What is information security?

Information security is the practice of keeping data protected from theft, destruction, or misuse. It's different from cybersecurity in that cybersecurity refers to protecting physical computer assets, while information security concerns defending data from hackers. The practices of information security protect data from accidental breaches, unauthorized access, and malicious attacks. Whether you're storing your data or transmitting it from one place to another, information security keeps your data safe. The term "data" includes printed media as well as electronic information, and information security practices protect your data whether or not it's confidential.

Why study information security?

Our world has become increasingly dependent on data, and malicious people want to get their hands on information, which makes information security vital to our modern society. Piracy, identity theft, and intellectual property crimes are on the rise every year, so the demand for people and software that protects data continues to grow. Data breaches cost money and can damage reputations, so keeping information protected can prevent catastrophic problems. A working knowledge of information security is crucial if you're interested in a career in information technology.

What are typical careers that use information security skills?

You can apply your knowledge of information security in a vast array of industries. Companies all over the country are looking for information technology specialists to help keep their sensitive and proprietary data safe, and jobs are available in the finance, healthcare, government, law enforcement, and insurance sectors, as well as in other areas. Cybersecurity and information technology companies are also hiring, and these businesses work with various clients to protect data from hackers and other attacks. You may even be able to start your own business in information security.

How can online courses on Coursera help me learn information security?

Learning information security with online courses on Coursera allows you to gain a foothold in this growing field. You can gain firsthand experience in the issues that drive the information security industry, as well as the methods that data professionals use to combat hackers and data pirates. Opportunities exist to work toward becoming an IBM cybersecurity analyst, learn about cryptography, and understand regulatory compliance.

What are the benefits of taking an online Information Security course?

Online Information Security courses offer a convenient and flexible way to enhance your knowledge or learn new Information Security skills. Choose from a wide range of Information Security courses offered by top universities and industry leaders tailored to various skill levels.

What Information Security courses are best for training and upskilling employees or the workforce?

When looking to enhance your workforce's skills in Information Security, it's crucial to select a course that aligns with their current abilities and learning objectives. Our Skills Dashboard is an invaluable tool for identifying skill gaps and choosing the most appropriate course for effective upskilling. For a comprehensive understanding of how our courses can benefit your employees, explore the enterprise solutions we offer. Discover more about our tailored programs at Coursera for Business here .

Top Information Security Courses - Learn Information Security Online

Explore the Information Security Course Catalog

Status: New
Google Cloud
Networking in Google Cloud: Hybrid and Multicloud - Français
Skills you'll gain: Virtual Private Networks (VPN), Google Cloud Platform, Multi-Cloud, Hybrid Cloud Computing, Cloud Computing Architecture, Cloud Computing, General Networking, Network Routing, Wide Area Networks, Network Infrastructure, Network Security
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Free Trial
Microsoft
Web Development Fundamentals
Skills you'll gain: Responsive Web Design, Web Development, HTML and CSS, Web Applications, Front-End Web Development, Web Design, Semantic Web, Javascript, Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, Data Storage Technologies, Application Security, User Interface (UI), Data Validation
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
University of Colorado Boulder
Industrial Internet of Things Graduate Certificate
Skills you'll gain: Machine Learning Algorithms, Real-Time Operating Systems, Big Data, Product Development, Power Electronics, Analytics, Embedded Systems, Control Systems, File Systems, Internet Of Things, User Experience, Process Control, New Product Development, API Design, Data Analysis, Debugging, Machine Learning, User Interface (UI), Machine Controls, Embedded Software
Credit offered
Graduate Certificate · 6 - 12 Months
University of Michigan
Master of Applied Data Science
Skills you'll gain: Data Ethics, Data Storytelling, Database Design, Reinforcement Learning, Supervised Learning, Experimentation, PySpark, Interactive Data Visualization, Generative AI, Pandas (Python Package), Network Analysis, Deep Learning, Applied Machine Learning, Cloud Services, Natural Language Processing, JSON, Data Mining, Qualitative Research, Statistical Visualization, Unsupervised Learning
Earn a degree
Degree · 1 - 4 Years
Status: Free Trial
Microsoft
Microsoft SQL Server
Skills you'll gain:
Beginner · Professional Certificate · 1 - 3 Months
University of London
Bachelor of Science in Marketing
Skills you'll gain: Process Design, Global Marketing, Consumer Behaviour, Statistical Analysis, Organizational Change, Integrated Marketing Communications, Advertising, Innovation, Mergers & Acquisitions, Supply Chain Management, Training and Development, Virtual Teams, Diversity and Inclusion, Databases, Cost Accounting, International Finance, Research, Branding, Economic Development, Cultural Diversity
Earn a degree
Degree · 1 - 4 Years
University of North Texas
Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences
Skills you'll gain: Operations Management, Exploratory Data Analysis, Mediation, Change Management, Business Writing, Compensation and Benefits, Integrated Marketing Communications, Apache Hadoop, Consumer Behaviour, Organizational Change, Stakeholder Management, Event Management, Grammar, Social Media Strategy, Business Ethics, Sales Process, Diversity Awareness, Conflict Management, Research, Nutrition and Diet
Earn a degree
Degree · 1 - 4 Years
Universidad de los Andes
Maestría en Ingeniería de Software
Skills you'll gain: User Story, Cloud-Native Computing, Continuous Deployment, Software Testing, API Design, Process Analysis, Stakeholder Management, Game Design, Agile Project Management, Dashboard, Ideation, Internet Of Things, Angular, Android Development, Security Requirements Analysis, Maintainability, Microservices, Cloud Applications, Probability & Statistics, Machine Learning Methods
Earn a degree
Degree · 1 - 4 Years
Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile
Magíster en Inversiones y Finanzas Aplicadas
Skills you'll gain: Financial Statement Analysis, Descriptive Analytics, FinTech, Financial Statements, Business Analytics, Business Valuation, Derivatives, Corporate Finance, Portfolio Management, Customer Analysis, Credit Risk, Digital Transformation, Cloud Security, Risk Analysis, Assertiveness, Governance, Financial Analysis, Object Oriented Programming (OOP), Investments, Data Collection
Earn a degree
Degree · 1 - 4 Years
Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile
Magíster en Salud Pública Global
Skills you'll gain: Epidemiology, Public Health and Disease Prevention, Descriptive Analytics, Data Mining, Health Equity, Biostatistics, Gerontology, Digital Transformation, Health Policy, Healthcare Ethics, Cloud Security, Assertiveness, Telehealth, Health Disparities, Program Evaluation, Public Health, Object Oriented Programming (OOP), Policy Analysis, Health Systems, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
Earn a degree
Degree · 1 - 4 Years
Status: New
Google Cloud
Usar o BigQuery ML para inferência
Skills you'll gain: Analytics, Data Analysis, Big Data, Applied Machine Learning, Statistical Inference, Google Cloud Platform, Machine Learning Methods, SQL
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile
Magíster en Ciencia de Datos
Skills you'll gain: Data Ethics, Customer Analysis, Descriptive Analytics, Revenue Management, FinTech, Data Mining, Database Design, People Analytics, Time Series Analysis and Forecasting, Data Visualization, Biostatistics, Predictive Analytics, Unsupervised Learning, Digital Transformation, Network Analysis, Cloud Security, Risk Analysis, Assertiveness, Bayesian Statistics, Web Scraping
Earn a degree
Degree · 1 - 4 Years