IBM
ISC2
IBM and ISC2 Cybersecurity Specialist Professional Certificate

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IBM
ISC2

IBM and ISC2 Cybersecurity Specialist Professional Certificate

Get job-ready to launch your cybersecurity career. Build the information security skills and hands-on experience employers look for in less than 4 months. No prior experience required.

IBM Skills Network Team
Dee Dee Collette
Rav Ahuja

Instructors: IBM Skills Network Team +3 more

17,525 already enrolled

Earn a career credential that demonstrates your expertise
4.8

(659 reviews)

Beginner level
No prior experience required
Flexible schedule
3 months at 10 hours a week
Learn at your own pace
Prepare for a degree
Earn a career credential that demonstrates your expertise
4.8

(659 reviews)

Beginner level
No prior experience required
Flexible schedule
3 months at 10 hours a week
Learn at your own pace
Prepare for a degree

What you'll learn

  • The job-ready skills needed to get your first cybersecurity role, plus prep for the ISC2 Certified in Cybersecurity (CC) exam employers look for.

  • A solid grasp of IT essentials, including infrastructure, operating systems, network applications, data, hardware, and software.

  • Working knowledge of different security threats, breaches, malware, social engineering, and other attack, and tools for preventing these threats.

  • The most up-to-date practical skills and knowledge cybersecurity specialists use in their daily roles, supported by hands-on practical experience.

Skills you'll gain

  • Category: Governance
  • Category: Cybersecurity
  • Category: Peripheral Devices
  • Category: Computer Security Incident Management
  • Category: Security Controls
  • Category: Configuration Management
  • Category: Incident Response
  • Category: Cloud Technologies
  • Category: Disaster Recovery
  • Category: Cloud Services
  • Category: Programming Principles
  • Category: Application Security

Details to know

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Taught in English

Advance your career with in-demand skills

  • Receive professional-level training from IBM
  • Demonstrate your technical proficiency
  • Earn an employer-recognized certificate from IBM

Professional Certificate - 12 course series

What you'll learn

  • Compare the roles and responsibilities of various careers within the cybersecurity field and how to progress from one level to the next level.

  • Map IT fundamental skills, technical skills, and soft skills to the different job roles at various levels in cybersecurity.

  • Identify the required certifications such as Security+, A+, CISSP, and CEH   for different job roles and the contents of each certification.

  • Discover the right role for you in cybersecurity and learn how to prepare for your chosen career path.

Skills you'll gain

Category: Cybersecurity
Category: Information Technology
Category: Data Security
Category: Cyber Security Policies
Category: Computer Security Awareness Training
Category: Technical Support and Services
Category: Cyber Security Strategy
Category: Network Security

What you'll learn

  • Identify the hardware components of desktops, laptops, and other devices, plus operating system functions, settings, and troubleshooting processes

  • Explore ports, connectors, storage devices, and GPU architectures, and assess appropriate processing and hardware solutions for applications

  • Develop secure IoT integration strategies for wearable devices and smart tech, using effective device management and cybersecurity principles.

  • Evaluate VR and AR technologies for organizational use, assessing hardware requirements, deployment considerations, and practical applications.

Skills you'll gain

Category: Computer Hardware
Category: Operating Systems
Category: Data Storage
Category: Peripheral Devices
Category: User Accounts
Category: Virtualization and Virtual Machines
Category: Technical Support
Category: Computer Architecture
Category: System Configuration
Category: Linux
Category: Network Infrastructure
Category: Hardware Architecture
Category: File Systems
Category: Mac OS
Category: Virtualization
Category: Hardware Troubleshooting
Category: Disaster Recovery
Category: Virtual Machines
Category: Software Installation
Category: Computer Systems

What you'll learn

  • Classify, install, and administer software applications and tools, including those used on mobile operating systems

  • Learn foundational concepts in cloud services, browser technologies, and software development models, techniques, and best practices

  • Utilize core database concepts using the principles of database management and perform basic operations to interface with and maintain databases

  • Understand how AI enables intelligent tools such as chatbots, virtual assistants, and generative applications to solve real-world problems

Skills you'll gain

Category: SQL
Category: Programming Principles
Category: Computer Programming
Category: Relational Databases
Category: Data Storage Technologies
Category: Artificial Intelligence
Category: Application Deployment
Category: Generative AI

What you'll learn

  • Explain wired and wireless network types, topologies, cable categories, IP addressing, packet flow, and core protocols

  • Configure secure networks and mobile devices using encryption standards and troubleshooting tools, including the command prompt and Windows Settings

  • Explore memory and storage technologies, including RAM, ROM, RAID, STaaS, file/block/object storage, USB4, and NVMe, andtroubleshooting methods

  • Apply NFC operating modes, Wi-Fi security protocols, and device integration techniques to evaluate modern networking and storage solutions

Skills you'll gain

Category: General Networking
Category: Wireless Networks
Category: Wide Area Networks
Category: Network Protocols
Category: Computer Networking
Category: TCP/IP
Category: OSI Models
Category: Network Security
Category: Network Troubleshooting
Category: Local Area Networks
Category: Network Infrastructure
Category: Command-Line Interface
Category: Data Storage
Category: Networking Hardware
Category: Network Architecture
Category: Microsoft Windows
Category: System Configuration

What you'll learn

  • Define cloud computing and explain essential characteristics, history, the business case for cloud, and the emerging technologies enabled by cloud

