Cybersecurity Fundamentals

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Advanced55 hoursOffsite

About this course

Learn to defend real systems — networking fundamentals, the threat landscape, social engineering, cryptography, web application security (OWASP Top 10), system hardening, network security, hands-on scanning and monitoring tools, incident response, ethical hacking basics, and legal/compliance/AI-driven threats — ending in a capstone security assessment of a system.

Who this course is for

Beginners with basic computer literacy who want a genuine, job-ready foundation in defensive cybersecurity, or IT-adjacent professionals (sysadmins, developers, support staff) wanting to formalize security knowledge they have picked up informally. This is the Advanced-tier security course in the catalog, reflecting depth and duration rather than a required prerequisite skill level.

Entry requirements

- Minimum age 18 (required for the hands-on scanning/testing modules, which involve authorized security tooling) - Basic computer literacy: comfortable installing software, using a command line at a beginner level, and navigating a home network - A laptop able to run a virtual machine (for safe, isolated practice environments used from Module 7 onward) - No prior security experience required — this course builds every concept from first principles before any hands-on tool is introduced - Agreement to this course's authorized-use policy: every scanning/testing technique taught here is to be practiced only against systems you own or a lab environment provided for this course — never against systems you do not have explicit permission to test

Curriculum

Module 1: Foundations of Cybersecurity & the CIA Triad (4 lectures)
  • VideoWelcome to Cybersecurity Fundamentals15 min
  • ArticleWhat Cybersecurity Actually Protects: Assets, Threats, and Risk70 min
  • ArticleThe CIA Triad: Confidentiality, Integrity, Availability75 min
  • QuizModule 1 Quiz: Foundations of Cybersecurity & the CIA Triad20 min
Module 2: Networking Fundamentals for Security (5 lectures)
  • ArticleHow Networks Actually Work: IP Addresses, Packets, and Routing90 min
  • ArticleThe TCP/IP Model, Step by Step80 min
  • ArticleTCP vs. UDP, Ports, and Common Protocols85 min
  • ArticleDNS and HTTP/HTTPS: How the Web Actually Resolves and Talks85 min
  • QuizModule 2 Quiz: Networking Fundamentals for Security20 min
Module 3: The Threat Landscape: Attackers, Motives, Common Attack Types (4 lectures)
  • ArticleThreat Actors and Their Motives75 min
  • ArticleMalware Types, Explained75 min
  • ArticleCommon Attack Types: Phishing, DoS, Man-in-the-Middle, Injection70 min
  • QuizModule 3 Quiz: The Threat Landscape20 min
Module 4: Social Engineering & Human-Layer Security (3 lectures)
  • ArticleWhy Humans Are the Weakest Link75 min
  • ArticleRecognizing and Resisting Phishing and Social Engineering, Step by Step85 min
  • QuizModule 4 Quiz: Social Engineering & Human-Layer Security20 min
Module 5: Cryptography Basics (5 lectures)
  • ArticleWhy Cryptography Matters: Core Goals60 min
  • ArticleSymmetric vs. Asymmetric Encryption, Step by Step80 min
  • ArticleHashing and Digital Signatures70 min
  • ArticleTLS/SSL and How HTTPS Actually Works70 min
  • QuizModule 5 Quiz: Cryptography Basics20 min
Module 6: Web Application Security Fundamentals (OWASP Top 10) (6 lectures)
  • ArticleIntroduction to the OWASP Top 1060 min
  • ArticleInjection Attacks: SQL Injection, Step by Step75 min
  • ArticleBroken Access Control & Authentication Failures75 min
  • ArticleCross-Site Scripting (XSS) and Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF), Step by Step75 min
  • ArticleSecurity Misconfiguration & Vulnerable Components55 min
  • QuizModule 6 Quiz: Web Application Security Fundamentals (OWASP Top 10)20 min
Module 7: System & OS Hardening (4 lectures)
  • ArticleHardening Principles: Least Privilege & Attack Surface Reduction70 min
  • ArticleWindows and Linux Hardening, Step by Step85 min
  • ArticlePatch Management and Secure Configuration Baselines65 min
  • QuizModule 7 Quiz: System & OS Hardening20 min
Module 8: Network Security: Firewalls, VPNs, Segmentation (3 lectures)
  • ArticleFirewalls, Step by Step80 min
  • ArticleVPNs and Secure Remote Access80 min
  • ArticleNetwork Segmentation & Zero Trust Basics80 min
Module 9: Security Tools: Scanning & Monitoring (Nmap, Wireshark) (5 lectures)
  • ArticleAuthorized Use: The Legal and Ethical Frame for Every Hands-On Tool in This Course40 min
  • ArticleNmap Fundamentals, Step by Step85 min
  • ArticleWireshark Fundamentals, Step by Step85 min
  • ArticleVulnerability Scanning and Continuous Monitoring Basics70 min
  • QuizModule 9 Quiz: Security Tools: Scanning & Monitoring20 min
Module 10: Incident Response & Security Operations (4 lectures)
  • ArticleThe Incident Response Lifecycle, Step by Step85 min
  • ArticleSecurity Operations: Logging, SIEM, and Alerting75 min
  • ArticleWriting an Effective Incident Report60 min
  • QuizModule 10 Quiz: Incident Response & Security Operations20 min
Module 11: Ethical Hacking & Penetration Testing Basics (3 lectures)
  • ArticleEthical Hacking: Authorization, Scope, and Rules of Engagement50 min
  • ArticleThe Penetration Testing Process, Step by Step95 min
  • ArticleReporting Findings Responsibly95 min
Module 12: Legal, Compliance & Ethics in Cybersecurity (2 lectures)
  • ArticleCybersecurity Law and Regulation: An Overview60 min
  • ArticleCompliance Frameworks and Professional Ethics60 min
Module 13: AI Tools & AI-Driven Threats in Cybersecurity (3 lectures)
  • ArticleAI as a Defender's Tool50 min
  • ArticleAI-Driven Threats: Deepfakes, AI-Phishing, and Adversarial AI50 min
  • QuizModule 13 Quiz: AI Tools & AI-Driven Threats in Cybersecurity20 min
Module 14: Capstone: Security Assessment of a System (1 lecture)
  • ArticleCapstone Brief: Security Assessment of a System180 min

Instructor

Uko Hanson

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