Free Learning Opportunities to Build Skills

If you're interested in learning more about the basics of cybersecurity, here are some recommended sites to explore:

• The Linux Foundation: A nonprofit organization that offers free training courses on cybersecurity, including Cybersecurity Essentials. You must sign up for a free account to access these courses.

• IBM Security Learning Academy: Provides free technical training on IBM Security products. You can explore the course catalog and build your curriculum by enrolling in courses. An IBM ID account is required.

• National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST): Offers cheap and free online learning content for career and professional development in cybersecurity and other fields.

• SANS Institute: A cooperative research and education institution offering cybersecurity courses and certificates. Learn more about SANS courses and certifications.

• IBM SkillsBuild: Provides job skills, courses, digital credentials, and more to help you power your future in tech.

Certifications to Think Ahead

Pursuing an industry-recognized certification can help accelerate your career in cybersecurity. Here are some of the leading providers:

• CompTIA: Offers various IT certifications that are well-respected by employers. Their cybersecurity certifications include:

  • CompTIA Security+
  • CompTIA Cybersecurity Analyst (CySA+)
  • CompTIA PenTest+
  • CompTIA Advanced Security Practitioner (CASP+)

• (ISC)²: A nonprofit organization offering professional training and certifications, such as:

  • Certified in Cybersecurity (CC)
  • Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)
  • Certified Cloud Security Professional (CCSP)

• EC-Council: A respected cybersecurity certification organization offering certifications like:

  • Certified Ethical Hacker (C|EH)
  • Certified Penetration Testing Professional (C|PENT)
  • Computer Hacking Forensic Investigator (C|HFI)

Professional Organizations to Consider

• National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST): Focuses on practical cybersecurity and privacy through outreach and effective application of standards and best practices.

• National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC): The UK's leading authority on cybersecurity issues, offering advice, documents, and guidance for specific industries.

• Open Web Application Security Project (OWASP): A worldwide nonprofit organization dedicated to improving software security.

• Information Systems Security Association (ISSA): A nonprofit organization for the information security profession, promoting a secure digital world.

• Women in Cybersecurity (WiCyS): A US-based nonprofit organization focused on bringing together women in cybersecurity.

• Forum of Incident Response and Security Teams (FIRST): A global forum and recognized leader in incident response.

News and Blogs to Stay Current

• Security Intelligence: Provides analysis and insights from across the cybersecurity industry.

• Cybercrime Magazine: Offers the latest cybereconomic market data, insights, and ground-breaking predictions.

• Wired Threat Level: Features a series of cybersecurity articles from Wired magazine.

• Krebs on Security: A collection of blogs on computer security and cybercrime by Brian Krebs.

• Graham Cluley: Offers blogs about the latest computer security news, opinions, and advice.

• Recorded Future Blog: Provides cyberthreat intelligence analysis, industry perspectives, and company updates.