Skills you'll learn:
Threat intelligenceCryptography
Introduction to Cybersecurity
Nanodegree Program
Build a strong foundation in cybersecurity to protect digital assets and manage risk effectively. This program covers core skills like threat analysis, vulnerability assessment, and network defense, preparing you to identify and respond to cyber threats. You'll learn to implement security measures, use industry-standard tools, and understand best practices to safeguard sensitive data, ensuring readiness for today’s security challenges in both personal and professional contexts.
Build a strong foundation in cybersecurity to protect digital assets and manage risk effectively. This program covers core skills like threat analysis, vulnerability assessment, and network defense, preparing you to identify and respond to cyber threats. You'll learn to implement security measures, use industry-standard tools, and understand best practices to safeguard sensitive data, ensuring readiness for today’s security challenges in both personal and professional contexts.
Beginner
3 months
Last Updated November 5, 2024
Prerequisites:
Operating system fundamentalsCommand line interface basics
Beginner
3 months
Last Updated November 5, 2024
Skills you'll learn:
Threat intelligence • Cryptography • Cybersecurity fluency • Security auditing
Prerequisites:
Operating system fundamentals • Command line interface basics
Courses In This Program
Course 1 • 50 minutes
Welcome to the Nanodegree Program
Lesson 1
Nanodegree Program Introduction
Lesson 2
Getting Help
You are starting a challenging but rewarding journey! Take 5 minutes to read how to get help with projects and content.
Lesson 3
Discover Your Company's Cybersecurity Score
Course 2 • 3 weeks
Cybersecurity Foundations
Security is embedded in all we do online and is a critical job skill and career field. This foundations course explains security fundamentals including core principles, critical security controls, and cybersecurity best practices. Students will also evaluate specific security techniques used to administer a system that meets industry standards and core controls, assess high-level risks, vulnerabilities, and attack vectors of a sample system, and explain ways to establish and maintain the security of different types of computer systems.
Lesson 1
Welcome to Cybersecurity Fundamentals
In this lesson, you will be given an overview of the course.
Lesson 2
What is Cybersecurity
In this lesson, you will learn the security trend and how to develop a career in cybersecurity.
Lesson 3
Maintain a Secure Infrastructure
In this lesson, you will learn some cybersecurity laws and some basics about security governance, compliance, and regulations.
Lesson 4
Think Like a Hacker
In this lesson, you will learn the hacking lifecycle and the basics of vulnerability, threat, and attack.
Lesson 5
Security Defenses
In this lesson, you will learn some basic methods to keep your computer and network safe.
Lesson 6
Applying Cybersecurity
In this lesson, you will practice applying cybersecurity to many situations.
Lesson 7 • Project
Securing a Business Network
In this project, you will apply the skills you have learned in this course to secure a business network.
Course 3 • 3 weeks
Defending and Securing Systems
In this course, students will be exposed to a diverse group of technologies that will provide or enhance the skills needed to enter the cybersecurity field. Students will apply best practices of Defense in Depth to secure computer systems, use outputs from security incidents to analyze and improve future network security, and search internal systems to determine network vulnerabilities. Students will also learn how to recommend mitigations to address common application vulnerabilities and ensure fundamental encryption techniques for securing data at rest and in transit.
Lesson 1
Introduction to Defending and Securing Systems
Course introduction to Introduction to Defending and Securing Systems
Lesson 2
Defending Computer Systems and Security Principles
In this lesson you will learn about best practices in defending computer systems.
Lesson 3
System Security: Securing Networks
In this lesson you will learn how to secure networks.
Lesson 4
Monitoring and Logging for Detection of Malicious Activity
In this lesson, you'll learn how to effectively monitor and use logs to detect malicious activity.
Lesson 5
Cryptography Basics (Applied Cryptography)
In this lesson, you will learn the basics of cryptography and how to use tools to encrypt files.
Lesson 6 • Project
Monitoring and Securing the DFI Environment
This lesson is the project lesson for Defending and Securing Systems course.
Course 4 • 3 weeks
Threats, Vulnerabilities, and Incident Response
Cybersecurity breaches happen when a threat is able to successfully exploit a vulnerability within a business. To avoid these attacks, security professionals must understand the threats the company is facing, including the various threat actors and their motivations. Security professionals must also be able to find vulnerabilities that can enable threats to attack through common practices such as vulnerability scanning and penetration testing. Finally, security professionals should be able to activate and follow incident response procedures to address cybersecurity incidents and breaches. Ultimately, during this course, students will learn how to identify security threats and gaps, fix issues, and respond to inevitable attacks.
Lesson 1
Intro to Threats, Vulnerabilities, and Incident Response
Meet your instructor, discuss what you'll learn in this course, major stakeholders and a brief history, and a peek at the final project!
Lesson 2
Assessing Threats
This lesson will cover threats and vulnerabilities, attack types, threat motivations, threats to organizations, and threat responses.
Lesson 3
Finding Security Vulnerabilities
In this lesson, we'll be discussing attack methods, scanning for vulnerabilities, and penetration testing.
Lesson 4
Fixing Security Vulnerabilities
We're going to cover how to conduct vulnerability research, test and apply results, and how to prioritize and strategize the results in this lesson.