  • Describe the cloud service models- IaaS, PaaS, SaaS, and cloud deployment models- Public, Private, Hybrid; explain cloud infrastructure components

  • Explain emerging Cloud related trends including HybridMulticloud, Microservices, Serverless, Cloud Native, DevOps, and Application Modernization

  • List and describe services of popular cloud platforms including AWS, Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud, IBM Cloud, Alibaba Cloud, and others

Skills you'll gain

Category: Cloud Services
Category: Cloud Computing
Category: Hybrid Cloud Computing
Category: Emerging Technologies
Category: Cloud-Native Computing
Category: Cloud Infrastructure
Category: DevOps
Category: Cloud Storage
Category: Cloud Security
Category: Serverless Computing
Category: Infrastructure As A Service (IaaS)
Category: Cloud Computing Architecture
Category: Cloud Development
Category: Cloud Technologies
Category: Cloud Engineering
Category: Cloud Platforms
Category: Cloud Hosting
Category: Virtual Machines
Category: Cloud Management
Category: Cloud Solutions

What you'll learn

  • Learn how to identify common cybersecurity threats, including malware, social engineering, breaches, and other attack vectors

  • Install software updates and patches, and apply authentication, encryption, and device-hardening techniques to protect sensitive information

  • Explore physical security, environmental safeguards, and access control measures used to prevent unauthorized access and ensure business continuity

  • Apply cybersecurity best practices using strong password creation and management strategies, and identify use cases for encryption

Skills you'll gain

Category: Malware Protection
Category: Multi-Factor Authentication
Category: Personally Identifiable Information
Category: Cybersecurity
Category: Encryption
Category: Cyber Attacks
Category: Identity and Access Management
Category: Computer Security Awareness Training
Category: Hardening
Category: Security Awareness
Category: Authorization (Computing)
Category: Application Security
Category: Cryptography
Category: Authentications
Category: Data Integrity
Category: Information Privacy
Category: Vulnerability Assessments
Category: Security Controls
Category: Data Security
Security Principles

Security Principles

Course 75 hours

What you'll learn

Skills you'll gain

Category: Security Controls
Category: Cyber Governance
Category: Data Integrity
Category: Data Ethics
Category: Security Awareness
Category: Cyber Risk
Category: Information Assurance
Category: Cybersecurity
Category: Cyber Security Policies
Category: Risk Management Framework
Category: Governance

What you'll learn

Skills you'll gain

Category: Incident Response
Category: Disaster Recovery
Category: Cybersecurity
Category: Crisis Management
Category: Security Management
Category: Business Continuity
Category: Information Assurance
Category: Computer Security Incident Management
Access Control Concepts

Access Control Concepts

Course 94 hours

What you'll learn

Skills you'll gain

Category: Security Controls
Category: Role-Based Access Control (RBAC)
Category: Cyber Security Policies
Category: Authentications
Category: Security Awareness
Category: Authorization (Computing)
Category: Data Access
Category: Identity and Access Management
Network Security

Network Security

Course 108 hours

What you'll learn

Skills you'll gain

Category: Firewall
Category: Network Security
Category: Threat Detection
Category: Data Centers
Category: Network Protocols
Category: TCP/IP
Category: Cyber Attacks
Category: Cloud Computing
Category: General Networking
Category: Computer Networking
Category: Infrastructure Security
Category: Network Planning And Design
Category: Encryption
Category: Threat Management
Category: Cybersecurity
Security Operations

Security Operations

Course 118 hours

What you'll learn

Skills you'll gain

Category: Encryption
Category: Security Controls
Category: Network Security
Category: Event Monitoring
Category: Configuration Management
Category: System Monitoring
Category: Cybersecurity
Category: Cyber Security Policies
Category: Data Security
Category: Cryptography
Category: Continuous Monitoring
Category: Security Strategy
Category: Data Management
Category: Security Management
Category: Computer Security Awareness Training
Category: General Networking

What you'll learn

  • Hands-on experience in analyzing cybersecurity case studies to identify threat tactics and assess vulnerabilities you can talk about in interviews

  • Demonstrable, practical skills for applying response frameworks and forensic techniques to real-world breach scenarios

  • Expertise in penetration testing and compliance analysis to evaluate organizational security regarding compliance successes and failures

  • Hands-on experience with researching real-world data breach scenarios and analyzing them to propose recommendations

Skills you'll gain

Category: Incident Response
Category: Cybersecurity
Category: Vulnerability Management
Category: Penetration Testing
Category: Malware Protection
Category: Vulnerability Assessments
Category: Computer Security Incident Management
Category: Artificial Intelligence
Category: Threat Management
Category: Cyber Threat Intelligence
Category: Threat Detection
Category: Network Security
Category: Security Awareness

Earn a career certificate

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Get a head start on your degree

When you complete this Professional Certificate, you may be able to have your learning recognized for credit if you are admitted and enroll in one of the following online degree programs.¹

 
ACE Logo

This Professional Certificate has ACE® recommendation. It is eligible for college credit at participating U.S. colleges and universities. Note: The decision to accept specific credit recommendations is up to each institution. 

Instructors

IBM Skills Network Team
IBM Skills Network Team
IBM
82 Courses1,443,853 learners
Dee Dee Collette
Dee Dee Collette
IBM
10 Courses621,608 learners
Rav Ahuja
Rav Ahuja
IBM
56 Courses4,104,608 learners

Offered by

IBM
ISC2

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Frequently asked questions

¹Based on Coursera learner outcome survey responses, United States, 2021.