Cybersecurity courses

Almost any information system can meet a cyberattack. Protecting one takes a whole set of measures, and deep skills are expected of the specialist. Participants in the digital ecosystem invest considerable sums in network security. Understanding that a whole organisation's reputation rests on a cybersecurity specialist's competence, employers are willing to pay a professional well.

What network security involves

Network security has more than one goal:

1. Protecting data — its integrity, availability and confidentiality.
2. Access management: preventing unauthorised entry by controlling and configuring access rights for both users and devices.
3. Threat detection. Ideally an attack is prevented in time, which takes monitoring that identifies suspicious activity.
4. Countering attacks. Threats vary, so the job is to implement the fullest possible protection against them.
5. Continuity of operations. You have to prevent attacks and minimise the consequences of any failures, which means backup systems and fault-tolerant technology.

What a cybersecurity specialist does

Their responsibilities cover protecting computer systems, data and networks against potential and actual threats. The key areas of the work:

• monitoring threats;
• analysing incidents that have occurred;
• maintaining information security policy;
• testing for vulnerabilities;
• preparing a plan of action in the event of an attack;
• working on encryption;
• advising employees on keeping themselves secure online.

A cybersecurity specialist has a great many tasks, then — but the pay for such responsible work is high too.

What a cybersecurity course covers

Both theory and practice are essential to protecting information systems. A cybersecurity course covers:

• How data is protected and confidentiality maintained.
• How viruses, phishing, data theft and DDoS attacks differ, and what attackers actually do.
• How to prevent intrusion using IDS/IPS.
• Using a VPN to protect communication channels.
• How to run penetration testing. Methods for finding vulnerabilities, running ethical attacks and preparing reports on closing the threats are all included.
• What you need to know about keys and digital certificates in order to work with data securely.
• How to respond to incidents and develop a strategy for preventing threats.
• Security in cloud storage and the principles of protection in a multi-cloud environment.
• The laws, regulations and standards governing data protection.

Do the courses teach you what attackers do?

To know how to deal with threats you have to understand how they arise. Cybersecurity courses therefore do cover an attacker's methods. But it matters to be clear: ethical hacking exists to protect systems and data, not to use what you learn to do harm.

A cybersecurity course is where you learn:

• how attackers find weak points in software, networks and data protection;
• how to model a real attack in order to test a system;
• which programs and methods attackers use.

Cybersecurity courses teach strategic and analytical thinking. Understanding an attacker's methods helps you identify and prevent threats — and those skills will certainly set you apart from the competition.

Who cybersecurity courses suit

They suit both people new to tech and students with experience. We move from the simple to the complex, so this promising profession can be learned from nothing. Various kinds of people study at PASV:

• students beginning a career;
• tech specialists wanting to improve their competence and qualify for better pay;
• managers and project leads;
• anyone wanting to enter tech from scratch with no technical background.

To get through a cybersecurity course, set aside time for study, listen carefully to your instructors and take the homework seriously. If you are reading this, the field clearly interests you, so you have every chance of finishing successfully.

Where a cybersecurity course leads

What awaits you afterwards? You can put yourself forward at large corporations and at small startups alike. Having finished the course you can apply for junior roles — and even with minimal experience your salary will be $60,000–$80,000 a year. What else the course opens up:

• you can choose the direction that appeals: SOC analyst, ethical hacker, information security consultant and so on;
• you can apply to international companies;
• in time you can move into leadership positions or concentrate on narrower specialisms.

How to choose a cybersecurity course

The first step is usually the hardest, and not without reason: the training you choose determines both the quality and the speed of your entry into the profession. When choosing, weigh:

• Your goals: finding work, broadening your skills or improving what you already know.
• Your current level and whether it matches the course.
• Whether the curriculum covers every key topic.
• Who the instructors are and what format the course takes.
• Whether help with getting hired is provided and whether an internship is available during the course.
• Whether a certificate is issued on completion.

And if you want a full cybersecurity course, do not begrudge the time to read reviews of the school.

Where to find free cybersecurity courses

Specialist platforms and resources offer basic knowledge free of charge. If cybersecurity as a profession interests you, the PASV courses are an ideal place to learn quickly and effectively and to enter the profession comfortably.

The full PASV cybersecurity course

We offer:

• A current curriculum written by working cybersecurity specialists.
• Intensive teaching with a great deal of homework.
• Work on real projects.
• An internship on an international project.
• A free place on the course for your spouse.

You can read more about the programme, the instructors, the cost and the format on the course page.