical Hacking Essentials (E|HE)
- Digital Forensics Essentials (D|FE)
- Network Defense Essentials (N|DE)
Ethical Hacking Essentials (E|HE)
- 12 learning modules
- Official eCourseware
- 15+ hours of premium, self-paced video training
- 11 lab activities in a simulated lab environment (optional add-on)
- Information Security Fundamentals
- Ethical Hacking Fundamentals
- Information Security Threats and Vulnerabilities
- Password Cracking Techniques and Countermeasures
- Social Engineering Techniques and Countermeasures
- Network-Level Attacks and Countermeasures
- Web Application Attacks and Countermeasures
- Wireless Attacks and Countermeasures
- Mobile Attacks and Countermeasures
- IoT and OT Attacks and Countermeasures
- Cloud Computing Threats and Countermeasures
- Penetration Testing Fundamentals
Tools You Will Learn and Use:
L0phtCrack, Netcraft, SQL Injection Detection Tool, Web Application Security Scanner, and ARP Spoofing Detection Tools
Get Started for Free!
| Cybersecurity Specialist | Cybersecurity Technician |
| Helpdesk Technician | Cyber Operations Technician |
| Technical Support Specialist | Intelligence Operations Specialist |
| Systems Specialist | IT Security Specialist |
| Computer Support Specialist |
Network Defense Essentials (N|DE)
- 12 learning modules
- Official eCourseware
- 14+ hours of premium, self-paced video training
- 11 lab activities in a simulated lab environment (optional add-on)
- Network Security Fundamentals
- Identification, Authentication, and Authorization
- Network Security Controls: Administrative Controls
- Network Security Controls: Physical Controls
- Network Security Controls: Technical Controls
- Virtualization and Cloud Computing
- Wireless Network Security
- Mobile Device Security
- IoT Device Security
- Cryptography and PKI
- Data Security
- Network Traffic Monitoring
Tools You Will Learn and Use:
Docker Bench for security, AWS, Miradore MDM, HashCalc, MD5 calculator, HashMyFiles, VeraCrypt, Data Recovery Wizard, and Wireshark
Get Started for Free!
| Network Security Analyst | Local Area Network Specialist |
| Network Technician | Technical Support Specialist |
| Network Administrator | Cybersecurity Technician |
| Network Coordinators |
Digital Forensics Essentials (D|FE)
- 12 learning modules
- Official eCourseware
- 11+ hours of premium, self-paced video training
- 11 lab activities in a simulated lab environment (optional add-on)
- Computer Forensics Fundamentals
- Computer Forensics Investigation Process
- Understanding Hard Disks and File Systems
- Data Acquisition and Duplication
- Defeating Anti-forensics Techniques
- Windows Forensics
- Linux and Mac Forensics
- Network Forensics
- Investigating Web Attacks
- Dark Web Forensics
- Investigating Email Crime
- Malware Forensics
Tools You Will Learn and Use:
Linux, Windows, Sleuth Kit, Wireshark, Splunk, TOR browser, and ESEDatabaseView
Get Started for Free!
| Cybersecurity Technician | IT Security Specialist |
| Cyber Forensic Specialist | Helpdesk Technician |
| Cyber Operations Technician | Technical Support Specialist |
| Intelligence Operations Specialist |
How You Can Earn the Certifications
EC-Council’s Essentials Series is an initiative to boost cybersecurity skills to meet industry demands across every spectrum. This introductory series launched as a part of EC-Council’s MOOC certification courses to offer free cybersecurity training to students, professionals, and beginners through a comprehensive curriculum in a blended-learning environment. Everyone is welcome—there are no eligibility criteria for the Essentials Series. You can get started for free through EC-Council’s CodeRed platform and start your learning journey today.
CodeRed’s Certificate of Achievement:
Exam Format: Multiple-Choice Exam
Platform: ECC Exam Center
No. of Questions: 75
Certification: Course Specific (N|DE, E|HE, and D|FE)
According to recent data by Cybersecurity Ventures, by 2025, there will be 3.5 million job positions seeking cybersecurity skills. These three free cybersecurity courses for beginners provide comprehensive and structured learning on cybersecurity skills to meet enterprises’ job-role requirements across the globe.
Get Started for Free!
References
Lewis, J.A. (2019, January 29). The cybersecurity workforce gap. Center for Strategic & International Studies. https://www.csis.org/analysis/cybersecurity-workforce-gap
Morgan, S. (2021, November 9). Cybersecurity jobs report: 3.5 million openings in 2025. Cybersecurity Ventures. https://cybersecurityventures.com/jobs/