Lesson 5
Preparing for Inevitable Attacks
Finally, we're going to cover incidents and recovery, events and incidents, the response lifecycle, and roles and response plans.
Lesson 6 • Project
Navigating a Cybersecurity Incident
During the project, you'll summarize and profile a cyber threat, conduct a vulnerability scan, research, analyze and prioritize vulnerabilities, and finally - document incident response actions.
Taught By The Best
Ron Woerner
Chief Security Officer
Ron Woerner, CISSP, CISM is an internationally recognized thought leader in cybersecurity and data privacy. As CSO at Cyber-AAA, he works as a consultant/vCISO, advises leaders, and delivers training worldwide. He has several technology degrees and is passionate about building cyber professionals.
Christine Izuakor, PhD, CISSP
Founder & CEO, Cyber Pop-up
Dr. Christine Izuakor is the CEO of Cyber Pop-up, an on-demand cybersecurity platform powered by vetted cyber freelancers. She has over a decade of experience leading cybersecurity functions within Fortune 100 companies and has her PhD in Security Engineering.
Sean Pike, Esq., M.S.
Sr. Director, Security & GRC
Sean Pike is a Cybersecurity and GRC leader with 20+ years of experience leading cybersecurity initiatives in regulated companies. Mr. Pike works with organizations to develop unique, proactive security solutions that follow stringent security principles while accelerating business.
Jerry Smith
Information Security Engineer
Jerry is a member of the Security Operations Center for the University of Alabama Birmingham, where he is the lead Threat Hunter and a member of the firewall team. Previously he was an Information Security Engineer for Hibbett Sporting Goods.
Student Reviews
Average Rating: 4.5 Stars
129 Reviews
Sattam A.
March 8, 2023
It's an amazing project, I learned a lot from this program it helped me to understand the cybersecurity because its my dream job. Thanks
Rosana F.
December 7, 2022
I am enjoying a lot because I am learning and developing new skills!
Romaine V.
November 16, 2022
So far so good
MOHAMAD A.
October 20, 2022
Very useful and exceed my expectation.
Abdullah Q.
August 30, 2022
i had some difficulties with the cloud labs, otherwise i enjoyed doing the project and implementing the skills i have learned.
The Udacity Difference
Combine technology training for employees with industry experts, mentors, and projects, for critical thinking that pushes innovation. Our proven upskilling system goes after success—relentlessly.
Demonstrate proficiency with practical projects
Projects are based on real-world scenarios and challenges, allowing you to apply the skills you learn to practical situations, while giving you real hands-on experience.
Gain proven experience
Retain knowledge longer
Apply new skills immediately
Top-tier services to ensure learner success
Reviewers provide timely and constructive feedback on your project submissions, highlighting areas of improvement and offering practical tips to enhance your work.
Get help from subject matter experts
Learn industry best practices
Gain valuable insights and improve your skills
Enroll in Introduction to Cybersecurity. Choose the plan that works for you
All Access monthly
Unlimited access to our top-rated courses
Personalized Career Services
Cancel Anytime
Real-world projects
Personalized project reviews
Program certificates
Best Value
All Access bundle1
All the same great benefits as our monthly plan
The most cost-effective way to develop the skills you want
- 1Discount applies to the first 4 months of membership, after which plans are converted to month-to-month.
Cybersecurity for Business Leaders
(7)
1 week
Beginner
Data Security
3 weeks
Beginner
Security Architect
(10)
3 months
Intermediate
Ethical Hacker
(23)
2 months
Advanced
Security Engineer
(33)
4 months
Intermediate
Discovering Cybersecurity
1 hour
Discovery
Cybersecurity Foundations
3 weeks
Beginner
Security Analyst
(30)
3 months
Intermediate
Threats, Vulnerabilities, and Incident Response
3 weeks
Beginner
Application Security
4 weeks
Intermediate
Systems Security
1 month
Intermediate
Cloud Native Application Architecture
(50)
3 months
Intermediate
Security Engineering Fundamentals
4 weeks
Intermediate
Computer Literacy Fundamentals
2 months
Beginner
Introduction to Ethical Hacking
4 weeks
Advanced
Full Stack Web Developer
(498)
3 months
Intermediate
Your subscription also includes:
Your subscription also includes:
Cybersecurity for Business Leaders
(7)
1 week
Beginner
Data Security
3 weeks
Beginner
Security Architect
(10)
3 months
Intermediate
Ethical Hacker
(23)
2 months
Advanced
Security Engineer
(33)
4 months
Intermediate
Discovering Cybersecurity
1 hour
Discovery
Cybersecurity Foundations
3 weeks
Beginner
Security Analyst
(30)
3 months
Intermediate
Threats, Vulnerabilities, and Incident Response
3 weeks
Beginner
Application Security
4 weeks
Intermediate
Systems Security
1 month
Intermediate
Cloud Native Application Architecture
(50)
3 months
Intermediate
Security Engineering Fundamentals
4 weeks
Intermediate
Computer Literacy Fundamentals
2 months
Beginner
Introduction to Ethical Hacking
4 weeks
Advanced
Full Stack Web Developer
(498)
3 months
Intermediate