How to launch your cybersecurity career using LinkedIn Learning courses

While earning a master’s degree or other advanced degree can be a great way to make a career change or earn a higher salary, these programs often require a significant investment of both time and money. For example, a master’s degree in cybersecurity from the University of California – Berkeley, the wealth ranked #1 in the US and costs about $75,000 to complete.

However, these programs can help graduates achieve solid career results. Some cybersecurity graduates from the UC Berkeley program manage to double their salaries to $200,000 after graduation. Cyber ​​security guards are also in high demand with more than 700,000 job openings in the US alone. According to Cybersecurity Ventures, the number of unfilled cybersecurity jobs worldwide has increased by 350%, from 1 million jobs in 2013 to 3.5 million in 2021.

“Today’s job market is all about skills,” says Jeff Kellum, senior content manager for technical content at LinkedIn Learning Wealth. “With an estimated 3.5 million unfilled cybersecurity jobs by 2025, the ability to learn and demonstrate in-demand skills is critical for anyone hoping to get a foot in the door in this space.”

One way to begin your journey to becoming a cybersecurity expert is to start with the basics. LinkedIn Learning offers a variety of courses focused on cybersecurity, from basic level to preparation for advanced certifications.

“In an uncertain macroeconomic climate, the ability to learn and showcase in-demand skills is critical to helping people get a foot in the door at a new venture or find a new role in their organization,” Hari Srinivasan , Vice of Product at LinkedIn, wrote in a blog post in late August. “For many professions, certifications have proven key, with the number of people on LinkedIn who have added certifications to their profiles increasing 44% over the past two years.”

wealth has put together a few cybersecurity courses that you can take on LinkedIn Learning for people interested in learning more about the field. We’ve also included a list of the 19 learning paths and courses LinkedIn offers to prepare cybersecurity professionals for the most in-demand certifications. LinkedIn Learning is available to LinkedIn users with a premium account, which can cost around $30 to $60 per month depending on the package purchased.

1. Cybersecurity fundamentals

This course helps learners understand the fundamentals of cybersecurity, including explanations of cyber threats, cyber criminals, how to manage cyber risks, and how to respond to cyber security incidents. Cybersecurity Foundations is taught by Malcom Shore, who served as Director of New Zealand’s Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB). The course lasts around two hours in total and includes instructional videos, chapter quizzes and a final exam.

2. Transition to a career in cybersecurity

This course is tailor-made for professionals looking to make a career change towards cybersecurity. Transitioning to a career in cybersecurity helps learners leverage their current skills in cybersecurity, whether in IT or a related field. The course also includes resume tips, interview strategies, and resources for cybersecurity job hunting. The course lasts just over an hour and is taught by Marc Menninger, who has been involved in cybersecurity for more than 20 years.

3. Become a cybersecurity expert

LinkedIn also offers a complete learning path for professionals interested in a career in cybersecurity. The Become a Cybersecurity Professional learning path takes approximately six and a half hours and includes five courses: Cybersecurity Foundations, The Cybersecurity Threat Landscape, Learning the OWASP Top 10, IT Security Careers and Certifications: First Steps, and land your first cybersecurity job. If you complete the entire learning path, you will receive a certificate of completion for your work.

LinkedIn Learning also offers 19 prep courses for major cybersecurity certifications. Among the 15 highest-paying IT certifications in 2022, three were related to cybersecurity, according to Skillsoft, which offers online training and courses on technical topics. These certifications also helped professionals earn paychecks in excess of $150,000.

“Security has always paid well, and scarcity really matters — both in terms of the number of professionals and the skills required,” said Mike Hendrickson, vice president of engineering and development at Skillsoft, previously wealth. “With today’s limited pool of security professionals, companies need to make their offerings quite attractive, both in terms of compensation and career advancement opportunities. The qualification expectations of these specialists are also high.”

Here is a list of the cybersecurity certification preparation courses LinkedIn offers:

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