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

Yale University
Understanding Medical Research: Your Facebook Friend is Wrong
Skills you'll gain: Probability & Statistics, Research Design, Medical Science and Research, Statistics, Data Literacy, Statistical Analysis, Scientific Methods, Clinical Research
4.9
Rating, 4.9 out of 5 stars
2.2K reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
Google Cloud
Reliable Google Cloud Infrastructure: Design and Process
Skills you'll gain: Application Deployment, Cloud Infrastructure, CI/CD, Cloud Security, Service Level Agreement, Microservices, Service Level, Google Cloud Platform, Network Architecture, API Design, Site Reliability Engineering, Cloud Computing Architecture, Kubernetes, Restful API, Cloud Storage, Cloud Applications, Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), DevOps, Data Storage, System Design and Implementation
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
7.2K reviews
Advanced · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
University of Minnesota
Software Testing and Automation
Skills you'll gain: Open Web Application Security Project (OWASP), Cucumber (Software), Software Testing, Selenium (Software), Gherkin (Scripting Language), JUnit, Verification And Validation, Test Automation, Unit Testing, Security Testing, Regression Testing, Test Case, Testability, Behavior-Driven Development, Code Coverage, Performance Testing, Development Testing, Test Planning, Acceptance Testing, Test Tools
4.3
Rating, 4.3 out of 5 stars
952 reviews
Intermediate · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
University of Pennsylvania
AI Fundamentals for Non-Data Scientists
Skills you'll gain: Generative AI, Big Data, Machine Learning, Customer Data Management, Tensorflow, Artificial Intelligence, Deep Learning, Algorithms, Process Optimization, Data Analysis, Artificial Neural Networks, Natural Language Processing
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
744 reviews
Mixed · Course · 1 - 3 Months
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Instructional Design Foundations and Applications
Skills you'll gain: Instructional and Curriculum Design, Needs Assessment, Instructional Design, Learning Theory, Diversity and Inclusion, Education and Training, Talent Management, Systems Analysis, Job Analysis, Analysis
4
Rating, 4 out of 5 stars
777 reviews
Mixed · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
Google Cloud
Modernizing Data Lakes and Data Warehouses with Google Cloud
Skills you'll gain: Data Lakes, Data Warehousing, Cloud Engineering, Google Cloud Platform, Data Infrastructure, Cloud Storage, Data Pipelines, Big Data, Data Processing, Data Transformation, SQL, Scalability
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
2.9K reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
University of Minnesota
Agile Software Development
Skills you'll gain: User Story, Agile Software Development, Agile Methodology, Agile Project Management, Scrum (Software Development), Sprint Planning, Software Development Methodologies, Sprint Retrospectives, Backlogs, Continuous Integration, Test Driven Development (TDD)
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
7.4K reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Free Trial
IBM
Product Management: An Introduction
Skills you'll gain: Product Lifecycle Management, Product Management, Project Management, Product Development, Product Strategy, Portfolio Management, New Product Development, Value Propositions, Product Roadmaps, Stakeholder Management, Market Research
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
838 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
Rice University
Medical Terminology
Skills you'll gain: Medical Terminology, Medical History Documentation, Pulmonology, Cardiology, Medical Records, Health Informatics, Health Information Management and Medical Records, Orthopedics, Obstetrics And Gynecology, Neurology, Gynecology, Urology, Anatomy, Electronic Medical Record, Pathology, Pharmacology, Psychiatry, Mental Health Diseases and Disorders
4.9
Rating, 4.9 out of 5 stars
846 reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
ESSEC Business School
Hotel Management: Distribution, Revenue and Demand Management
Skills you'll gain: Revenue Management, Hospitality Management, Competitive Analysis, Digital Marketing, Data-Driven Decision-Making, Stakeholder Communications, Forecasting, Budgeting, Demand Generation, Hotel Operations, Asset Management, Hospitality, Marketing, Demand Planning, Financial Forecasting, Strategic Marketing, Target Market, Financial Analysis, Marketing Channel, Business Modeling
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
2.1K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
Microsoft
Work Smarter with Microsoft PowerPoint
Skills you'll gain: Multimedia, Microsoft PowerPoint, Presentations, Microsoft 365, Collaborative Software, Productivity Software, Microsoft Windows, Editing, File Management
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
998 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
Google Cloud
Elastic Google Cloud Infrastructure: Scaling and Automation
Skills you'll gain: Google Cloud Platform, Cloud Infrastructure, Load Balancing, Infrastructure as Code (IaC), Cloud Computing, Managed Services, Solution Architecture, IT Automation, Virtual Machines, Network Infrastructure, Virtual Private Networks (VPN), Scalability
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
9.2K reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months